What 168 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 335i Xdrive

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 335I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Loss of Oil Pressure" message displayed, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle made an abnormally loud clunking sound. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact used an OBD scanner to retrieve a diagnostic trouble code for the VANOS bolts; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652309

hard to explain. looks like my NIV is ''bad''. There are 11 recalls on BMW 335xi Sedan 2011 and mine has 0 (same car, BUT special limited edition). For now, BMW is of no help at all, they follow their procedure which do not include my NIV in any way $$$. What to do next?

NHTSA ODI 11649455

Wiring harness in the engine compartment caught fire about 2 weeks after changing a water pump, battery kept being draining even after battery replacement. Locking of the trunk trunk forced usage of a BMW authorized jump start battery charger/start etc. No access to Battery when the battery is discharged.

NHTSA ODI 11643883

I was in the middle of driving on the freeway and my motor started to get loss in power. Moments later a malfunction engine sign popped up. The codes I was able to pull from the vehicle were pointing towards a recall that already exists for BMW but for some reason my vehicle was not a part of the recall. The recall I am reffering to is 23V707000. It shows that there are 11 open recalls for 2011 335i including the vanos bolt recall. I called the dealer and according to my VIN, the vanos bolt recall is not covered. There are multiple reports online where the dealer is refusing to cover the recall for vehicles within a certain production date. There is clearly a safety issue going on as this has happened to plenty of people. Someone with the same motor as I could get covered for the recall due to the production date and I am in a position where BMW knows that this is an issue but will not cover it.

NHTSA ODI 11634627

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 335I. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but became persistent whenever the vehicle was started. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact had researched and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10148018 - Front Passenger Air Bag Seat Occupancy Sensor (OC3) Mat (Air Bags). The contact was informed by the dealer and the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

NHTSA ODI 11621213

Transmission failure, while driving 45mph the car automatically downshifted then stopped pulling rolled to a complete stop was able to put into park turn car off then when tried to restart that is when the transmission failure light and notice came on the dash and radio screen. After that the car would not go into any gear or pull in any gear. No warning signs appeared before the incident.

NHTSA ODI 11612387

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI 11610158

2011 BMW 335i COUPE E92 My vehicle has broken vanos bolts which caused the engine to shut off while driving. This was a terrifying experience in which i was on the freeway doing around 70mph and lost power steering and power brakes. This is a known recall with these vehicles and my vehicle fits the criteria for BMW Recall 23V-707, including year, make, model, production date and engine. My vin does not show up as a recalled vin and the dealer refuses to fix my vehicle for that reason although it is confirmed the vanos bolts have snapped.

NHTSA ODI 11598018

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 335I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger’s side air bag sensor warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed front passenger’s side occupancy sensor. The contact was informed that the front passenger’s side occupancy sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 11596878

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 335I. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for repair, he was informed that the camshaft bolts were damaged and required replacement. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Colling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11560781

I bought a BMW on November 3rd and within 48 hours on the 5th of November at 6:30 the engine seized while the car was driving when I took it to BMW they did a carfax on it, it said the car had 197,000 miles on it and the car was listed with 97,790 miles and the odometer still says 97,000 and the transmission is also slipping because it had 197,000 miles on it and the font headlights won't work.

NHTSA ODI 11554338

BMW has made their early 2011-13 engines(n55) a defective engine, the problem I’ve been experiencing with these engines is there new engine system called the valvetronic system. If the something in the valtronic system goes bad and most likely does when you listen to bmw recommendation of changing oil every 10,000 it becomes very annoying to fix and can also lead to damaging the car ecu/dme so they built a car that would have problems and would also take out your car ecu which would make costly repairs

NHTSA ODI 11538659

I have electrical error codes and I cant seem to find what it is not sure if its wiring.

NHTSA ODI 11522053

Without any warning, the vehicle experienced a major engine failure while I was driving at about 70 mph on the highway. The vehicle immediately lost power and went into limp mode, making it impossible to safely maintain speed on a busy highway. Vehicle was towed to the dealership and it was determined that it had experienced a VANOS bolts failure on the intake side. Inspection of the failed VANOS bolts revealed that they were of the old design that BMW had issued a Recall for. Even though the Recall status for the vehicle in regard to the VANOS bolts indicates that it was completed, it appears the wrong components had been used in the repair. I have been informed that BMW has denied my request to have the recall done properly with the proper components.

