There are 12 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2007 BMW 3 Seriesin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
No past issues with brakes. No warning lights. Went to brake and pedal went to the floor. Christmas tree of lights go off about brake/abs/traction control issue. Press pedal agian, same thing. Press again, and finally get brakes. I was going about 35mph. Luckily I didn't coast through a busy intersection, but if this happened somewhere else, I or others could be dead. I had room to maneuver and avoid an accident. There is no hydraulic issue. There is no leak, fluid is full. Brakes work perfectly fine since this. My guess is that the ABS valves went full open, like it thought all wheels were locked up even though they never even braked. I have not yet had it diagnosed, but the result is irrelevant since this did happen and happened without warning and without a good cause. So it should be reported and tracked. I don't feel the ABS should ever have a failure mode of full open no brakes. Even if the car is old and high mileage (179k).
ABS HYDRAULIC PUMP UNIT FAILURE. THIS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A LACK OF BREAKING CAPACITY IN ALL CONDITIONS. THE COST TO REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVE AND FROM THE SEARCH OF THE INTERNET IT IS PERVASIVE IN THE 2005-2010 MODEL YEARS IN THE 3 SERIES BMW.
5DF0 - PUMP UNIT FAULTY 5DF1 - PUMP UNIT PLUG FAULTY . *TR
I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW BMW X3 IN 2007. THERE WERE SMALL ISSUES IN THE PAST BUT WITHING MY MANUFACTURER WARRENTY PERIOD. I HAD MY REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED ON JAN 23, 2012. ON JAN 30, 2012, WHEN I DROVE MY X3 OUT MY SUBDIVISON TO GO TO WORK, THE BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND 4/4 LIGHT ALL ON, PLUS LOAD CLUNK TYPE NOISE FROM REAR, IT WAS DIFFICAULT TO MAKE A U-TURN, MANAGED BACK TO HOME, CALLED BMW UNITEDBMW DEALER AND TOWED MY VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY FIRST TOLD ME THAT IS SOFTWARE FAILURE, THEY WOULD TRY REPROGRAM TO FIX, THEN CALLED TO TELL THE RE-PROGRAM DID NOT WORK, IT WAS MECHANICAL TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR BROKEN, A NEW ONE MUST BE INSTALLED. THE TOTAL CHARGE FOR REPAIR (PART + LABOR - DISCOUNT) IS $2354.97. IT WAS IN THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT IT WAS MY BAD LUCK, NOT CAR'S OWN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE MILAGE IS LESS THAN 40K. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, FOUND THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF SIMILAR CASES AND CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS. LOOKS LIKE BMW (2007 AND 2008) MODELS HAVE LUBRICANT PROBLEM, LATER BMW SWITCHED WITH DIFFERENT LUBRICANT. INTERNET ESTIMATION SAYS THAT ~30% OF THE VEHICHLES (2007 & 2008) DEMONSTRATED THIS ISSUE. AS A CONSUMER, I AM TRYING TO URGE ANY CAR MAKER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. BUT I NEVER GET ANY NOTICE OR RECALL FROM BMW DEALERS OR MAKER IN THE PAST AND WHEN THE PROBLEM SURFACED. *TR
AFTER BEING SERVICE BY DEALER FOR 4 DAYS WHICH INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HEAVY TOXIC SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF VENTILATOR OF AC SYSTEM. I IMMEDIATELY STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND IN A FEW MINUTES SMOKE AND FLAMES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT BURN THE CAR. FLAMES AND BLACK PLASTIC WERE COMING ALSO UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT RIGHT IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT. DEALER QUOTED $25000 FOR REPAIR AND INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT TOTAL LOSS. CAR WAS DELIVERED TO DEALER WHO HAS KEPT IT FOR A MONTH, ENGINEER FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA CAME AND INSPECTED BUT NO REPORT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THEM OR DEALER. THIS COMPANY HAS NO CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF CONSUMERS AND SHOULD BE PENALIZE. AFTER HAVING OWNED SIX BMW'S I FEEL THESE AUTOS ARE NOT SAFE. *TR
CONSUMER STATED, MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 10-15 MPH HER BMW SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NOTICED THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE HYDRAULIC PUMP UNIT AND DSC FAILED. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN HE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES; THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN DISPLAYED ABS AND DSC MALFUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
REAR/AND OR FRONT BRAKES ARE NEEDED ON THIS CAR APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6 MONTHS AT LEAST. *TR
ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 50,000 MILES SO I BEGAN TAKING MY VEHICLE TO A LICENSED MECHANIC TO DO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. WHILE DRIVING OVER TO THE MECHANIC FOR A BRAKE CHANGE I WENT TO STOP AND LOST USAGE OF MY BRAKE. THIS RESULTED IN ME MERELY REARENDING THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY MECHANIC REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS; AND THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM. SO HE BEGAN TO LOOK OVER MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THE VACUUM BOOST PUMP FOR MY BAKES WAS POSSIBLY BAD. ONCE OPENED IN THAT AREA HE FOUND THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE SPROCKET WAS BROKEN. PART OF THE BOLT WAS REMAINING AND THE REST IS STILL MISSING SOMEWHERE IN MY ENGINE. TOWED MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT DRIVABLE TO BMW OF RIVERSIDE TO HAVE THEM LOOK IT OVER AND FIX THE FAULTY BOLT. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WANTS SERVICED THERE FOR ONE YEAR DUE TO THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO FILE A CLAIM TO INVESTIGATE IT UNDER A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE BMW OF RIVERSIDE SAID IT WAS A MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT IT IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE. SUSAN MONJELLI FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA FILED MY CLAIM AND HAD A ENGINEER LOOK A MY VEHICLE AGAIN. SHE IS CLAIMING BECAUSE I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC OTHER THAN BMW THAT MY MECHANIC MUST HAVE BROKEN THE BOLT AND THAT IT ISN'T BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY. MY MECHANIC HAS NEVER TOUCHED THIS ITEM. HE STATES THAT THE SPROCKETS AND THE CHAIN ARE LODGED AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED IS WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING, NOT BUY HIM WORKING ON IT IN ANY WAY. ALSO THERE IS A WEBSITE SAYING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART IN OLD AND NEW BMW VEHICLES. *TR
BMW 335I MASTER BRAKE AND ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WITHOUT PARTS AVAILABLE IN USA, CANADA, NOR EUROPE TO EFFECT REPAIR. BMW WILL NOT EXPLAIN THE ABSENCE OF PARTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE CANNOT BE CURRENTLY SERVICED WITH NO ESTIMATE FOR PART AVAILABILITY. SUSPECT AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET SURFACED. *TR
BRAKE PEDAL HARD AFTER CAR SITS 708 MILES. INCIDENT DATE: 11/02/07 DEFECTIVE VACUUM PIPE REPLACED. BRAKE PEDAL HARD AFTER CAR SITS 1899 MILES. INCIDENT DATE: 12/18/07 DEFECTIVE PRESSURE HOSE REPLACED. BRAKE PEDAL HARD WHILE STOPPING. TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL HARD AFTER CAR SITS. 2630 MILES. INCIDENT DATE: 12/31/07. BRAKE SERVO, BRAKE BOOSTER, VACUUM PUMP, AND 2 VACUUM PIPES REPLACED. BRAKE PEDAL HARD WHILE STOPPING. TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL HARD AFTER CAR SITS. 7300 MILES. INCIDENT DATE: 09/20/2008. CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 335I. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE COMPUTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026