2012 BMW 335i Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#5 most-complained of 7 335i years
The 2012 BMW 335i has 22 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 33, ranking 5th worst out of 7 model years. That makes it a 'Good' year relative to other 335i years, with Airbags as the top complaint area at 64% share.
- Complaints
- 22
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 27 hwy
Top 2012 BMW 335i problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags14 (64%)
- Engine4 (18%)
- Other3 (14%)
- Structure & Body3 (14%)
- Electrical System2 (9%)
- Steering2 (9%)
- Brakes1 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (5%)
What owners report
- Engine has raced or revved out of control while parking, with the shifter briefly locked in drive and the driver needing to hit the engine stop button to halt the car.
- Steering wheel reportedly detached or spun free after a crash following hydroplaning, with airbags failing to deploy.
- Rear and front power windows have malfunctioned within the first month of ownership, sometimes paired with a check engine light.
- Engine has stalled randomly at low speeds between 5 and 40 mph, causing power steering and power brake assist to fail simultaneously before restarting itself minutes later.
- Owners reported the VANOS bolts loosening and fracturing, producing abnormal engine noise followed by a sudden stall, in vehicles not covered by the related recall campaign.
- Owners who received Takata airbag recall notices reported long waits for replacement parts, with some saying they were afraid to drive the car until repaired.
2012 BMW 335i recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V017000Jan 15, 2020Airbags59,965 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
- NHTSA 15V520000Aug 17, 2015Electrical System7,727 vehicles
Exterior lighting
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."
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 [email protected].
- NHTSA 14V176000Apr 10, 2014Engine156,137 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine
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.
Risk: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
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.
2012 BMW 335i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other 335i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 BMW 335i reliable?
- Compared to other 335i model years, 2012 ranks 5th worst out of 7 with a Complaint Index of 33 and 22 complaints, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to the rest of the lineup.
- What problems does the 2012 BMW 335i have?
- NHTSA complaints are led by Airbags at 64% share (14 complaints), followed by Engine at 18% and Structure & Body at 14%. Median mileage at failure for airbag complaints was 53,000.
- Does the 2012 BMW 335i have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 335i: an airbag inflator replacement campaign, an electrical system software update, and an engine VANOS bolt replacement campaign.
- How does the 2012 335i compare to other years?
- The 2012 335i's Complaint Index of 33 is lower than 2010 (67), 2011 (100), 2013 (83), and 2014 (50), but higher than 2015 (17), making 2012 one of the better years among the 7 tracked.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 BMW 335i?
- EPA rates the 2012 335i at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,650.