2012 BMW 335i reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 BMW 335i has 26 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most 335i years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Inflator, Exterior lighting, and Engine.

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (16 of 26), then Engine (5) and Seats (3). Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 335i has 44 complaints, 2 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 BMW 335i. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2020-01-15 · NHTSA campaign 20V017000

Summary 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.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall Exterior lighting 2015-08-17 · NHTSA campaign 15V520000

Summary 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."

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Recall Engine 2014-04-10 · NHTSA campaign 14V176000

Summary 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.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

Complaints by component (26 total)

Air bags

Engine

Seats

Electrical system

Steering

Service brakes

Visibility

Wheels

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"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 · filed 2024-07-10
"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…"
Air bags, Seats · filed 2024-03-12
"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…"
Steering, Air bags, Seats · filed 2023-09-20
"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…"
Air bags · filed 2021-05-21
"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…"
Electrical system · filed 2019-03-04

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 BMW 335 I 2 DR RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	5 stars
2012 BMW 335 I 4 DR RWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	5 stars
2012 BMW 335 I C RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	5 stars
2012 BMW 335 I Xdrive 2 DR AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
335i	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	23	32	26 MPG	$3050
335i	3L, 6-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Rear-wheel drive	20	29	23 MPG	$3450
335i Coupe	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	18	27	22 MPG	$3650
335i Coupe	3L, 6-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Rear-wheel drive	19	27	22 MPG	$3650
335i Coupe xDrive	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	18	26	21 MPG	$3800
335i Coupe xDrive	3L, 6-cyl	Manual 6-speed	All-wheel drive	19	26	22 MPG	$3650

Specs and fitment

E90/E92/E93 generation, 2012–2013

Body styles Coupe, Convertible

Oil SAE 0W-30 (N55; confirm BMW LL spec on under-hood label)

Tire size 225/35R19–225/45R18, 255/30R19–255/35R19 (trim-dependent; staggered on M Sport) front / 255/30R19–255/35R19 (trim-dependent; staggered on M Sport) rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V017000 covers certain 2007-2013 335i Coupe models (with many other BMW models in the same Takata campaign) for a driver frontal air bag inflator that can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin; dealers replace the driver air bag.

Compare

Next year 2013 BMW 335i See every BMW 335i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 BMW 335i reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 BMW 335i?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (16 of 26), then Engine (5) and Seats (3). Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2012 BMW 335i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 335i has 44 complaints, 2 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 BMW 335i been recalled?

The 2012 BMW 335i has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 BMW 335i?

Owners have filed 26 complaints about the 2012 BMW 335i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 BMW 335i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 BMW 335i is 22.7 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What 335i chassis does this site cover?

E90 coupe years 2012-2013 and F30 sedan years 2012-2015 are listed as separate generations here.

What does recall 20V017000 cover on E90 335i?

Certain 2007-2013 335i Coupe models (with many other BMW models) for a driver frontal Takata air bag inflator that can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin; dealers replace the driver air bag.

What does recall 24V288000 cover on F30 335i?

Certain 2014-2015 335i and 335i xDrive sedans (with 2 Series, 4 Series, 328d, and M4): head air bag inflators may rupture or leak; dealers replace the head air bags.