RoadVitals

2011 BMW 335XI Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
23
Latest Jun 15, 2019
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.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Oct 19, 2011

What this page shows

Our database holds 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 BMW 335XI. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–23 of 23

Fuel system
Filed Jun 15, 2019

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. THE FUEL PUMP ON PREVIOUS N54 ENGINE WERE RECALLED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT CHANGED FOR THE NEWER N55 ENGINE AND THEY ARE CONTINUING TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID
11220278
Incident
Jun 5, 2018
Mileage
75,000 mi
Filed Mar 18, 2019
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN THE ENGINE SOUNDED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO IS IF I HAD A MISFIRE. I STARTED SLOWING DOWN BY THE TIME I GOT TO ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR SMOKE STARTED COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. OPEN THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A FIRE BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE IN THE FIREWALL. WITHIN 15 MINUTES THE CAR COMPLETELY BURNED DOWN. IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED THIS SO FAR.

NHTSA ID
11189763
Incident
Mar 16, 2019
Mileage
70,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 27, 2018

I TOOK MY CAR INTO BMW FOR 2 RECALLS AFTER WAITING 2 MONTHS FOR THE PARTS AFTER 6 HRS HAD PASSED THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE THE WRONG PARTS ,WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR IT HAD NO POWER I COULDN'T DRIVE IT HOME .I PAID $147 FOR DIAGNOSTIC THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLIMENTARY AND A REPAIR BILL OF $3,478.25 APRIL 20 20018 . LAST YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE AXLE DO IT NOT TWISTING LIKE A WASH RAG

NHTSA ID
11090442
Incident
Apr 20, 2018
Electrical
Filed Apr 5, 2018
Fire reported

CAR WAS PARKED SEVERAL HOURS AFTER DRIVING IT. NOTICED DISCOLORATION ON WINDOWS. SMOKE IN INTERIOR, FIRE BURNED DASHBOARD, BLOWER MOTOR FELL OUT. NOTE: I FOUND AN EXISTING RECALL, 17V676, OCTOBER 2017, BUT NO RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED.

NHTSA ID
11083362
Incident
Apr 5, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 4, 2018

OCTOBER 25, 2017 | RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 17V-676 BLOWER MOTOR WIRING TO DATE THERE IS STILL NO REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL ISSUED 5 MONTHS AGO. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CONSTITUTES A 'REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME' FOR A RECALL LIKE THIS BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, ESPECIALLY FOR A RECALL THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE..

NHTSA ID
11083211
Incident
Apr 4, 2018
Mileage
135,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 2, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 335XI. 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 DEALER WAS CONTACTED (SCHOMP BMW, HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO, 303-730-1300) 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.

NHTSA ID
11042608
Incident
Feb 16, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 19, 2017

TAKATA RECALL, AUTOMOBILE HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
11016289
Incident
Feb 5, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 18, 2017

DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG RECALL # 16V071 MANUFACTURERS STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS OR A SOLUTION TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE ACCORDING TO BMW DEALERSHIPS BMW HOUSTON NORTH AND BMW THE WOODLANDS.

NHTSA ID
10986323
Incident
May 18, 2017
Filed Mar 27, 2017

DRIVING AT 90KM HR ON FLAT STRAIGHT GOOD HWY, SUNROOF FOR NO REASON EXPLODES. NOISE IS LOUD ENOUGH TO GIVE ME TINNITUS, GLASS SHATTERS EVERYWHERE. CAUSING ME TO DO AN EMERGENCY PULL OVER. EVIDENCE SHOWS CLEARLY THE EXPLOSION WAS OUTWARD WITH REMAINING GLASS BENT UPWARDS AND SHARDS ALL DOWN THE BACK OF THE CAR DAMAGING THE REAR PAINT. SHARDS COVERING DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND BACK SEAT. SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AND HAD NOT BEEN OPEN FOR 2 MONTHS AND LINER SHADE WAS BACK.

NHTSA ID
10968848
Incident
Mar 27, 2017
Mileage
38,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 14, 2017

I PURCHASED MY CAR WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT I WAS PURCHASING A SUPERIOR PRODUCT TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN I WENT TO SALE THIS VEHICLE I WAS GIVEN LESS FOR THE SALE OF MY CAR DUE TO THIS RECALL I COULD NOT GET THE AIRBAG REPLACED SO I WAS GIVEN LESS FOR MY CAR DUE TO THIS RECALL MY DAMAGES ARE $3000.00 I WOULD LIKE THIS DIFFERENCE REFUNDED BACK TO ME. THIS IS NOT MY FAULT THIS IS SOLELY THE FAULT OF THE INFERIOR PRODUCT I HAVE NOT CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AS OF YET BUT IF I AM NOT MADE WHOLE THEN I WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY DUE TO MY LOSS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10945233
Incident
Jan 13, 2017
Mileage
52,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 4, 2016

TAKATA RECALL-RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-071: DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE I WAS RECENTLY SOLD A VEHICLE THAT HAS THIS RECALLED PART AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL THE DAY I WENT TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE. I WAS THEN TOLD I COULDNT TAKE THE CAR HOME AND ALSO I WAS NOT PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE WHICH BY WHAT I READ ON THE BMW USA WEBSITE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ME. ALSO AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT EVEN HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

NHTSA ID
10882403
Incident
Jun 23, 2016
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 10, 2016
1 injury reported

WHEN USING THE HEATED SEATS. DRIVERS SIDE WILL GET SO HOT IT BURNS YOUR SKIN. PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T HEAT UP.

