Home · 2012 BMW 335i · Complaints

What 33 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 335i

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 (33)Crash / fire / injury (2)Airbags (17)Engine (8)Seats (4)Steering (3)Electrical system (2)Fuel system (2)Body & structure (1)Brakes (1)Speed control (1)Visibility & wipers (1)

Newest first · 33 complaints · page 1 of 2

Jul 10, 2024Engine

on my car there is what is called the bowden cable that works to open and release the hood so that it can be opened. The problem with the design of the cable is that it sits right over a coolant hose leading to the engine. What happens is that the coolant hose gets very hot and the bowden cable that sits right over it melts along with the coolant hose. I just noticed this and felt it is a huge problem that could cause the coolant hose to either burst over time.

NHTSA ODI 11600854

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

Mar 4, 2019Electrical system

MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD NOT RESPOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW. MY KEY FOB WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS, NO INSIDE ELECTRONICS ON, IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT RESPOND. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE REGARDING THE BATTERY CABLE CONNECTOR AND THE CORRESPONDING FUSE BOX TERMINAL DEGRADING OVER TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH. I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY EACH DAY TO WORK AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WOULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11183863

Feb 25, 2018Engine

MY CAR KEEPS OVERHEATING AND STALLING OR WHEN I ACCELERATE IT WILL NOT GO, I HAVE TO STOP TURN CAR OFF AND TRY TO GO BUT THE TEMP GAGE IS NOT OVER 250 DEGREES WHEN THE DISPLAYS SAYS MY CAR IS OVERHEATING

NHTSA ODI 11074883

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

Dec 18, 2017

DOOR LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK ON BOTH THE FRONT DOORS. THEY ARE JAMMED. THE FAULT IS IS BECAUSE OF BAD DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. UNLESS I PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD MANUALLY, THEY DON'T UNLOCK THEY SOMETIME DON'T UNLOCK EVEN WHEN I PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY REMOTE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IF SOMEONE IS IN A ACCIDENT, THE BATTERY GETS DISCONNECTED. THIS WILL PREVENT OCCUPANTS FROM OPENING THE DOORS. THIS IS HAPPENING ON MULTIPLE OF MY FRIENDS CARS AND BMW DOES NOT TREAT THIS AS SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11055388

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

Nov 5, 2017

DOOR LOCK ON DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT RELEASE. THE LOCKING PIN GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT THE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT RELEASE AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO UNLESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON IS PRESSED. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE DRIVER CANNOT GET OUT BY SIMPLY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE.

NHTSA ODI 11043569

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

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

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 28, 2016Wheels

BOTH OF MY REAR ALUMINUM WHEELS HAVE CRACKED WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS OCCURRING OR EVEN ANYTHING OTHER THAN NORMAL DRIVING. BOTH TIMES MY TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. I HAVE OWNED 20 CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WHEEL. NOW WITH THIS BMW I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 WHEELS TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO MY REMAINING TWO WHEELS. IN MY DISCUSSIONS AT TIRE CENTERS THIS IS SAID TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMWS AND IN MY OPINION IS CONSUMER FRAUD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928422

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

Nov 13, 2016EngineFuel system

AUGUST 6, 2016 - CAR STALLED AT ABOUT 50MPH, JUST WHEN ABOUT TO GO UPHILL. I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER LEAVING THE CAR BLOCKING TRAFFIC WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN IT. ONCE IT STOPS, IT PUTS ITSELF IN PARK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH ASIDE. WE CREATED A TRAFFIC JAM AND POLICE BARRICADED WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR. EVENTUALLY, IN ABOUT 30 MINS, THE CAR TURNS ON. HAPPENED AFTER AN HOUR OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. CAR SEEMED FINE AFTER THAT. AUGUST 17, 2016 - ON ANOTHER LONG TRIP, THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN ON. ALMOST EXHAUSTED THE BATTERY. CALLED A TOW TRUCK BUT BY THE TIME IT GOT THERE, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR RESTARTED. HAD MY ODB-II SCANNER WITH ME AND GOT CODE USED MY OBDII READER AND GOT CODE P142E - PRESSURE TOO LOW IN HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH NOT STARTING AND THE AND THE FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTOGERMANA SERVICE CENTER, THAT SAME DAY. SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 - STALLED ON A MAIN ROAD, WITH MY DAUGHTER, ON THE WAY TO THE PEDIATRICIAN. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND PARK ON A GAS STATION. AMBIENT TEMP WAS 94F. WAITED ABOUT 30MINS AND THE CAR RE-STARTED. THE DEALESHIP WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE. SENT EMAIL TO BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS BUT THEY REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 10925651

Nov 11, 2016Fuel system

I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY ROAD IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WON'T MOVE. OF COURSE CAME CLOSE TO BEING CRASHED FROM BEHIND. I AM GRATEFUL AND LUCKY THAT THE CARS BEHIND WERE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND MANEUVER AROUND ME TO AVOID COLLISION. THE BMW DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND ITS CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY. I HAVE ATTACHED THEIR DIAGNOSIS AS WELL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A LESS THAN 4 YEAR OLD CAR WITH UNDER 25K MILES ON IT HAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE, UNLESS IT WAS FAULTY TO BEGIN WITH. I CHECKED INTO THE RECALLS FOR BMW 328I MODELS FOR FAULTY FUEL PUMPS AND IT SEEMS BMW RECALLED MODELS FROM 2014, BUT IT SEEMS THE 2012 BMW HAS THIS ISSUE AS WELL. I WAS SAVED BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE IS HURT BECAUSE OF FAULTY PARTS THAT CAR MANUFACTURERS FAIL TO CHECK BEFORE SELLING IT TO UNSUSPECTING CONSUMERS, WHO THINK THEY ARE SAFE WHEN DRIVING THESE EXPENSIVE CARS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND PRECIOUS ONES IN IT. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO BE STILL ALIVE, SAFE AND OK TO WRITE THIS MESSAGE.

NHTSA ODI 10925545

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

Aug 3, 2016SteeringSpeed controlEngine

WHILE IN LINE IN A DRIVE THRU THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF SUDDENLY LOSING ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND POWER STEERING. UPON TRYING TO START "CHARGING MALFUNCTION" APPEARED ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN IN WITH A RED WARNING SIGN. TRIED 2-3 TIMES TO TURN OVER STARTER. WHEN VEHICLE TURNED ON IT WAS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. WHEN TRYING TO EXIT DRIVE THRU DRIVE WAY VEHICLE WAS VERY HEAVY AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL BACK AND FORTH ATTEMPTS VEHICLE WAS MOVED ABOUT 50 FEET TO A SAFE PARKING LOCATION.

NHTSA ODI 10892703

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

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Working with the data? Download all 33 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 verdict →