2011 BMW 335I US Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 335I US, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine834.8%
- Electrical313.0%
- Airbags313.0%
- Fuel system313.0%
- Transmission28.7%
- Other / unspecified28.7%
- Powertrain (other)14.3%
- Brakes14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 335I US. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND LOW POWER MODE' WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (BMW OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, 1712 RIVERDALE STREET, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA 01089) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE-TONIC SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
2011 BMW 335I THREE (3) RECALLS: 1) FIRE HAZARD, 2) TAKATA RECALL AND 3) VANOS HOUSING BOLTS - RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF MY 2011 BMW 335I VEHICLE AS CONFIRMED A TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE BY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER 17-2120735. CONTRARY TO PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REPORT, THERE WAS NO COLLISION. MY 2011 BMW 335I SPORTS MODEL VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE ON APRIL 21 2017 AND I WAS SEVERELY INJURED WITH HIP DAMAGE WHEN MY 2011 BMW CAR OVERHEATED AND STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING MY CAR ON A CITY STREET IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. CONTRARY TO PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE'S FALSE REPORT, THERE WAS NO COLLISION. BMW NEVER PROVIDED ANY NOTICE RE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 14V176 (VANOS HOUSING BOLTS), NOR PROVIDED ANY NOTICE RE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V676 (OVERHEATING LEADING TO FIRE). INSTEAD OF OFFERING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY RECALLED VEHICLE,BMW, SINCE APRIL 21, 2017 AND FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, BMW, BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE HAVE BEEN ORCHESTRATING TAG TEAM FINANCIAL FRAUD, REFUSING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY BMW VEHICLE AND DENYING ME OF STATUTORY PERSONAL INJURY BENEFITS RESULTING FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN MY RECALLED 2011 BMW VEHICLE. WITH REGARD TO THE ONLY RECALL NOTICE WHICH BMW DID PROVIDE RE: THE TAKATA AIRBAGS, RATHER THAN AGREEING TO REPAIR MY TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE, BRAMAN BMW OF WEST PALM BEACH USED THE TAKATA RECALL AS A 'BAIT AND SWITCH' OPPORTUNITY TO SELL ME A NEW BMW VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH BRAMAN'S WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA BMW MANAGER HAD FIRST HAND ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE THAT MY RECALLED BMW VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, BRAMAN BMW REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE; BUT CONTACTED ME MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED TIMES WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO SELL ME A NEW MODEL BMW. I HAVE FULL DOCUMENTATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE. THANK YOU.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
2011 BMW 335I THREE (3) RECALLS: 1) FIRE HAZARD, 2) TAKATA RECALL AND 3) VANOS HOUSING BOLTS - RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF MY 2011 BMW 335I VEHICLE AS CONFIRMED A TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE BY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER 17-2120735. CONTRARY TO PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REPORT, THERE WAS NO COLLISION. MY 2011 BMW 335I SPORTS MODEL VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE ON APRIL 21 2017 AND I WAS SEVERELY INJURED WITH HIP DAMAGE WHEN MY 2011 BMW CAR OVERHEATED AND STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING MY CAR ON A CITY STREET IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. CONTRARY TO PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE'S FALSE REPORT, THERE WAS NO COLLISION. BMW NEVER PROVIDED ANY NOTICE RE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 14V176 (VANOS HOUSING BOLTS), NOR PROVIDED ANY NOTICE RE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V676 (OVERHEATING LEADING TO FIRE). INSTEAD OF OFFERING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY RECALLED VEHICLE,BMW, SINCE APRIL 21, 2017 AND FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, BMW, BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE HAVE BEEN ORCHESTRATING TAG TEAM FINANCIAL FRAUD, REFUSING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY BMW VEHICLE AND DENYING ME OF STATUTORY PERSONAL INJURY BENEFITS RESULTING FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN MY RECALLED 2011 BMW VEHICLE. WITH REGARD TO THE ONLY RECALL NOTICE WHICH BMW DID PROVIDE RE: THE TAKATA AIRBAGS, RATHER THAN AGREEING TO REPAIR MY TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE, BRAMAN BMW OF WEST PALM BEACH USED THE TAKATA RECALL AS A 'BAIT AND SWITCH' OPPORTUNITY TO SELL ME A NEW BMW VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH BRAMAN'S WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA BMW MANAGER HAD FIRST HAND ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE THAT MY RECALLED BMW VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, BRAMAN BMW REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE; BUT CONTACTED ME MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED TIMES WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO SELL ME A NEW MODEL BMW. I HAVE FULL DOCUMENTATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE. THANK YOU.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2011 BMW 335CI EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER FAILURE LEAVING ME WITH VERY SLUGGISH STEERING, NO FUEL POWER, AND ESSENTIALLY A DEAD ROLLING HEAVY PIECE OF METAL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
