BMW X3 SAV · model year

2007 BMW X3 SAV

195 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2007BMWX3 SAV carries 195 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 26 fires, 27 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2007 X3 SAV is air bags with 40 filings, followed by seats (37) and power train:automatic transmission (28). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2007 X3 SAV. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

195
Complaints
7
Crashes
26
Fires
27
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

195 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS40
SEATS37
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
ENGINE18
POWER TRAIN15
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)3
STEERING3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
SERVICE BRAKES2
SUSPENSION2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1

Recalls (2)

16V07100005/02/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons,

22V11900002/03/2022

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi);

Recent Complaints

20180831AIR BAGS

MY VEHICLE IS UNDER TWO RECALLS: 17V605 17V683 AS RECOMMENDED, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE BMW DEALER FOR THE RECALLS. THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME STATING THAT THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. SINCE THAT TIME, I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES FROM BMW FOR THE SAME RECALL NUMBERS. YOUR DATABASE SHOWS THAT FOR BOTH RECALLS: "RECALL INCOMPLETE/REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE". I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE "REMEDY" IS "NOT YET AVAILABLE". CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN BMW PROJECTS A "REMEDY" TO BE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT BOTH RECALLS? IT SEEMS LIKE THE TECHNICAL RESOLUTION OF THESE ISSUES WOULD BE FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, ALBEIT SOMEWHAT EXPENSIVE, FOR BMW TO PROCESS. THANK YOU- [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

20180831ENGINE

MY VEHICLE IS UNDER TWO RECALLS: 17V605 17V683 AS RECOMMENDED, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE BMW DEALER FOR THE RECALLS. THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME STATING THAT THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. SINCE THAT TIME, I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES FROM BMW FOR THE SAME RECALL NUMBERS. YOUR DATABASE SHOWS THAT FOR BOTH RECALLS: "RECALL INCOMPLETE/REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE". I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE "REMEDY" IS "NOT YET AVAILABLE". CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN BMW PROJECTS A "REMEDY" TO BE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT BOTH RECALLS? IT SEEMS LIKE THE TECHNICAL RESOLUTION OF THESE ISSUES WOULD BE FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, ALBEIT SOMEWHAT EXPENSIVE, FOR BMW TO PROCESS. THANK YOU- [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

20180420ENGINE

I RECIEVED A RECALL FOR PVC VALVE HEATER LAST YEAR DEC 2017 UNTIL NOW APRIL 20 2018 MY CAR IS NOT FIX AND I GET OVERHEAT WHEN MY CAR IS STUCK ON TRAFFIC.

20180315FireENGINE

ALL FOUR ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS ARE SHEARED AND COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT AND NO OTHER ISSUES I.E. ENGINE TAKEN OUT AND REUSAGE OF BOLTS, ETC. THE ENGINE WAS SITTING ON THE SURROUNDING CHASSIS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE HEAD TO CRACK AND OIL LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST

Mileage: 110,000

20180220AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY FOR IT. NOT THE DEALER, MANUFACTURER OR TAKATA. THE ISSUE IS THAT I NEED MY CAR AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION FROM TAKATA AND BMW THAT THERE CURRENTLY IS NO REMEDY. MY QUESTION IS SINCE I AM STILL DRIVING MY CAR, IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT, IS THE LIABILITY OF MY PASSENGER MY RESPONSIBILITY? I CANNOT LET THE CAR SIT PARKED UNTIL A REMEDY IS AVAILABLE AS THIS WOULD RUIN THE CARS ENGINE. BMW AND TAKATA HAVE NO REMEDY AND HAVE GIVEN NO ETA WHEN ONE WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. BMW WILL NOT GIVE ME A LOANER UNTIL THIS REMEDY IS FIXED. SO FOR NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR, WHICH IS UNFAIR AS I STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION.

