RoadVitals

2007 BMW 328XI Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
61
Latest Aug 12, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
31%
of 198 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 BMW 328XI submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 61 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 61, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 2025

Keeps dying out. Can't drive it at all.

NHTSA ID
11680290
Incident
Jul 1, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2007 BMW 328XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, there was smoke and a burning odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. There was a smoldering sound coming from the dashboard. The contact turned off the vehicle; however, the vehicle remained hot, and the smoke started to increase as if the vehicle was not turned off. The contact disconnected the battery to get the smoke to settle and get the engine to cool down. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11659207
Incident
May 3, 2025
Mileage
200,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 20, 2023
Fire reported

I was driving to my appointment about 3 weeks ago. When all of a sudden I start to smell smoke. I started to brake at the light when I seen flames coming from underneath my glove box. I pulled over as fast as I could by that time my entire glove box with my documents were on fire.The only thing I had was a gallon of apple juice so I put that on the fire to put it out. That was the only I could contain the fire. From that point my car wouldn't turn back on. So I had to pay to get my vehicle to my home.

NHTSA ID
11518100
Incident
Feb 22, 2023
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 26, 2022

The contact owns a 2007 BMW 328XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V676000 (Electrical System) and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced an unstated failure and was no longer driving the vehicle. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was unknown

NHTSA ID
11475970
Incident
Oct 25, 2017
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 29, 2021

Possible Class Action Law Suit knowingly neglect, mislead, purposely avoiding known recall & obvious risks of possible LIFE / PROPERTY LOST 08/2012, NYS Bear Mt Parks Camp ground Unknown reason Low battery resulted locked steering, stranded tow $450 /park+$450 tow truck to Shop E141st Bronx Friend a Westchester BMW dealer mechanic 1988~2019 (Will testify): official instruction to replace Steering column $2000-3000 job, replaced on the street, can't start w dealer computer+ $300 towed to Bronx BMW specialist & reset/ started for $450 2012 not much info online As my VIN isn’t on the recall list, I was not aware of the other identical recalled issue til it happened again in 2015(?2016, can confirm w the NY Westchester BMW dealer parts receipt) Paid another $2000+ much nightmare only to realized the issue can easily be reset by any mechanic computer then restarted. BMW dealer still maintain its instruction to their dealer mechanic to replace knowingly HIDING the fact that it should have been recalled & avoided 2016 (have receipt) At 70k Miles Transmission rebuilt, specialist said broken fragments of gears resulting in irreparable damages 2017 Corroded Fuse box nr passenger side replaced $680 2019 After stopping, car barely cranks over & white smoke observed under hood in front of passenger waited 30 minute to start Days later car won’t start, the wire leading to fuse burnt off, lost all power $300 tow home +$350 replace wire $4580 since 2020 low battery all year, car sluggish due to sudden lost of power. 2021 Engine shaking violently, drives shaky & unstable jerks, pulled over Towed $280 steering lock symbol shown Car on driveway realized my VIN was not included in this 2013 recall of 570,000 cars for the same defect numerous reported URGENT life/ Property threats to highway safety for years: sudden lost of power (No hazard light) on LEFT Lane of Highways Entire car engulfed in flames in minutes w toddlers inside car barely escaping Air bags popping while in motion..

NHTSA ID
11445440
Incident
Dec 20, 2021
Electrical
Filed Aug 9, 2021

My car is experiencing electrical failures explained in this recall: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 13V044000 There is a complete loss of power to the vehicle, I need to manually open the trunk, wiggle the positive terminal of the battery to get the power back. This seems to be known issue as identified in the NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 13V044000 When reported to the dealer, they declined to fix the issue as part of recall for the reason my VIN number does not show up in the system for this specific electrical issue. The only way the dealer would address is through charging me for diagnostics and fixing.This seems to be a widespread issue with the model year of the car I own, I expect BMW to fix this as part of the existing recall campaign.

NHTSA ID
11428461
Incident
Mar 1, 2021
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 18, 2020

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AS WELL AS STATIONARY THE WINDOW PINCH PROTECTION LIGHT FLASHES AT 30 SECOND INTERVALS ALONG WITH AN AUDIBLE NOISE. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE NOISE OR NOTIFICATION. ONCE THE WINDOW PINCH PROTECTION HAS BEEN RESET ON EACH WINDOW THE NOTIFICATION REMAINS FLASHING EVERY 30 SECONDS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. THIS AUDIBLE NOISE IS HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND CREATES AN UNSAFE DISTRACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329493
Incident
Jun 18, 2020
Mileage
110,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Apr 5, 2020

THE CAR HAS A SHORT DRAINING BATTERY ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON THE BLOWER MOTER SMELT LIKE FIRE WHEN TURNED ON. SCAN TOOL WONT CONNECT TO OBD2 SAYS NO COMMUNICATION AIR BAGS RESTRAINT LIGHTS CAME ON . I BELEIVE YOUR RECALLS WERE NOT DONE AND CAUSE A MASSIVE FAILURE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TO OPERATE VEHICLE UNDER.

