Fuel System complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 | 5% | 3,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 29% | 71,000 miles |
| 2010 | 3 | 10% | 80,000 miles |
| 2009 | 10 | 19% | 60,000 miles |
| 2008 | 8 | 12% | 70,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 10% | 50,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 1% | 132,000 miles |
| 2004 | 1 | 1% | 79,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 4% | 77,000 miles |
| 2002 | 1 | 4% | 200,000 miles |
| 2001 | 6 | 17% | 130,000 miles |
| 2000 | 2 | 2% | 113,000 miles |
| 1999 | 1 | 17% | 150,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Faulty fuel injectors. Known problem at BMW and mechanics. BMW has offered an "limited warranty extension". Why wasn't it a full recall? My vehicle was not in an accident. I'm reporting it only as a concern.
We leased a new 2010 BMW 335d (diesel) on 12/12/09. On 2/28/10, the car failed to start for the second time after a very heavy rain and was towed to a nearby BMW dealer. We told the service supervisor that we believed there was water in the system resulting from the rain. After examining the car, he told us that the car's failure to start twice after a heavy rain was just a coincidence, that there was no water in the system and that the problem was the result of faulty glow plugs, which would take a while to come from Germany. He also informed us that repair efforts would be further delayed because no dealerships in the area had trained diesel mechanics and they would have to consult a diesel expert on the east coast. We picked up the car on 3/11/10. The following morning, the car started erratically and ran poorly, so we returned it to the dealer for repair. …
March 28, 2018 - driving on the freeway, car suddenly comes to a stop and shows message fuel pump with car on rock icon. Car gets towed. Next day mechanic says it ran out of gas, added gas started the car. March 29, 2018 car stalls after 5 miles near the ramp of exit. Get the car towed to another mechanic. Mechanic does not find any problems. April 14th, 2018 - car stops on the freeway. Tow it to mechanic mechanic says that its related to fuel tank sensor. This causes a wrong reading of level of gas in the car. Mechanic changes it and car runs OK for 2 months. June 21, 2018 - car stops on the freeway with the same message "service engine soon" with the car on rock icon. I get towing service to add gas and wait for an hour. Restart the car and it works. The message is gone, the icon is gone. This is the fourth time I was stranded on the freeway.
4 months ago my car stopped suddenly mechanic changed fuel pump , couple weeks after that it happens again I took it back and the mechanic said everything is OK , I went home and today I was driving on the highway when the car suddenly stopped again, I was so scared I just want to know if you going to fix this problem
I own a 2008 335i twin turbo BMW 3 Series, while driving I started smelling a fresh gas smell in the back of my car inside and outside, really strong smell so much I have to keep my windows down and it gives me a headache and I feel like my car is going to catch on fire with any given spark and it could, the certified mechanic said my fuel pump assembly is faulty so I went online and there is a recall on the 2008 335i twin turbo but for some reason when I called BMW they said my car is not on the recall list so they wont fix it! My car has the problem, my car has apx 80,000 , eighty thousand miles oni it. Why is my car not covered when it has the problem of all the other cars? This is a very dangerous situation I have. Please help. Thank you for your time
This is for 2 NHTSA recalls issued 10/25/17 and 10/30/17 NHTSA recall number17v676 and NHTSA recall number17v683. It is now 3 months later and BMW of north America still has no remedy available! Both recall statements caution that "over time" the part could deteriorate, leading to the car catching on fire. Since the car is 10 years old, I am concerned that the BMW definition of "over time" has been met, and therefore we are left with a non-driveable car due to their warnings. How long should one wait with no compensation, either mobility or financial?
My vehicle did not have a recall on the following items: hpfp, fuel injectors, wastegate. Failure- long crank, engine malfunction light, engine service soon light, clicking(rattling) coming from bottom of car(waste gate), car lose power on freeway, when rev clicking in the fuel injectors. Please help I have read many people had the same problem and many people were issue a recall. I haven't got one and am 100% positive these three items needs repair. My car is a 2007 BMW 335i and has not been issued the recall for those 3 failures. 89450 mileage please issue one. Thank you I just bought the car as of 5/15/2013 from private owner and noticed the problem till 6/12/2013 and still experiencing these problems daily.
My car had all 6 fuel injectors replaced at 35,[redacted] miles back in feb of 2010. Now at 69,285 miles all six have failed again. The car went into limp mode causing someone to rear end me on an on ramp. Failing injectors seems to be a common problem for this engine. These injectors have a 120,000 mile service interval but they failed for me at nearly exactly 35,000 twice. Hopefully enough people will make this an issue to have this become a recall.
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 3 Series years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (12), 2009 (10), 2008 (8) and 2001 (6) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for BMW 3 Series fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for any BMW 3 Series model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do BMW 3 Series fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles; 34% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the storage › tank assembly › mounting (1 mentions), followed by the delivery › fuel pump (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.