NHTSA ODI 11478973

2011 BMW 335i Sedan: Please attempt to get my car included in the current recall. I have contacted BMW USA and my local dealership. Both said that my car does not qualify for repair. On a weekly basis, the car produces large amounts of smoke from the engine compartment and enters the passenger compartment through the vents. BMW has stated that there is a fire risk for this year, make, and model but will not address it for my car: [XXX] The check engine light turns on while engine smokes. The BMW Dealership will not inspect the car unless it appears on the recall list. In addition, occasionally, the entire electrical system dies preventing all electronics including the starter from working. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11465143

Passenger seat airbag sensor failed at 50,000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11464654

Passenger seat occupancy mat with program.

NHTSA ODI 11462677

I had just parked and about a minute later, there was a huge amount of smoke coming through the front cabin vents and hood. I immediately turned my car off and opened the hood to find more smoke and hearing popping sounds coming from my catalytic converter. The smoke left residue all over my windshield as well as an unpleasant smell lingering in the car. I emailed my local mechanic and he told me this is likely my PCV and not a VCG leak like I thought it was. This problem had scared me from driving my vehicle again because I was worried a fire would start whether I was in the vehicle or not. I took it to my mechanic to get it repaired and was charged $1700 for it. I had no lights or unusual car prior to this happening

NHTSA ODI 11456396

Loss of power failure, it lights up several times when turning corners and then accelerating.

NHTSA ODI 11442737

The Vano Housing System bolts all broke off and fell into the engine causing sudden failure and stopping of the vehicle causing it to need to be towed. Upon some researched I learned that in 2014 BMW of North America issued a recall for 2010-2011 BMW 3 series (N55 Engine) Models for this exact defect except apparently my VIN was not included. However, clearly my vehicle should have been included because it sustained damage and could have caused me harm by sudden stoppage. The car is currently being looked at by BMW of Rockville, MD and BMW is attempting to skirt responsibility

NHTSA ODI 11429020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

NHTSA ODI 11414296

HELLO, I WANTED TO BRING TO ATTENTION THE FAILING FOOTWELL MODULES IN E9X GENERATION BMWS. THE MODULES HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE AND WHEN THEY BECOME INOPERABLE YOU LOSE YOUR HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, LOCKING AND UNLOCKING DOORS, POWER WINDOW CONTROL AND THE ABILITY TO MOVE YOUR MIRRORS. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT BMW HAS HIDDEN FROM ITS CUSTOMERS AS IT IS A KNOWN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT. I RECENTLY HAD MY VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND WAS DECLINED AS IT HAD NOT FAILED ENOUGH. ESSENTIALLY THEY WANT ME TO HAVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BEFORE THE REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT THE UNIT IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF FAILING BUT BMW STILL REFUSES TO HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11408018

WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 81,000 MILES WHEN THE ROD BEARING BROKE. BMW HAS A RECORD OF ROD BEARING FAILURES AND RECALLS. BMW IS NOT HELPING IN MY CASE AND FROM MY RESEARCH THERE HAS BEEN ROD BEARING FAILURES IN THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS MINE. I WAS DRIVING WHEN I HEARD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER, HAD TO BE TOWED AJD BMW SAID THE ROD BEARING WENT. THEY SAID IT JUST WENT. PLENTY OF OIL IN THE ENGINE SO IT WASN'T THAT. I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED

NHTSA ODI 11387757

BLINKER LIGHTS AND WINDOWS NOT WORKING. I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN I NOTICED THE PROBLEM. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY BUT DID NOT PROCEED WHEN I NOTICED THE WINDOWS AND LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING. BOTH BLINKER AND HIGH BEAMS ARE NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11364727

WHEN I SHIFT TO SPORTS MODE IT DOES NOT ENGAGE. NO RESPONSE WHEN I AM DRIVING. PASSENGER SEAT IS NO DETECTING IF SOMEONE SEATING ON IT. AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ON THE DASH BOARD.

NHTSA ODI 11362129