NHTSA ID
11320272
Incident
Dec 20, 2019
Mileage
98,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 29, 2019

I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON CERTAIN BMW'S. RECALL 13V044. MY VEHICLE BAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN EARLY DECEMBER 2019. IT NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE. APPARENTLY MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL WHICH I CANNOT UNDERSTAND. IT EXHIBITS ALL THE FAILURES INDICATED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ID
11291817
Incident
Dec 4, 2019
Mileage
104,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSeat belts
Filed Sep 4, 2019

VACUUM PUMP RECALL . TAKATA RECALL ELECTRIC RECALL

NHTSA ID
11253093
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 23, 2019

TAKATA RECALL .......DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V071 BLOWER MOTOR WIRING NHTSA RECALL NUMBER17V676 POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE HEATER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER17V683................. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET BUT ALOT ARE CATCHING ON FIRE DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS....AND I DONT JUST HAVE 1 I HAVE 2 FIRE ISSUES AND ONE MAJOR WITH THE AIRBAG...... IVE CONTACTED BMW SERVERAL TIMES BUT I HAVENT GOT A EMAIL OR CONTACTED BACK FROM SERVICE TO FIX THESE ISSUES.... THE CAR IS MY LIVELYHOOD SO I FEEL LIKE JUST BUYING THE PARTS MYSELF AND FIXING THEM OTHER THAN THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID
11171543
Incident
Jan 23, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 27, 2018

RECALLS FOR VALVE HEATER AND BLOWER MOTOR WIRING CANNOT BE FIXED UNTIL MARCH 6, 2019. THIS DATE IS VERY FAR AND THERE SHOULD BE CLOSER DATES TO REMEDY THESE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
11154263
Incident
Nov 26, 2018
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 22, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD NOT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) PRIOR TO SELLING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL AND THE HEATER FAILED TO WORK. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11141771
Incident
Jun 29, 2018
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 18, 2018

HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND THERE IS STILL NO REMEDY FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING RECALL NOR THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE HEATER. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. WHAT IF MY VEHICLE IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT START ON FIRE, THEN WHAT? IF THERE IS A RECALL, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS POTENTIAL PROBLEM, SO WHY ARE MANUFACTURERS ALLOWED TO HAVE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO COME UP WITH THE FIX?

NHTSA ID
11141223
Incident
Oct 18, 2018
Electrical
Filed Oct 11, 2018

OIL INTERVAL WARNING CANNOT BE RESET UNLESS THE TOTAL MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 180,000 MILES. BMW CONFIRMS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11139897
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
229,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 14, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (BMW OF SOUTH ATLANTA, 4171 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, 678-228-8373) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER WHEN PARTS ARRIVED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11129530
Incident
Sep 14, 2018
Electrical
Filed Aug 19, 2018

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES IN OCTOBER 2017 FOR POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE HEATER AND BLOWER MOTOR WIRING. BMW HAS NOT CONTACTED US SINCE THEN TO DO THE REPAIRS, AND RECALL WEBSITES STATE THEY'RE NOT YET READY TO DO REPAIRS. IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR! THIS IS A FAILURE ON THEIR PART TO REMEDY A SAFETY MEASURE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

NHTSA ID
11120909
Incident
Oct 25, 2017
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2018

THE TWO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLA HAVE BEEN IN INTERIM PHASE SINCE OCTOBER OF 2017. I PERSONNALY KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS THE SAME RECALLS AND THEIR PARTS HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WANT MY VEHICLE REPAIRED ASAP

NHTSA ID
11110808
Incident
Oct 2, 2017
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Jul 2, 2018

FUEL PUMP IS BURNING OUT AND LIQUID ISN'T PASSING THROUGH THE TANK PROPERLY. THE CAR IS OVERHEATING ANF FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO START FIRE.

NHTSA ID
11105188
Incident
Jul 2, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 15, 2018

I HAVE A RECALL FOR MY BMW 07 328XI SINCE NOVEMBER 2017. THE RECALLS ARE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING AND PCV VALVE HEATER. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVE

NHTSA ID
11102001
Incident
Nov 21, 2017
ElectricalSteering
Filed May 18, 2018

BMW WOULD NOT START CAUSING ME TO JUMP START MY CAR. UPON STARTING MY CAR, MESSAGE ON SCREEN SAYS THAT STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. THIS HAPPENED TODAY, MAY 18,2018 AT 3:30. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11096787
Incident
May 18, 2018
Mileage
122,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 11, 2018

TL THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. HERB CHAMBERS BMW OF SUDBURY (128 BOSTON POST RD, SUDBURY, MA) 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 HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11093291
Incident
Nov 2, 2017
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (BMW OF SPRINGFIELD, 391 ROUTE 22 E, SPRINGFIELD, NJ) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT 1-800-831-1117, BUT THEY FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11082175
Incident
Oct 25, 2017
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 19, 2018
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

THE CAR WILL NOT STOP OVER HEATING AND CUTS OFF WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS GOING 65 MPH I ALMOST WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER STEERING WHEN IT CUT OFF. I HAVE HAD THE THERMOSTAT WATER PUMP RADIATOR N HOSES AND RESERVOIR REPLACED. AND THE CAR STILL OVER HEATS THERE IS A OPEN RECALL ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER HASN'T INFORMED ME WHEN I CAN BRING IT IN TO BE SERVICED.

NHTSA ID
11073528
Incident
Jan 3, 2018
Mileage
89,647 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 16, 2018

WHEN DRIVING 40 TO 45 MPH ON A CITY STREET VEHICLE DISPLAYS MODERATE OVERHEAT WARNING AND WITHIN MINUTES DISPLAYS HIGH TEMPERATURE OVERHEAT WARNING AND GOES INTO FAILSAFE MODE WHICH MAKE THE CAR COME TO A HALT. THIS COULD CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN A BUSY HIGHWAY. AND AIR FLOW CONTROLLER FOR THE HEATING SYSTEM DOESN'T BLOW HOT AIR.

NHTSA ID
11073319
Incident
Dec 8, 2017
Mileage
132,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .