RoadVitals

2011 BMW 335

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest Nov 9, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 5, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
1 currently open
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 28 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 BMW 335, most frequently naming the airbags, engine and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags1130.6%
  • Engine822.2%
  • Electrical513.9%
  • Fuel system411.1%
  • Powertrain (other)38.3%
  • Body & structure25.6%
  • Other / unspecified25.6%
  • Tires & wheels12.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Feb 5, 2016
840,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA21002OpenEngineering Analysis

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Nov 9, 2018

I PURCHASED NEW PIRELLI PZERO TIRES FROM MY LOCAL BMW DEALER. THE REAR TIRES EXHIBITED INTERMITTENT AIR LOSS AND WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THE DEALER BELIEVED THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION. THE SECOND SET OF REAR TIRES ALSO EXHIBITED INTERMITTENT AIR LOSS. THE DEALER BELIEVED THE WHEELS WERE DAMAGED AND CAUSING THE AIR LOSS. I HAD A WHEEL SPECIALIST INSPECT THE WHEELS, AND THEY FOUND NO DEFECTS TO CAUSE AIR LOSS. THE WHEEL SPECIALIST FOUND THE TIRES TO BE DEFECTIVE AS THEY HAVE EXCESS MATERIAL AT THE BEAD THAT PREVENTS PROPER SEALING ON THE RIM. THE WHEEL SPECIALIST ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE EXCESS MATERIAL FROM ONE TIRE TO DETERMINE IF THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE PROBLEM, WHICH IT DID TO SOME EXTENT. I CALLED PIRELLI AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE ONE REAR TIRE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT THE TIRE THAT WAS WORKED UPON BY THE WHEEL SPECIALIST. IN SUMMARY, I EXPERIENCED TWO SETS OF DEFECTIVE PIRELLI P ZERO TIRES LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH ADDITIONAL TIRES. I HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF THE LEAKS SEEN DURING A LEAK TEST.

NHTSA ID
11150245
Incident
Apr 26, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 26, 2018

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD TODAY IN MY 2011 335I XDRIVE AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED! NO ROCK HIT ME, IT WAS LIKE A SHOTGUN WENT OFF INSIDE MY CAR, I'M RETIRED MILITARY, A VETERANS OF ALL THE WARS/CONFLICTS FROM 89-2009 HAD MORTARS FLYING OVER MY HEAD AND PATRIOT BATTERYS TAKING OUT SCUDS OVERHEAD. IT'S A GOOD THING I DON'T HAVE PTSD, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE CAUSED A HUGE ACCIDENT AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE! GLASS PIECES EVERYWHERE, IN MY LAP, MOUTH AND IN THE CAR. THERE ARE TWO PARALLEL LINES OF MISSING GLASS, I HAVE TAPED ALL OF IT SO IT DOESN'T FALL DOWN. I CALLED BMW IF MURRAY UTAH, THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND MY WARRANTY IS PAST THEY SAID NO RECALL IS OUT FOR THIS.

NHTSA ID
11143072
Incident
Oct 26, 2018
Mileage
76,468 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 31, 2018

PERTAINING TO NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V676 THAT WAS ISSUED IN OCTOBER OF 2017, I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE IN DECEMBER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE RECALL BUT WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE CHECKING ITS WEBSITE FOR STATUS AND THE REP COULD NOT PROVIDE A TIMEFRAME AS TO WHEN I CAN BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. WE ARE NOW AT THE END OF JANUARY, MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED AND STILL NO ETA AS TO WHEN A FIX WILL BE AVAILABLE. WHEN THERE'S A SAFETY RISK INVOLVED, I'M NOT SURE WHY THERE WAS NOT AN URGENCY BEING PLACED ON THIS RECALL FROM BMW.

NHTSA ID
11066007
Incident
Jan 31, 2018
Airbags
Filed Dec 9, 2017

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED TWO BMW RETAILERS IN MY AREA ASKING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED AND BOTH RESPONSES WERE "WE DON'T HAVE THE PART BUT WILL ORDER IT AND CALL YOU BACK WHEN READY TO SCHEDULE THE REPLACEMENT". I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM EITHER AND I CONTACTED BMW MOUNTAIN VIEW OVER 9 MONTHS AGO AND BMW PETER PAN OVER 4 MONTHS AGO. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY SINCE THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG THAT COULD BE DEPLOYED IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE THIS NEVER HAPPENS BUT THE FACT THERE IS A KNOWN THREAT IN MY CAR WHICH COULD BE LIFE THREATENING AT ANY MOMENT AND THERE IS NO URGENCY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE FROM BMW OR THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURER IS VERY DISAPPOINTING.

NHTSA ID
11053642
Incident
Jun 8, 2017
Electrical
Filed Nov 23, 2017

BLOWER MOTOR SYSTEM CONNECTORS RECALL. RECALL INCOMPLETE REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11048176
Incident
Nov 2, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 14, 2017

TAKATA RECALL WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHATS GOING WITH THIS RECALL. ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND STILL THIS ISSUE HASENT GOT REAOLVE.

NHTSA ID
11015090
Incident
Aug 14, 2017
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jul 28, 2017

FEB 05,2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERNA NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V071 RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG: DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE THAT COULD CAUSE THE INFLATOR TO RUPTURE. EVEN THOUGH RECALL BEGUN A YEAR AND HALF AGO, WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED OUR FINAL NOTIFICATION LETTER YET FROM BMW. EVERYDAY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, DRIVER IS AT RISK.

NHTSA ID
11011253
Incident
Feb 5, 2016
Fuel system
Filed Mar 21, 2017

WARNING LIGHT "ENGINE MALFUNCTION"" ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT "HAPPENS RANDOMLY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS , APPARENTLY DUE TO A KNOWN BMW ISSUE WITH THE FUEL PUMP ON VARIOUS MODELS

NHTSA ID
10967583
Incident
Mar 19, 2017
Mileage
97,106 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

SIM010717

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The engine?s intake charge-air duct limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles applies to ?eligible USspecification

SIB-63-11-14

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

BMW: ON SOME VEHICLES, WHEN STARTING, LOW BEAM, WITH 0552 OPTION, WOULD BRIEFLY FLASHES, DUE TO A FAULTY LED MAIN LIGHT MODULE THAT NEEDS REPLACING. MODEL 2008-14 F01, F02, F06, F07, F10, F12, F13, F25. *PE

SIB-12-14-12

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BMW: DIFFERENT FAULT CODES STORED FOR THE N51, N52K, N52T, AND N55 ENGINES IN THE DME RELATED TO VANOS AND CAMSHAFT POSITION. *KB UPDATED 11/1/13. *PE UPDATED 05/05/2014 *JS

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 335 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013111
2012411
2011Viewing281139.0
2010611
2009121148.2
2008611
2007911
2006011

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.