2007 BMW 3 Series Latches/Locks
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY DOOR THAT OPENED WAS THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR. THE OTHER DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328 XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REMOTE KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK ALL OF THE DOORS AND THE KEY HAD TO BE USED TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR USING THE MANUAL KEY OR THE ELECTRONIC KEY FOB. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS ALSO AFFECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO WAS WAITING FOR THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
DOOR LOCKED IN POSITION, UNABLE TO GET OUT OF CAR. NO MANUAL WAY TO GET OUT OF CAR. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. FINALLY ABLE TO UNLOCK USING KEY. WHEN SPEAKING TO BMW SERVICE CENTER (WALTERS OF RIVERSIDE) ABOUT ISSUE, THEY SAID IF KEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IGNITION THE CAR WOULD HAVE UNLOCKED. NOW EPISODE HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT UNABLE TO GET OUT OF CAR. KEY DOES NOT WORK EVEN IF IN IGNITION. LUCKILY, THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS UNLOCK AND I WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT. NOW DOORS ARE LOCK SO I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I AM UNABLE TO GET INTO THE CAR. *TR
DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED. CANNOT UNLOCK DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE CAR WITH CENTRAL UNLOCK, KEY FOB, OR DOOR LEVER. *TR
THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK WITH THE FOB. I WAS LOCKED IN SIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN I FINALLY GOT OUT AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM OUTSIDE, THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS. I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR DURING A HEAVY RAIN FALL ON THE ROAD LAST YEAR DUE TO THE DOORS NOT UNLOCKING. *TR
THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK. THE LOCKS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT DOORS WERE LOCKED BUT THE BACK DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AT ALL. I COULD OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR MANUALLY AND THATS PRETTY MUCH IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE WITH THE USE OF THE KEY FOB OR MANUALLY, THE FOUR POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK HOWEVER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD UNLOCK MANUALLY WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
BMW 335I INTERIOR DOORS WERE LOCKED DUE TO ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE OF THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM. I HAD TO UNROLL THE WINDOWS AND CRAWL OUT AND PULL MY KIDS OUT OF THE BACK SEATS THROUGH THE WINDOWS. IF THIS WERE AN ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE INJURIES AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO QUICKLY GET OUT OF THE CAR. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A SERIAL PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED; WHENEVER SHE UNLOCKED THE DOORS THE LATCH ON THE FRONT DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED SHE NEEDED ALL FOUR ACTUATORS TO FUNCTION IN ORDER FOR THE LOCKS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR COST WAS $1200 AT HER EXPENSE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR ON OUR 2007 BMW 328I. THE DOOR LOCKS SEEM TO BE STUCK WITH NO WAY TO OPEN THEM EXCEPT THE DRIVERS DOOR WHICH WILL STILL OPEN WITH TWO PULLS ON THE DOOR RELEASE LATCH. ALL OTHER DOORS AND THE FUEL FILLER DOOR ARE STUCK CLOSED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS EVERYONE HAS TO EXIT THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR OR THROUGH THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON WITH THESE CARS. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND HAVE A FIX WHICH MAKES THE DOORS OPEN EVEN WITH AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR
2007 328XI CURRENTLY AT 65700MI. UNABLE TO UNLOCK CAR USING KEY FOB OR INSIDE BUTTON ON DASH. WINDOWS WORK, HANDLES LIGHT UP. CAN HEAR AN AUDIBLE SOUND WHEN CAR IS TRYING TO UNLOCK. CANNOT OPEN WITHOUT USING VALET KEY. CAN EXIT FROM DRIVER SIDE ONLY USING HANDLE. ALL OTHER DOORS CANNOT UNLOCK AS WELL AS GAS CAP. SAFETY HAZARD IF PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE FOR ANY REASON. *TR
DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO UNLOCK EITHER WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL OR THE INSIDE DOOR LOCK BUTTON (CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM). DOORS EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN EVEN USING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THE DRIVERS DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE USING THE KEY. MY WIFE AND I WERE LOCKED IN THE CAR IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 100 DEGREES. WE DID NOT EVEN REALIZE THE LOCKS DID NOT WORK UNTIL WE RETURNED HOME FROM A BRIEF TRIP. HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THE GAS FILLER DOOR IS LINKED TO THE DOOR LOCKS AND WOULD ALSO NOT OPEN. IT SEEMED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ARE ONLY ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED WITH NO MANUAL LINKAGE SINCE LIFTING THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. AFTER FINALLY GETTING OUT OF THE CAR I DID SOME QUICK RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FUSE HAD BLOWN SO I REPLACED THE FUSE BUT I AM SURE IT WILL FAIL AGAIN. CANNOT TRUST THE CAR NOW SO WILL BE GETTING RID OF IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN WHEN THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR
2007 BMW 335XI DOOR LOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD AND THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED TWICE. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN AND THE ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE AND EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE, AND THE SECOND REPAIR BY THE DEALER WAS TO PUT IN A LARGER VALUSE FUSE. THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A PROPER REPAIR. I AM SURE THAT TERE IS STILL SOMETHING WRONG AND THAT AS IT CONTINUES TO DEGRADE I WILL BE LOCKED IN THE CAR AGAIN. IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION THIS COULD BE DEADLY. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE POWER LOCKS WERE FUNCTIONING. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MANUALLY BY USING THE KEY. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE DOORS, EXCEPT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT COULD BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAIN FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