NHTSA ID
10854677
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 2016

SOMETIMES "DEPEND ON THE SPEED" WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE FIRST SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN SLOW DOWN.

NHTSA ID
10851461
Incident
Jan 2, 2013
Mileage
12,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 25, 2015

DRIVING ALONG AND CAR LOST ACCELERATION FOR UNKNOWN REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. FIRST INCIDENT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TANK. SECOND INCIDENT, CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND I AM REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE CAR AS CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. INSTRUCTED DEALER TO DRIVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10806731
Incident
Nov 13, 2015
Mileage
37,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 29, 2015

IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I'VE OWNED MY 2011 335XI, I HAVE HAD TO -HAVE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS BECAUSE IT KEPT COMING ON EVEN THOUGH MY TIRES WERE FINE. DISCONCERTING AT BEST WHEN YOU'RE A SINGLE WOMAN COMMUTING AT HIGH SPEEDS EVERY DAY ON A TURNPIKE IN TRAFFIC. -CONTINUALLY REPLACE BURNED OUT DAYTIME RUNNING OR REAR BRAKE BULBS -DEAL WITH AN ONGOING SURGE OR LURCHING WHEN I START FROM A STOP, WORSE WHEN THE A/C IS ON, THAT REPAIR SHOPS STILL CAN'T PINPOINT -REPLACE THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS -REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT (AND WORRY ABOUT POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE FROM THE OVERHEATED ENGINE; CAR HAD TO BE TOWED ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK) -REPLACE THE STARTER -REPLACE THE ENGINE TENSION BELT -I WILL SOON HAVE TO REPLACE LEAKING OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET -AND I HAVE A PROBABLE RADIATOR LEAK, AS I'M REFILLING COOLANT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 4 WEEKS (TO THE POINT WHERE I KEEP A GALLON OF IT IN MY TRUNK, WITH A FUNNEL, FOR WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON) TO DATE, IN THE TWO YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE (I BOUGHT IT OFF-LEASE), I'VE ALREADY SPENT ALMOST $5,000 ON WHAT SHOULD BE COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY REPAIRS FOR A HIGH-END VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10778322
Incident
Aug 25, 2015
Mileage
86,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 23, 2015

I ORDERED A BRAND NEW 2011 BMW 335I XDRIVE AND IT WAS DELIVERED ON APRIL 19, 2010. THE 2011 MODEL YEAR CAME OUT EARLY. ON FEB 20, 2012 I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING THE ENGINE AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT...IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO START, CRANKING FOR A LONG TIME. BROUGHT IT TO BMW IN WARWICK RI AND THEY RAN SHORT TESTS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. ANOTHER TIME I WOULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AND I WAS NOT BY ANY GAS STATIONS OR OTHER CARS. BROUGHT IT TO THE SAME SERVICE CENTER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ANOTHER TIME MY CAR STALLED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, BUT WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN. THIS WEEK ON MAY 21ST 2015 DROPPED THE CAR OFF TO HAVE ANOTHER TIRE REPLACED BECAUSE I HIT A POTHOLE (8 TIRES REPLACED IN 34,500 FILES, 4 REPLACEMENT TIRES DUE TO POTHOLES). I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CAR TAKING TOO LONG TO CRANK OVER 1ST TIME IN THE MORNING. THEY KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND THEIR TECHNICIAN HAD THE SAME STARTING PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY SAID THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT WAS A TWO-PART REPAIR. HE SAID BMW WOULD COVER THE $885 HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR WHICH WAS $391. IF THIS TAKES TWO PARTS TO REPAIR, THEN WHY ISN'T BMW PAYING FOR BOTH PARTS? I CALLED BMW HEADQUARTERS IN WOODCLIFF LAKE NJ FOR A RESOLUTION BUT I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TWO WAIT UP TO 5 BUSINESS DAYS FOR AN ANSWER. I FOUND MANY BMW BLOGS ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURES AND REPEATED FAILURES AFTER THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. MY CAR HAS LESS THEN 35,000 MILES ON IT. THE 2011 BMW 335I XDRIVE WITH THE N55 ENGINE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL SINCE THEY USE THE SAME HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AS PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS THAT WERE RECALLED AND BMW SHOULD PAY FOR THE FULL REPAIR

NHTSA ID
10721147
Incident
Feb 20, 2012
Mileage
18,900 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 8, 2014

2011 BMW 335XI. CONSUMER WRITES INN REGARDS TO SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUNROOF SHADE WAS CLOSED PREVENTING SHARDS FROM FLOODING INTO THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10630802
Incident
Jul 12, 2014
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 14, 2014

CRACKED WHEEL RIM- WITH NO PRECEDING INCIDENT HITTING A LARGE POTHOLE, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610341
Incident
Jul 14, 2014
Mileage
35,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 8, 2014

