2012 BMW 335I Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 BMW 335I.

20112013
Complaints
30
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2012 BMW 335I Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#114 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:53,000 mi
Crash-related:1
#24 complaints

Engine Problems

Crash-related:1
#33 complaints

Seat-Related Issues

Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 BMW 335I.

Airbags
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
53,000
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 BMW 335I. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 BMW 335I

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~223,829 vehicles.

20V017000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~59,965 affected

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

15V520000Exterior Lighting
~7,727 affected

BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

14V176000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~156,137 affected

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

Other BMW 335I Years

2012 BMW 335I — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 BMW 335I reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 BMW 335I has 30 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 BMW 335I?
Top reported problems: Airbags (14 complaints, avg 53,000 mi); Engine Problems (4 complaints); Seat-Related Issues (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 BMW 335I?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 53,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 BMW 335I?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 BMW 335I include 4 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 BMW 335I have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 223,829 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 BMW 335I?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full BMW 335I reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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