I HAVE A 2007 3 SERIES. PRIOR TO THAT, I OWNED A 2000 BMW 3 SERIES THAT NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CAME OUT TO MY CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH REMOTE. AFTER CHECKING TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T THE BATTERY IN THE FOB, I THEN HAD TO MANUALLY USE KEY TO OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THEN UPON BEING INSIDE CAR, I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK DOOR USING BUTTON ON DASH. MY CAR IS IN SHOP AND I AM TOLD IT IS A BLOWN FUSE NEEDING AN ACTUATOR REPLACED. I WAS TOLD IT'S ALSO AFFECTING MY GAS TANK, MEANING I WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN GAS TANK TO PUT IN GAS. AFTER RESEARCHING, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2007 3 SERIES. AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE OF GETTING TRAPPED IN YOUR CAR. I AM REALLY UPSET I AM HAVING TO SHELL OUT MONEY FOR THIS, AS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION WITH 25K MILES. I HOPE THIS WILL BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL AS THIS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD/LAW SUIT! *TR
NONE OF MY DOORS WILL UNLOCK IN MY 2007 328XI WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES. I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE MANUAL KEY AND THEN IT ONLY UNLOCK MY DRIVER DOOR...ALL OTHER DOORS AND THE GAS TANK WILL NOT UNLOCK....NOT EVEN PULLING THE HANDLES FROM THE INTERIOR. THIS IS A VERY BAD DESIGN FLAW AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE A 5 AND A 2 YEAR OLD. WHAT IF I WERE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE MY BATTERY WERE TO DIE AND THE WINDOWS WERE UP. I AND MY CHILDREN WOULD PERISH IN THE HEAT OF OUR GEORGIA SUMMER. THE ENGINEERS NEED TO FIX THIS SAFETY HAZARD IMMEDIATELY OTHERWISE A LIFE IS GOING TO DIE! *TR
PASSENGER AND REAR DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK EVEN FROM THE INSIDE. KEY FOB, INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTON AND MANUAL DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS MAKING PASSENGERS HAVE TO EXIT THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR OR WINDOWS. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE. PULLING ON HANDLE WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR NOR WILL THE UNLOCK BUTTON FOR ALL LOCKS ON CAR. IN ADDITION THE REMOTE KEY FOB WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. RANDOM OCCURRENCE. WORKED PERFECTLY FINE IN THE MORNING AND THEN MALFUNCTIONED LATER ON IN THE DAY. SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. *TR
ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED ON ALL FOUR DOORS. COULD NOT UNLOCK ANY PASSENGER DOOR UNTIL FUSE INSIDE GLOVE BOX WAS REPLACED. DRIVER COULD EXIT THE DRIVERS DOOR BY MANUALLY LIFTING DOOR HANDLE. NO APPARENT MEANS TO OPEN ANY PASSENGER DOORS (OR GAS DOOR COVER) UNTIL THE FUSE WAS REPLACED. HAD THERE HAVE BEEN A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER, THAT OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OVER CONSOLE AND EXIT THE DRIVERS DOOR TO EVEN ALLOW ACCESS TO THE FUSE PANEL. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND BASED ON MY ONLINE RESEARCH, IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. IF THIS PROBLEM WERE TO OCCUR AND THEN AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE NONE OF THE PASSENGERS COULD EXIT RAPIDLY. *TR
2007 BMW 328XI. THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UTILIZING REMOTE NOR OPEN/CLOSE LOCK BUTTON IN THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAN OPEN EVEN FROM THE INSIDE. *TR
SIB 51 19 07, CAR DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND WAS FORCED TO EXIT THROUGH WINDOW. *TR
THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NHTSA HAS LEARNED OF THROUGH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE? MY 2007 BMW 328XI DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED AT 52,660 MILES: THE KEY FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS (THE DOOR HANDLES WILL LIGHT UP). I HAVE TO USE THE VALET KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT ONLY THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL UNLOCK. EACH OF THESE DOORS (DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER) CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE BY PULLING ON THE HANDLE. THE OTHER TWO DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED AT ALL. THIS ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN: SUPPOSE I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CAR WAS ONE OF THE TWO DOORS WHICH ARE NOT UNLOCKABLE? *TR
MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED IN OCTOBER 2010. A FUSE WAS REPLACED. THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2010. BOTH TIMES I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I USED THE MANUAL KEY IN THE KEY FOB TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. IF I HAD BEEN INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED, THE ONLY WAY OUT WOULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE WINDOWS. WHEN THE LOCKS FAILED, ALL DOORS WERE FROZEN CLOSED AND THE INTERIOR OVERRIDE DID NOT WORK. THIS COULD BE SERIOUS IF THERE WAS A NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT THE CAR. ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVED PETS, CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY. *TR
2007 BMW 328XI. LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED. UNABLE TO UNLOCK PASSENGER DOORS EITHER WITH THE KEY OR BY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE. ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR WAS ABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD TO HAVE MY WIFE AND KIDS CRAWL OUT THE WINDOWS ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT SO THAT WE COULD ATTEND CHURCH. BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED PROPERLY. *TR
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2007 BMW 3 Series has 45 Latches/Locks complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.