MANUAL TRANSMISSION. 2ND GEAR SYNCHRONIZER (SYNCHRO) FAILED @ 5000 MILES. UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR SAFELY. PROBLEM/FAILURE BECOME MORE PROMINENT @ 18,000 MILES. BMW OF SAN FRANCISCO VOIDED WARRANTY RETROACTIVELY FOR USING AFTERMARKET PARTS @ 16K MILES. MANY INDIVIDUALS ON COMPLAINING OF SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE. (1ST TO 2ND GRIND). PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596966
Incident
Sep 28, 2011
Mileage
5,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Apr 29, 2013

I BOUGHT MY BMW 335I XDRIVE BRAND NEW...ORDERED IN JAN 2010 AND DELIVERED ON APRIL 19, 2010. SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES (WITHIN 20,000 MILES) BECAUSE OF POTHOLE DAMAGE TO THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. ALSO, THE CAR REQUIRED REALIGNMENT. IN AUGUST 2012, I HAD ABOUT 22,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF MY TIRES ( EXCEPT THE PASSENGER SIDE LEFT FRONT, SINCE THAT WAS THE TIRE THAT WAS ALREADY REPLACED 3 TIMES PRIOR TO HAVING 22,000 MILES ON MY CAR) BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN OUT. THE BRIDGESTONE RUN-FLATS ARE EXPENSIVE FOR MY BMW. THE COST TO REPLACE ONE FRONT TIRE WAS $430. LUCKILY, I HAD PURCHASED THE TIRE WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT MY BMW. THE WARRANTY WAS $1,000. I FEEL I AM BEING RIPPED OFF THOUGH. WHY, AFTER SPENDING $60,000 ON A NEW BMW SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND ALMOST $3,000 ON TIRES IN LESS THAN 3-YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WHICH INCLUDES THE $1,000 FOR TIRE/WHEEL INSURANCE. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 12 DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS OF CARS SINCE I'VE HAD MY LICENSE AND I HAVE NEVER SPENT AS MUCH MONEY ON TIRES FOR ONE CAR AS I HAVE FOR MY BMW. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW AND THE TIRE MANUFACTURES FOR PRODUCING AND SELLING A PRODUCT THAT WAS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO FRAUD THE CONSUMER. THEY KNOWINGLY PRODUCED AND SOLD A TIRE THAT HAD A SHORT LIFE-SPAN, HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE FROM A TYPICAL POTHOLE, AND EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. THEY ALSO OFFERED THE MOST EXPENSIVE TIRE WARRANTY IN THE INDUSTRY...THE COST OF THE WARRANTY INDICATES THAT THEY KNEW THESE TIRES WOULD BE REPLACED OFTEN. I WILL ALSO CONTACT THE FTC AND BBB. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509872
Incident
Dec 8, 2010
Mileage
6,855 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Oct 20, 2012

THE ENGINE RANDOMLY SHUTS DOWN. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE CAR HAS PROVIDED NO WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHTS. BMW SERVICE WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY FAILED TO REPRODUCE IT. THEY ALSO FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER A SERVICE ON THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10481229
Incident
Oct 4, 2012
Mileage
30,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 17, 2012

ON MONDAY APRIL 9, 2012 WHILE TRAVELING ON HAGEDORN ROAD IN EAST LANSING, MI, (APPROXIMATELY 3800 HAGEDORN ROAD) MY BMW HIT A POTHOLE THAT RESULTED IN A SPLIT REAR RIM, DAMAGED FRONT RIM AND BLOWN TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. THE POTHOLE WAS OF AN 'AVERAGE' DEPTH FOR MICHIGAN. (PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED). INTERESTING IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME (WHILE PURCHASING THE CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2011) THAT THE SALESPERSON TRIED TALKING US INTO PURCHASING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR TIRES AND RIMS. HE MENTIONED THAT HE KNEW OF MANY CUSTOMERS THAT HAD BLOWN TIRES BECAUSE OF MICHIGAN WINTERS AND POTHOLES. I DECLINED COVERAGE SINCE MY LEXUS WITH SIMILAR RIMS AND LOW PROFILE TIRES NEVER HAD A PROBLEM DURING THE FIVE YEARS I OWNED THE CAR IN MICHIGAN. I BELIEVE BMW IS AWARE THAT THEIR WHEELS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN NORTHERN TIER STATES AND THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR PRODUCT. FURTHER, I BELIEVE THEY ARE TRYING TO FINANCIALLY CAPITALIZE ON THIS BY SELLING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10455503
Incident
Apr 9, 2012
Mileage
7,700 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 19, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 335XI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE RPMS INCREASED, AS IF IT WAS GOING TO SURGE FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,780. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND AT A FULL STOP, THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED TOWARDS FULL THROTTLE WITHOUT TOUCHING OR DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE MAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE, AND IT WAS NOT DRIVER ERROR. UPDATED 11/02/11 UPDATED 11/04/11 UPDATED 11/07/11

NHTSA ID
10430777
Incident
Sep 6, 2011
Mileage
93,000 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .