RoadVitals

2007 BMW 335I Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
18
Latest Jun 15, 2021
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.
6%
of 288 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 BMW 335I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jun 15, 2021

Earlier this year in February I have replaced the alternator and some other major part right after purchasing from dealership and i have seen all the other recent recalls for the vehicle also it appears to have recalls that have not been worked on by manufacture . there also were no signs that came on also the wheel tightened up and stopped on me out of no where while driving. this being the second time this has happened as on new years i was on the freeway on my way home and the car did the same when i first replaced the alternator

NHTSA ID
11421040
Incident
May 7, 2021
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 26, 2021

I WENT TO START MY CAR AND THERE WAS A RED WARNING LIGHT THAT IS A STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK. I AM NOT ABLE TO START MY CAR OR DO ANYTHING WITH IT FOR THAT MATTER, SO I AM STUCK. THANK GOODNESS I WAS HOME AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OR WORSE, DRIVING AND IT LOCK ON ME! SO NOW I AM STUCK WITHOUT A CAR AND HARD TELLING WHAT ITS GOING TO COST ME! IVE BEEN READING THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING OR HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11389998
Incident
Jan 22, 2021
Mileage
202,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 10, 2020

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAR WOULD NOT START, THIS HAPPENED AFTER I PARKED THE CAR. VERY EXPENSIVE TO GET IT FIXED

NHTSA ID
11373947
Incident
Oct 20, 2020
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 15, 2017

SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT BROKE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY LOST. BELT REPLACED; AFTER 2000 MILES BELT WAS FOUND TO BE FRAYED AND SEVERELY WORN. BELT WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME. BELT THEN BROKE A THIRD TIME AFTER 8000 WHILE DRIVING, SAME CONDITIONS AND SYMPTOMS. DIAGNOSED AS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE BELT AND POWER STEERING PULLEY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE WITH THE FRONT SUBFRAME. BMW HAS HAD A TSB FOR THE ISSUE SINCE 2008 (SI B11 09 08) FOR ALL E90 SERIES WITH N54 ENGINES (135I, 335I) UP TO 04/08 PRODUCTION; RECOMMENDED REPAIR FOR VEHICLES THAT HAD SUBFRAME CONTACT WITH THE PULLEY IS TO REPLACE FRONT SUBFRAME WITH UPDATED PART -- NO WARRANTY EXTENSION OR RECALL AT PRESENT FOR AFFECTED VEHICLES, COVERED UNDER NEW WARRANTY ONLY. OWNER EVENTUALLY REPLACED SUBFRAME WITH UPDATED ONE OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ID
11023620
Incident
Apr 9, 2015
Mileage
103,834 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 9, 2017

I RECIEVED AN ERROR MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADOCK WITH THE FEAR OF SOMETHING HAPPENING AS I HAD MY UNDERAGE SON IN THE CAR DECIDED TO STOP AND CHECK THE CODE WHICH READ CCID 186 AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 3 SERIES I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED WITH THE AMMOUNT OF CLAIMS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY BMW AS IT IS OVER 1.5K TO FIX OUT OF WARRANTY .

NHTSA ID
10994253
Incident
Jun 4, 2017
Steering
Filed Feb 13, 2017

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, BEFORE I STARTED VEHICLE I NOTICED A RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD, I TRIED TO TURN VEHICLE ON AND UNFORPTUNATELY MY CAR WON'T START.

NHTSA ID
10954231
Incident
Feb 10, 2017
Mileage
169,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 19, 2016

I HAVE A 2007 BMW 335I WITH A LOCKED STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAVE BEEN A NON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM FROM THE RELEASE OF THE CAR. BMW REFUSES TO HELP THERE OWNERS EVEN WHEN THE ESTIMATED REPAIR IS ABOUT 2000. THIS ITEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO, MY STEERING LOCKED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING INTHE CITY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER BEFORE I HIT SOMETHING. HTTP://BMWPROBLEM.COM/TAG/STEERING/PAGE/5/

NHTSA ID
10865731
Incident
May 1, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 8, 2015

JUST THE OTHER DAY I DECIDED TO TAKE A TRIP TO THE STORE . I STEPPED IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO STATE IT. I GOT THE ( ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION ) IT AUTOMATICALLY DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED . I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND IT WOULD COST ME UP TOWARDS $1500 OUT OF POCKET .. THAT IS CRAZY !! NOW I HAVE A HEAVY AND EXPENSIVE PAPER WEIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY . I DID SOME RESEARCH ON A COUPLE OF BMW FORUMS TO DO SOME HOME WORK I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE . THE KICKER IS ITS A DEALER PART ONLY . I HAVE NOW CHOICE BUT TO GO THE DEALERSHIP AND BE FORCED TO PAY PREMIUM PRICES FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THE IS COMMON TO BREAK . ITS A SENSOR THAT IS LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE CAR THAT FAILS . BMW DESIGNED THE STEERING COLUMN TO BE ONE UNIT SO I HAVE TO CHANGE OUT THE WHOLE COLUMN INSTEAD THE EFFECTED PROBLEM WHICH COST NOTHING IN COMPARISON. HOW IS THIS MY FAULT . WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY THIS OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF MY HANDS . *TR

