2007 BMW X3 recalls and problems

The 2007 BMW X3 has 3 safety recalls and 99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

3 / 9

Injuries / deaths

6 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2007 BMW X3 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2007 BMW X3 recalls

Recall 20V-017: Air Bags

Reported Jan 15, 2020 · 59,965 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall 17V-683: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Oct 30, 2017 · 740,561 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall 17V-605: Air Bags

Reported Sep 28, 2017 · 85,302 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2010 BMW X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i and X3 xDrive30i Sports Activity Vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.

Risk: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. A second notification letter will be sent when parts are available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

2007 BMW X3 problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Air Bags	37
Engine	26
Engine and Engine Cooling	16
Seats	14
Unknown or Other	12
Electrical System	11
Power Train	6
Vehicle Speed Control	3
Visibility/Wiper	2
Exterior Lighting	2
Steering	2
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	1

Most reported parts

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Crankcase (Pcv) — 2
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger — 1
Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler — 1
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 110,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2007 BMW X3 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · at 14,000 miles · reported Aug 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2007 BMW X3. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer to be repaired under an undisclosed Takata recall repair; however, after the recall repair was performed, the horn became inoperable. Additionally, several buttons on the steering wheel also became inoperable. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the ignition switch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Air Bags · reported Jul 31, 2025

Iâm writing to escalate an unresolved issue following a recent airbag takata recall repair performed at BMW of Manhattan on my 2007 BMW X3 VIN [XXX] ) , license [XXX] Prior to the recall service, there were no airbag or SRS warning lights on my dashboard. Immediately after the repair, however, the airbag light appeared, and I have since been informed by the dealership that it is unrelated to their work and my responsibility to address â despite this issue arising only after their service. This raises serious safety and liability concerns, especially considering the recall involved the…

Engine · reported Jan 5, 2024

Had it in bmw dealership for recall to be fixed, that caused my engine light to come on. My engine light was still in when I went back to get it. They said au had to pay $100.00 to have the engine light off. I said I'm not paying if it's a recall. They refused to do anything else. I took it home and put my code reader on it and it was showing code for the part that Was not changed under recall. I have been calling them since and they have not called me back.

Seats · reported Nov 9, 2023

I was driving my daughter to school this morning and turned on the seat warmers/heaters. After a few minutes on the road, I started to smell something burning. I couldnât identify the smell and wondered if it was coming from the heater. I touched the left edge of the driver seat and was immediately burned on my hand. I quickly turned off the seat heaters and noticed that the left edge of the seat was burning. Yes, the safety of me and my daughter was at risk. I swerved when it burned me. No accident, fortunately. This is a known issue from what Iâve researched and it seems a recall was…

Unknown or Other · reported Oct 18, 2023

Summary of complaint: We own a 2007 BMW X3 SUV that we have taken to the BMW Mt. Laurel NJ dealership for service since we bought the car over five years ago. On August 15th 2023, we took the car for a scheduled service and oil change. We paid $3000 + and brought the car back home first week of September when the car was purportedly repaired. My husband noticed that the car was not driving quite well. The steering was tight. When we called BMW they told us it might take a few drives for things to get back to normal. Then our 29 yr old daughter came from NYC where she resides to visit is for…

Other BMW X3 years

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2007 BMW X3 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2007 BMW X3: 20V-017 (air bags), 17V-683 (engine and engine cooling), 17V-605 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2007 BMW X3?

Owners report air bags problems most often (37 reports), followed by engine (26). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 110,000 miles.

Are BMW recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.