2007 BMW 328I Electrical Problems

Hello I contacted bmw about a recall on my vehicle and made an appointment the gentleman I spoke with at first did the whole recall appointment. He wasn’t there on the day of and the other technician refused to conduct the recall repair and very rudely said to me you either pay $500 for diagnosing or you come pick up your car now otherwise I will charge you $200 daily storage he said the car didn’t start I told him yes of course is due to that recall which caused a meltdown leading to smoke coming in from the vents cutting all power to car . This guy refused to understand the situation and was really rude he said I have til the end of today to pick up the car and he disregard my appointment and refuse to fix it. So I call my AAA tow truck to pick up my vehicle and the refused to release it so now my car isn’t getting fixed and it’s being hold hostage

NHTSA ID

11751455

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2007 BMW 328I. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong burning odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the blower motor became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he had personally replaced the blower motor. The contact stated that while servicing the vehicle, he noticed that the wiring underneath the footwell had melted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V676000 (Electrical System); however, the recall repair failed to prevent the failure. The dealer was contacted and advised the contact that he had to pay for the diagnostic test and the repairs. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.

NHTSA ID

11658423

Incident

Apr 28, 2025

Mileage

173,000 mi

Defective Professional Grade Radio. When you first start the vehicle the radio works fine. After driving the vehicle 30 minutes or so the digital display on the radio goes blank ( Cannot read the display). The radio is connected to the digital display underneath the speed odometer. So it’s untelling what all might happen if the radio issue is not resolved. It could Possibly cause the vehicle to not start or short out and cause a fire. Me personally, I would just recall it and upgrade it to digital Navi. System.(radio is included). This days time everything is digital.

NHTSA ID

11572337

Incident

Sep 6, 2022

we have taken the car to the dealership for the recall and was told they do not have the parts and also wouldn't know how to fix it. every time the car turns on, you can smell the melting of the plastic. it smells bad and am worried every time im driving about a fire. before the recall came out, we had asked about the unknown smell of something burning and was told it was "normal"

NHTSA ID

11561661

Incident

Jun 10, 2016

The contact owns a 2007 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50- 55 mph, the vehicle caught fire. There was an abnormal burning odor detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver was able to use her fire extinguisher and extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries, police reports filed, or air bag deployments. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed her that the battery pack wiring had melted. and the PCV and wiring needed to be repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis regarding the electrical panel was provided. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 149, 000.

NHTSA ID

11524988

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

149,000 mi

The wiring insulation is dry cracked everywhere in both headlights exposing a lot of the wires in many places. It can cause a short.

NHTSA ID

11496850

Incident

Dec 10, 2022

My vehicle caught on fire while parked and unoccupied. Fire started in the engine compartment.

NHTSA ID

11490965

Incident

Oct 25, 2022

SHUTTERS ALL THE TIME EVEN AFTER COILS REPLACED. ENGINE LINE COMES ON AND MISFIRES. WIRING ALL MESSED UP ESPECIALLY HEADLIGHTS AND SEATS. ABS LIGHT WON'T GO OFF.

NHTSA ID

11390827

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS SLEEVES HAVE ROTTED, THE EXPOSED COPPER WIRING CAN SHORT INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAUSING A SPARK, PROLONGED CONTACT BETWEEN BARE WIRES WILL GENERATE HEAT CAPABLE OF MELTING THE HEADLIGHT UNIT AND PLASTIC COMPONENTS AROUND IT.

NHTSA ID

11350310

Incident

Aug 19, 2020

Mileage

149,735 mi

JUST FINISHED DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES FROM HOME TO WORK, ABOUT 70 DEGREES-F OUTSIDE, SUNNY, GOOD WEATHER AROUND 11AM. DID NOT OPERATE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER OR VENT FAN. CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE, NO STRANGE NOISES. HAD NO RECENT MAJOR REPAIRS. WE ARE SECOND OWNERS OF CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BMW, HAVE HAD VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS AND DRIVEN ABOUT 50K MILES SINCE PURCHASE. AFTER ARRIVING AT WORKPLACE, STOPPED AT WORKPLACE PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE IDLING FOR A FEW SECONDS TO WAIT FOR PARKING GATE TO OPEN. HOWEVER, BEGAN SEEING WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OF ENGINE HOOD. TRIED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE OUT TO THE STREET AND MOVED ABOUT 10FT BEFORE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WITHIN 15-30 SECONDS A PLUME OF FIRE ERUPTED OUT OF THE FRONT HOOD THROUGH THE GRILL. WITHIN 3 MINUTES ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND ITS PROXIMITY TO OTHER CARS IN THE LOT CAUSED FIRE DAMAGE TO 4 OTHER VEHICLES. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS INCLUDING ALL POSSESSIONS WITHIN IT. ELECTRONIC LOCKS QUIT WORKING AS SOON AS FIRE STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323581