2011 BMW 335I THREE (3) RECALLS: 1) FIRE HAZARD, 2) TAKATA RECALL AND 3) VANOS HOUSING BOLTS - RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF MY 2011 BMW 335I VEHICLE AS CONFIRMED A TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE BY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER 17-2120735. CONTRARY TO PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REPORT, THERE WAS NO COLLISION. MY 2011 BMW 335I SPORTS MODEL VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE ON APRIL 21 2017 AND I WAS SEVERELY INJURED WITH HIP DAMAGE WHEN MY 2011 BMW CAR OVERHEATED AND STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING MY CAR ON A CITY STREET IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. CONTRARY TO PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE'S FALSE REPORT, THERE WAS NO COLLISION. BMW NEVER PROVIDED ANY NOTICE RE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 14V176 (VANOS HOUSING BOLTS), NOR PROVIDED ANY NOTICE RE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V676 (OVERHEATING LEADING TO FIRE). INSTEAD OF OFFERING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY RECALLED VEHICLE,BMW, SINCE APRIL 21, 2017 AND FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, BMW, BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE HAVE BEEN ORCHESTRATING TAG TEAM FINANCIAL FRAUD, REFUSING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY BMW VEHICLE AND DENYING ME OF STATUTORY PERSONAL INJURY BENEFITS RESULTING FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN MY RECALLED 2011 BMW VEHICLE. WITH REGARD TO THE ONLY RECALL NOTICE WHICH BMW DID PROVIDE RE: THE TAKATA AIRBAGS, RATHER THAN AGREEING TO REPAIR MY TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE, BRAMAN BMW OF WEST PALM BEACH USED THE TAKATA RECALL AS A 'BAIT AND SWITCH' OPPORTUNITY TO SELL ME A NEW BMW VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH BRAMAN'S WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA BMW MANAGER HAD FIRST HAND ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE THAT MY RECALLED BMW VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, BRAMAN BMW REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE; BUT CONTACTED ME MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED TIMES WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO SELL ME A NEW MODEL BMW. I HAVE FULL DOCUMENTATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE. THANK YOU.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 335I US. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). 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 DEALER WAS CONTACTED (LAUDERDALE BMW OF PEMBROKE PINES, PEMBROKE PINES, FL, 954-620-5050) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY FUEL IS LEAKING UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF INJURY TO THE UNDER BODY BUT FUEL IS DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2011 BMW 335CI EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER FAILURE LEAVING ME WITH VERY SLUGGISH STEERING, NO FUEL POWER, AND ESSENTIALLY A DEAD ROLLING HEAVY PIECE OF METAL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
DELAY IN DCT/THROTTLE ENGAGEMENT AFTER SLOWING TO A ROLL, THEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS- THE DELAY IS BETWEEN 1-2SECONDS, AND I KNOW SOME OTHER FOLKS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. S-MODE PLUS SPORT BUTTON, ELIMINATED THIS PROBLEM. THIS OCCURS WHEN I'VE SLOWED TO A STOP, THEN WANT TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS SCARED TWICE, AND NOW HAVE BECOME AN "OLD MAN DRIVER" ACCORDING TO MY GIRLFRIEND, I DO NOT PULLOUT IN FRONT OF CARS UNLESS I KNOW THE DELAY OF 1-2SEC WON'T BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
WHEN GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION INSTEAD OF DOWNSHIFTING THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND ONLY WENT BACK IN GEAR AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY RIGHT REAR TIRE KEPT LEAKING AIR, SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A TIRE SHOP. THE TIRE SHOP FOUND OUT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RIM MOST PROBABLY BECAUSE OF A POTHOLE, SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS POSSIBLE AND I GOT THE CRACK FIXED. EVER SINCE I HAD THIS ISSUE, I HAD BEEN DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY AND AVOIDING ANY POTHOLES. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, NOW MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAS THE SAME EXACT REASON. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON SOME ONLINE BMW FORUMS AND PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR AND RIM ARE REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUE. BMW REFUSES TO REPLACE THE RIM SAYING IT'S MY FAULT AND THAT I PROBABLY HIT A POT HOLE. *KB