NHTSA ID
10692794
Incident
Mar 6, 2015
Mileage
64,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 19, 2014

THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A KNOWN AND CONSISTENT PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, YET NO RECALL. A FAULTY LOCK MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN COULD LEAD TO A FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626231
Incident
Aug 15, 2014
Mileage
42,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Apr 15, 2014

MY SERPENTINE BELT (DRIVE BELT) SNAPPED AND SHATTERED CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES. THIS BELT DRIVES ALL THE ACCESORIES( ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING, AC, ETC). THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW, THERE IS A SIB 11 09 08 THAT STATES THE ISSUE AND HOW TO GO ABOUT CHECKING IT BY THE DEALER. THE ISSUE IS THE DESIGN FLAW IN THE POWER STEERING PULLY HITTING THE SUB FRAME AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BELT AND IN TURN THE BELT SNAPPING. THIS CAN/WILL CAUSE A FATALITY ONE DAY BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROLS. THE BELT ON MY VEHICLE WAS REPLACED BEFORE ON 12/20/12 FOR THE SAME REASON AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN 1.5 YEARS AND THE SAME PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ID
10582879
Incident
Apr 14, 2014
Mileage
89,290 mi
Body & structureElectricalSteering+1 more
Filed Jul 25, 2013

DRIVING NORMALLY, ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN ONTO A STREET MY POWER STEERING FAILS AND I GET A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ABOUT BATTERY CHARGING MALFUNCTION. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT TURNS OUT MY ACCESSORY BELT THAT DRIVES THE AC COMPRESSOR, POWER STEERING PUMP AND ALTERNATOR WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND NOT ON THE PULLEYS. I HAVE DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE PULLEYS IN MY CAR. MY POWER STEERING PULLEY IS MISSING BIG CHUNKS BECAUSE OF IMPACT WITH THE SUB-FRAME. THIS IS A KNOWN SERVICE BULLETIN ( SIB 11 09 08 ) THE POWER STEERING PULLEY IMPACTS THE SUB-FRAME BECAUSE OF MOTOR MOVEMENT WHEN HITTING BUMPS ETC.. THIS CAUSED MY BELT TO BE RIPPED INTO SHREDS AND BREAK OFF BIG CHUNKS OF MY POWER STEERING PULLEY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10531871
Incident
Jul 21, 2013
Mileage
59,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 28, 2013

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT START AFTER DRIVING IT. IF I DRIVE NORMAL WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORMAL IT LOCKS. I CAN'T RESTART THE CAR. I TURN THE STEERING BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. I HAVE EVEN GONE AS FAR AS TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND THEM RESTART IT. I'M SCARED THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK WHILE I'M DRIVING I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I DON'T WANT OUT LIVES AT JEOPARDY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10522233
Incident
Mar 7, 2012
Mileage
61,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 2, 2013

STEERING WHEEL LOCK SENSOR ACTIVATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10501043
Incident
Mar 2, 2013
Mileage
80,427 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 27, 2013

STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGED NOT WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS PARKED WENT TO GET IN CAR AND START IT BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS ENGAGED. TURN STEERING WHEEL TO START ENGINE WAS THE MESSAGE THAT APPEARED ON SCREEN. TRIED EVERYTHING EVEN CALLED BMW DEALERSHIP TO ASK FOR HELP. TRIED EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME FOR HOURS. IT STILL WONT START. NEEDS TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND FIXED. WHERE THE CAR WASN'T MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE I HAVE READ MANY OF FORUMS AND THREADS ABOUT STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON 07 335I AND HAVING MANY PROBLEMS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THANKYOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10500691
Incident
Feb 26, 2013
Mileage
105,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 23, 2012

MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP ON ME OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. BMW DEALER IN RALEIGH NC (LEITH BMW ON CAPITAL BLVD) SAID THAT TO FIX IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449036
Incident
Feb 20, 2012
Mileage
48,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 20, 2012

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TT

NHTSA ID
10444676
Incident
Jan 6, 2012
Mileage
56,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 20, 2012

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TT

NHTSA ID
10444674
Incident
Jan 6, 2012
Mileage
56,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 20, 2011

RED STEERING WHEEL WITH PADLOCK IN THE DASH. DOESN'T GO AWAY AT ALL. COST SEVERAL THOUSAND TO FIX. CAR WON'T START SOMETIMES OTHERS IT WILL BUT STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T LOCK. SEARCHED ONLINE AND TONS OF OTHER 2006-2007 BMW OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, ONCE THEY FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM THEY STARTED KEEPING ALL THE PARTS ION STOCK. I EVEN SPOKE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT SAYS THEY HAVE 2 CARS A WEEK FOR THIS; ABSOLUTELY INSANE FOR ONE DEALERSHIP. ITS A WELL KNOWN DEFAULT BUT NOT RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TO LOCK WHILE SOMEONE WAS DRIVING IT COULD BE FATAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10426414
Incident
May 2, 2011
Mileage
61,000 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 .