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE HEATER TURNS ON BY ITSELF WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND KILLS MY BATTERY....HAVING LOTS OF OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING..THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR MOTOR TURNS ON SPARATICALLY WHICH DRAINS THE BATTERY...NOW THE CAR DOESN'T START AT ALL AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGE WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON

NHTSA ID

11311324

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

I AM HAVING A NO START, NO CRANK PROBLEM, NEW BATTERY, REMOVE STARTER, CHECKED OK, FUSES, OK. REPAIR CABLE BUT CODE SILL APPEAR, MONTH LATER N START OR CRANK. THIS WEEK BROUGHT NEW CABLE IT DETONATED. HAD CAR TOWED AND NOW AT HOME. OWNED THIS CAR SINCE JULY 2018 AND TOTALLY UPSET. THIS IS MY SECOND BMW AND I LOVE IT. I AM NO SURE BUT I BELIEVE THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE I BROUGHT IT.

NHTSA ID

11281279

Incident

Oct 12, 2019

Mileage

105,000 mi

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DUE TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS THAT BMW FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNERS ABOUT. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN SEVERAL WEEKS. IF THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE MULTIPLE FATALITIES COULD HAVE OCCURED.

NHTSA ID

11277121

Incident

Oct 8, 2019

Mileage

97,000 mi

COMFORT ACCESS IS BLOWING FUSE. CAN'T EXIT MY CAR W INSIDE HANDLES, ALL DOORS (ONLY SOMETIMES THOUGH) HAVE TO ROLL DOWN DRIVER WINDOW, INSERT MANUAL KEY TO UNLOCK DOOR. OTHER TIMES, THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AT ALL. THIS IS DANGEROUS. WITHOUT POWER TO THE WINDOWS, HOW WOULD ONE ESCAPE? THE FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS AT ALL. AS MENTIONED, SOMETIMES I CAN MANUALLY OPEN WITH THE HANDLE INSIDE THE CAR AND OTHER TIMES NOT AT ALL. LOCKS BROKEN AT ALL STAGES, STATIONARY OR MOVING.

NHTSA ID

11220712

Incident

Jun 7, 2019

Mileage

121,417 mi

MY CAR IS LOSING POWER RANDOMLY, AND HAS A BURNING SMELL. INSPECTED SOME OF THE WIRES AND MY MAIN WIRE GOING INTO MY FUSE BOX LOOKS A LITTLE BURNT AND HAS A COLOR CHANGE TO IT.

NHTSA ID

11220216

Incident

Jun 3, 2019

Mileage

199,999 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG BURNING ODOR OF PLASTIC EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT CALLED CLASSIC BMW AT (214) 778-2600 (LOCATED AT 6800 DALLAS PKWY, PLANO, TX 75024) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE BURNING ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JB

NHTSA ID

11181658

Incident

Feb 21, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OFF IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS TRAPPED IN CAR. A NEARBY PASSENGER BROKE MY WINDOW TO ME OUT. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE MAN I WOULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE!!

NHTSA ID

11181461

Incident

Feb 13, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF WILMINGTON AT 910-338-2149 (LOCATED AT 4920 NEW CENTRE DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403) AND THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11172047

Incident

Aug 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AT 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF BELLEVUE (13617 NE 20TH ST, BELLEVUE, WA 98005, (425) 243-5201) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11166027

Incident

Jan 2, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE HAD TWO SEPARATE MAJOR ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN MAY 2018. OVER A MONTH AGO , MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE WHILE IDLED AT STOP LIGHT AND WOULD EASE UP WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. MY ENGINE WAS SHAKING SO BADLY THAT I COULD FEEL IT WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE PETAL. MY ROOMMATE HEARD THE SQUEALING NOISE FROM INSIDE MY HOUSE AND CAME OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. ENTIRE ENGINE WAS SHAKING AS IF SOMETHING WAS NOT ON PROPERLY. HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME SINCE WHILE COMING BACK FROM WORK. SECOND MAJOR ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK MONDAY MORNING - I WAS MAKING A SEMI SHARP RIGHT TURN OFF RUFFIN MILL ROAD IN CHESTER AND MY 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT IMMEDIATE CAME ON AND THE CAR WENT FROM 35MPH TO 0 - MY CAR FELT AS IF I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ENGINE STOPPED. I CUT THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON - LIGHT WENT AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE. LESS THAN 5 MINUTES LATER, I WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT, ABOUT TO TURN LEFT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. CUT CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT WAS OKAY. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND EVEN HAD TO GET BRAND NEW STARTER TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. ATTACHMENT SHOWS ALL ISSUE WITH CAR GIVEN TO ME BY MAINENTANCE.

