Home · 2012 BMW 335i Xdrive · Complaints

What 35 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 335i Xdrive

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (35)Crash / fire / injury (2)Airbags (19)Engine (8)Seats (4)Steering (3)Electrical system (2)Fuel system (2)Body & structure (1)Brakes (1)Speed control (1)Visibility & wipers (1)

19 of 35 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters

Mar 12, 2024AirbagsSeats

While driving with a passenger in front passenger seat, I occasionally receive a warning that there is a malfunction in passenger restraint system. At that time, the "pass airbag off" light goes on. I took the car to the dealer and was told it is likely a faulty passenger airbag seat occupancy sensor mat. The car is available for inspection. Our safety is potentially compromised because the passenger airbag may not go off in an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11576914

Sep 20, 2023SteeringAirbagsSeatsCrash1 injury

The car Hydroplaned while driving on the interstate, spun out of control and slammed into a tree in the rear end. My son was going approximately 65 mph and upon impact no airbags deployed and the steering wheel was in his hands after impact. His seat broke and collapsed into a laying position. His head sustained a huge blow to the interior side of the car in addition to another head injury in the front, a fractured wrist and multiple bruises along with a sore neck & back. The insurance adjuster saw the car and could not believe the steering wheel came completely detached in addition to no airbags deployed. My son is [XXX] ” and weighs [XXX]. I would have expected from his body weight alone the side airbag deploying. The car is totaled beyond repair. The car had no warnings or indicators regarding faulty airbags or steering issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11545689

May 21, 2021Airbags

While driving with a passenger in front passenger seat, I occasionally receive a warning that there is a malfunction in passenger restraint system. At that time, the "pass airbag off" light goes on. I did take this to the dealer and was told it is likely a faulty passenger airbag seat occupancy sensor mat. The car is available for inspection Our safety is potentially compromised because the passenger airbag may not go off in an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11418072

Feb 7, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL- HAVE NOTIFIED GLOBAL IMPORTS OF MARIETTA/ATLANTA GEORGIA EVERY MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT RETURN CALLS OR MAKE APPOINTMENT. THEY INFORM ME THAT I WILL GET EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE AND I NEVER DO. CAN YOU HELP?

NHTSA ODI 11071594

Nov 30, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL - I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER ON 9-25-17 WHEN I RECEIVED THE SAFETY RECALL LETTER. AFTER 2 MONTHS THE PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND ON 11-30-17 I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART MAY BE AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY 2018. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR. CAN YOU HELP ME TO GET THE PARTS MUCH SOONER THAN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ODI 11051445

Oct 23, 2017Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 335I. 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. BRAMAN MOTORCARS IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER ORIGINALLY STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE IN LATE AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11035923

Oct 19, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED COGGIN BMW FT. PIERCE FL. SEVERAL TIMES TO GET MY AIRBAG FIXED. OVER A YEAR NOW AND STILL THEY CLAIM THAT THE PARTS HAVE NOT COME IN YET. IS THIS TRUE AND WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS RECALL TAKEN CARE OF.

NHTSA ODI 11034723

Oct 11, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED MY LETTER IN SEPTEMBER 2017 THAT BMW HAS THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND TO CALL IMMEDIATELY TO SCHEDULE THIS REPAIR. I CALLED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD TAKE 4-8 WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS AND THEN I COULD SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RECALL, I AM SHOCKED THAT IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG TO EVEN BE NOTIFIED THAT THE REPAIR CAN FINALLY BE DONE (WHEN INFORMATION ABOUT DEATHS FROM THESE AIRBAGS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR). I HAVE ASKED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR TO GET THIS FIXED. NOW I GET A LETTER THAT BMW CAN MAKE THE REPAIR, BUT IT WILL BE MORE THAN ONE MONTH AND MAYBE TWO MORE MONTHS BEFORE THIS CAN BE DONE. WHAT OVERSIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT BMW AND OTHERS ARE GETTING THESE REPAIRS DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION. THANK YOU. [XXX] ARLINGTON,VIRGINIA *JB

NHTSA ODI 11032942

Jul 27, 2017Airbags

AIRBAG RECALL HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR 17 MONTHS AND NO RESOLUTION. APPARENTLY IT CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT - AND STILL NO RESOLUTION FOR MY CAR TO ADDRESS THE RECALL FROM BMW.

NHTSA ODI 11011165

Apr 28, 2017Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 1-2 WEEKS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10981296

Mar 29, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10969256

Mar 13, 2017AirbagsSeats

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND CANNOT READ WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. IN TURN THE AIRBAG IS OFF DUE TO THE CARS ECU. BMW DEALERSHIP IN BELLEVUE HAS REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THE SITUATION IS TO BUY A NEW SEAT AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ALONG WITH MY TAKATA AIRBAG THAT I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY SORT OF NOTICE FOR REPAIR OR EVEN THAT I FALL UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 10960406

Feb 24, 2017Airbags

TAKADA RECALL WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016 (BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-071) REGARDING THE "DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE". WE HAVE SPOKEN AND EMAILED OUR LOCAL BMW SERVICE CENTER ABOUT HAVING THIS PART REPLACED AND HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART. WE CONTACTED A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM BMW AND WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE 2017 AT THE EARLIEST. WHEN I SAID THAT I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS AN UNREASONABLY LONG TIME TO REPLACE A PART THAT, IF IT RUPTURED, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGERS, THE BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US THAT THEY RECEIVED THEIR TIME SCHEDULES FROM THE NHTSA. IT APPEARS AS IF EACH LEVEL OF THE CHAIN FOR SOLVING THIS PROBLEM IS MORE INTERESTED IN FINGER POINTING THAN SOLVING A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE NHTSA WOULD USE THEIR AUTHORITY TO "ENCOURAGE" A SPEEDIER RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10956841

Dec 29, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT....UPDATED 03/08/17 *BF UPDATED 8/16/2017 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10938612

Nov 15, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 335I. 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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10926164

Aug 10, 2016Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016. REPAIRS NOT YET COMPLETED. BMW STATES THEY DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS. BMW STATES THEY ARE PRIORITIZING REPAIRS FIRST FOR THE HOT AND HIGH HUMID US SOUTHERN STATES. WE ARE IN VIRGINIA WHICH IS A VERY HOT AND HIGH HUMIDITY STATE DURING THE SUMMER. WE ARE AFRAID TO USE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10894809

Jul 12, 2016Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10884238

May 23, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10870268

May 3, 2016Airbags

AIR BAGS DO NOT FUNCTION AS PER THE RECALL. BMW HAS NO SOLUTION TO FIX THE AIRBAGS. THEY WILL NOT TAKE THE CARE BACK

NHTSA ODI 10862807

Working with the data? Download all 35 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 BMW 335i Xdrive verdict →