20180220SEATS

TAKATA RECALL - MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY FOR IT. NOT THE DEALER, MANUFACTURER OR TAKATA. THE ISSUE IS THAT I NEED MY CAR AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION FROM TAKATA AND BMW THAT THERE CURRENTLY IS NO REMEDY. MY QUESTION IS SINCE I AM STILL DRIVING MY CAR, IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT, IS THE LIABILITY OF MY PASSENGER MY RESPONSIBILITY? I CANNOT LET THE CAR SIT PARKED UNTIL A REMEDY IS AVAILABLE AS THIS WOULD RUIN THE CARS ENGINE. BMW AND TAKATA HAVE NO REMEDY AND HAVE GIVEN NO ETA WHEN ONE WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. BMW WILL NOT GIVE ME A LOANER UNTIL THIS REMEDY IS FIXED. SO FOR NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR, WHICH IS UNFAIR AS I STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION.

20170530AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); 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. THE CHATTANOOGA BMW DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170525AIR BAGS

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE OVER A YEAR NOW. AND I HAVE RECEIVED THE NOTICE IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL. BUT STILL NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME IN REGARDS TO GET THIS ISSUE CORRECTED. WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW OF LAS VEGAS. STILL HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING AFTER COUPLE OF MONTHS.

20170511FireSEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP, THE CONTACT STEPPED AWAY FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RETURNING, THE INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED FOR THE SEAT TO COOL DOWN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC WIRING FOR THE SEAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Mileage: 58,000

20170511FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP, THE CONTACT STEPPED AWAY FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RETURNING, THE INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED FOR THE SEAT TO COOL DOWN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC WIRING FOR THE SEAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Mileage: 58,000

20170502AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170424AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL TAKATA RECALL DRYER AND REINBOLD BMW, GREENWOOD,IN WILL NOT REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG IN MY VEHICLE. THEY WILL GIVE ME NO TIMEFRAME FOR THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE. THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE WHEN ASKED WHY MY VEHICLE HAS A LOWER PRIORITY FOR REPAIR.

20170419AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3 SAV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170213SEATS

2007 BMW X3 WITH JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOTTOM BURNED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND BURNED THE THIGH OF THE DRIVER WHILE THE SEAT HEATER WAS IN USE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE ON PAVED CITY STREETS. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF BEFORE THE UPHOLSTERY ACTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE.

Mileage: 79,113

20170201FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3 SAV. AFTER A SEAT WARMER WAS ACTIVATED, THE HEAT GENERATED BECAME SO INTENSE THAT IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT, AS WELL AS THE CONTACT'S JACKET AND JEANS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ALTERED TO THE FAILURE DUE TO A BURNING ODOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY HEATING ELEMENT AND THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

Mileage: 111,000

20170201FireSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3 SAV. AFTER A SEAT WARMER WAS ACTIVATED, THE HEAT GENERATED BECAME SO INTENSE THAT IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT, AS WELL AS THE CONTACT'S JACKET AND JEANS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ALTERED TO THE FAILURE DUE TO A BURNING ODOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY HEATING ELEMENT AND THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

Mileage: 111,000

20170119AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" RECALL # 16V071 ISSUED ON 2/5/16 PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO BE REPLACED 16 DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED RESULTING FROM THE TAKATA INFLATORS MALFUNCTION IT IS AN EXTREME HAZARD TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE!

20161211AIR BAGS

I HAVE NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL LETTER TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG.

20161208ENGINE

RIGHT FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET BOLTS SHEARED OFF. 3 OF THE 4 BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF, AND IF THE 4TH HAD SHEARED BEFORE WE GOT IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THIS WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 147,000

20161207AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3 SAV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Compare 2007BMWX3 SAV to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2007 BMW X3 SAV have?
The 2007 BMW X3 SAV has 195 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 26 fires, 27 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2007 BMW X3 SAV?
Yes, the 2007 BMW X3 SAV has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 BMW X3 SAV?
The most-complained component for the 2007 BMW X3 SAV is AIR BAGS with 40 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 2007 BMW X3 SAV safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.