NHTSA ID

11164489

Incident

Dec 6, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE HAD TWO SEPARATE MAJOR ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN MAY 2018. OVER A MONTH AGO , MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE WHILE IDLED AT STOP LIGHT AND WOULD EASE UP WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. MY ENGINE WAS SHAKING SO BADLY THAT I COULD FEEL IT WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE PETAL. MY ROOMMATE HEARD THE SQUEALING NOISE FROM INSIDE MY HOUSE AND CAME OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. ENTIRE ENGINE WAS SHAKING AS IF SOMETHING WAS NOT ON PROPERLY. HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME SINCE WHILE COMING BACK FROM WORK. SECOND MAJOR ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK MONDAY MORNING - I WAS MAKING A SEMI SHARP RIGHT TURN OFF RUFFIN MILL ROAD IN CHESTER AND MY 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT IMMEDIATE CAME ON AND THE CAR WENT FROM 35MPH TO 0 - MY CAR FELT AS IF I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ENGINE STOPPED. I CUT THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON - LIGHT WENT AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE. LESS THAN 5 MINUTES LATER, I WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT, ABOUT TO TURN LEFT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. CUT CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT WAS OKAY. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND EVEN HAD TO GET BRAND NEW STARTER TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. ATTACHMENT SHOWS ALL ISSUE WITH CAR GIVEN TO ME BY MAINENTANCE.

NHTSA ID

11164488

Incident

Dec 6, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE LIGHT CONTINUE TO GO OUT...SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON START UP PERIODICALLY SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC PULLED OVER TO TURN TURNED THE CAR OFF . NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM CENTER CONSOLE...RANDOM WARNING LIGHT INDICATED ON DISPLAY. CAR KEEPS JUMPING INTO LAG MODE.

NHTSA ID

11153567

Incident

Aug 9, 2018

Mileage

141,000 mi

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, (TODAY'S DATE IS 10/8/18) MY DRIVERS SIDE REVERSE LIGHT WENT OUT. WITH IT BEING A LIGHT THAT ISN'T REALLY A NECESSITY OR SAFETY HAZARD, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY URGENCY REPLACING. LAST NIGHT I DECIDED TO PEEL THE COVER OFF THE TRUNK TO ACCESS MY TAIL LIGHT, AND ONCE REMOVED, THE ENTIRE BULB HOUSING FALLS OUT OF THE TAIL LIGHT. THERE IS A LOT OF MELTED PLASTIC (IT WAS VERY VERY HOT) IN THE TAIL LIGHT. I EXAMINE THE BULBS, NONE BEING BURNT OUT. NO WHERE ON THE PART THAT THE LIGHTS ACTUALLY GO INTO HAS ANY HEAT DAMAGE (BURNT AND CRACKED PLASTIC). I THEN CONTACT MY MECHANIC WITH A VIDEO ASKING HIM WHAT I NEED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE NOW THAT I SEE MY TAIL LIGHT IS LITERALLY MELTED. HE SAYS HE'LL HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT AND WILL COME BY IN THE MORNING. HE WAS 'BAFFLED' AND SAID THAT IT IS ENTIRELY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT, AFTER INSPECTING THE CONNECTOR, AS WELL AS ALL THE WIRING. I THEN HAD HIM, (OUT OF CURIOSITY) CHECK AND SEE IF THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO DEFECTED. I GET ON GOOGLE AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY EXACT CAR, AND NUMEROUS PEOPLES VEHICLES HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES BUT THERE ISN'T A RECALL?? EVEN PEOPLE'S CARS THAT ARE TURNED OFF??? I HAVE TWO TODDLERS AND JUST TRAVELED 750 MILES AWAY 1500 MILES FROM HOME AND BACK. I AM VERY ANGRY AT THE FACT THAT THEY AS WELL AS MY OWN SAFETY WAS IN DANGER THE ENTIRE TIME AND WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF. AND I'M EVEN MORE ANGRY THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN TAKING MY NIECE TO AN APPOINTMENT TOMORROW MORNING (I DO HAVE TO FIND OTHER MEANS TO GET HER THERE) AND MY CAR JUST COMBUSTS, HAD I NOT CARED TO REPLACE THE BULB, MY CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE WHILE TYPING THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY BMW IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11138943

Incident

Oct 6, 2018

ON THE WAY HOME YESTERDAY A RED WARNING LIGHT "STEERING WHEEL WITH A PAD LOCK ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER" CAME ON, AFTER PARKING AT HOME I GOT THE MANUAL OUT AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRIC STEERING-WHEEL LOCK FAULT AND NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MOST BMW'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN YEARS 2006 TO 2007. I LEARNED ABOUT THE ISSUE WHEN I DID A SEARCH IN BMW FORUM'S. BOTH EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN MARKETS ARE EFFECTED WITH THIS FAULT.

NHTSA ID

11132807

Incident

Sep 30, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY HOSPITAL STAFF THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. UPON LEAVING TO CONFIRM THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. GRAYSON BMW (10671 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT OFFERED ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 131,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11131579

Incident

Sep 6, 2018

Mileage

131,000 mi