MY REAR TIRE SLOWLY STARTED TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE DURING FREEWAY COMMUTING IN LOS ANGELES AREA. SAVAGE BMW IN ONTARIO COULDN'T AT FIRST DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND SUGGESTED IT WAS A TIRE LEAK AND TO TAKE IT TO A TIRE SHOP. THE TIRE SHOP FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE AND SAID TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM BY DUNKING IT INTO A WATER TANK....A CRACKED RIM...CRACKED ON THE INSIDE....THIS WAS CAUSING THE AIR TO LEAK OUT MORE AND MORE AS I DROVE. IT WAS TO THE POINT THAT I WAS FILLING UP AIR EVERY DAY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I PROBABLY HIT A POTHOLE AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO I FIGURED THEY WERE RIGHT AND PAID FOR THE NEW RIM. NOW SEVERAL MONTHS LATER (AND DOING VERY CAREFUL DRIVING TO ENSURE I DON'T HIT ANY POTHOLES OR ROUGH SURFACES), I FOUND THE OTHER REAR TIRE DOING THE SAME THING. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO CREVIER BMW AND TOLD THEM I SUSPECTED IT MIGHT BE CRACKED TOO. THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND TOLD ME IT JUST NEEDED AIR, AND EVERYTHING WAS OK. TODAY (THE VERY NEXT DAY), I DROVE TO WORK AND MY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR SAID THE SAME TIRE WAS LOW. I IMMEDIATELY ADDED AIR 46 PSI PER BMW DOOR LABEL...AND GOT ON FWY TO GO HOME. WITHIN 5 MINUTES ON THE FWY, MY WHEEL WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE VIBRATION AS IF IT WAS ABOUT TO COME APART. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF FWY AND GOT A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE ME BACK TO DEALER. AFTER A HEATED DEBATE WITH BMW SERVICE MANAGER, THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR MY TOW, NOR THE WHEEL (IF IT IS CRACKED)...AND THAT ITS DUE TO MY DRIVING HABITS. PREPOSTEROUS! I BABY MY CAR, ESPECIALLY AFTER PAYING FOR THE 1ST RIM. I AM FURIOUS THAT BMW IS IGNORING AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE WHEEL DESIGN. I'VE OWNER SEVERAL BMW CARS AND OTHER LOW PROFILE TIRE/WHEEL AUTOMOBILES...DRIVEN ON THE SAME ROADS....AND NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. IM VERY CONCERNED THAT 1) A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IS BEING IGNORED AND 2) THAT IM NOT RECEIVING FAIR TREATMENT. I WILL RETRIEVE THE RIM AND TIRE FOR PROOF. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT DETAILS ISSUED APRIL 21, 2017 RECALL ID 265558 NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 17V067000 VEHICLES AFFECTED 8,752 COMPONENT AFFECTED POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT SUMMARY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC (BMW) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2011-2012 135I COUPE, 1 SERIES M COUPE AND 135I CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES, 2011 Z4 SDRIVE 35I, 335I, 335D, 335I COUPE, 335IS COUPE, 335I CONVERTIBLE, 335IS CONVERTIBLE, 535I, 535I XDRIVE, 535I GRAN TURISMO AND 550I XDRIVE GRAN TURISMO VEHICLES AND 2012 740I AND 740LI VEHICLES. THE REAR DRIVESHAFT CONSTANT VELOCITY (CV) JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY FATIGUE AND BREAK. CONSEQUENCE IF THE CV JOINT BREAKS, THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE A LOSS OF PROPULSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. REMEDY BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR DRIVESHAFT CV JOINT AND, BASED ON ITS PRODUCTION DATE, WILL REPLACE IT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 21, 2017. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-525-7417. WHAT CAN I DO? RECALLS OCCUR WHEN A MANUFACTURER OR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) DETERMINE THAT A VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THIS NOTICE IS BASED ON A SEARCH OF YOUR YEAR, MAKE, MODEL AND TRIM. TO CONFIRM WHETHER YOUR SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED, VISIT THE NHTSA SITE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A NEW BMW X3 35I. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT A STEADY PACE, THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS FOR "BRAKE FAILURE", "ALB FAILURE" AND "DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE" ALL CAME ON. THE CARS COMPUTER DISPLAY ALSO DISPLAYED A BRAKE AND AWD SYSTEM FAILURE AND SPECIFIED THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY AND CAREFULLY DRIVEN TO A DEALER. AFTER CAREFULLY EVALUATING THE BARKING SYSTEM, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE BRAKES AND AWD SYSTEMS WERE FULLY FUNCTIONAL, AND THERE WAS NO FAILURE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, AND THEN RE-STARTING, THE ERROR "CLEARED" AND ALL DISPLAYS WERE NORMAL. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY. I'VE SPOKEN WITH (2) OTHER 2011 X3 OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THEIR DEALERS ALSO CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE/\.. THE DANGER HERE IS THAT OWNERS WILL IGNORE THE WARNING WHEN A TRUE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE FINALLY OCCURS. BMW CLAIMS THE CAR IS "TOO NEW" FOR THEM TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SINCE IT'S BRAKE AND STABILITY CONTROL RELATED, I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AND NEED MORE ATTENTION THAN BMW IS GIVING IT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .