2015 BMW 335i Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2015 BMW 335i ranks 9th of 11 model years with a complaint index of 20 and a Best verdict. It has 10 complaints, 3 recalls, and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported to NHTSA.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 20/100
- #9 of 11 335i years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 10
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 30 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2015 BMW 335i problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System4 (40%)
- Engine3 (30%)
- Steering2 (20%)
- Structure & Body2 (20%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (10%)
- Fuel System1 (10%)
- Other1 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (10%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Door lock actuators fail, leaving doors slow to lock or unable to be opened from inside at a median 42,000 miles.
- Passenger or driver doors need two pulls of the handle to open, and sometimes the second pull does not release the latch at all.
- Steering can suddenly stiffen mid-turn with a 'Drive Moderately' warning, along with clunking or grinding noises at low speed.
- Fuel tank has cracked and leaked fuel after refueling at 51,000 miles.
- Engine-related failures include valve cover leaks, a failed water pump causing loss of power, and power steering cutting out, reported near 80,000 to 88,000 miles.
- Air conditioning airflow drops after extended use as the evaporator ices up.
2015 BMW 335i recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V527000Jul 11, 2024Airbags1,145 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- NHTSA 24V288000Apr 24, 2024Airbags5,761 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. 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].
2015 BMW 335i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,450
- 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.
2015 compared with other 335i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 BMW 335i reliable?
- Among 335i model years, 2015 ranks 9th out of 11 with a complaint index of 20, earning a Best verdict relative to other years. NHTSA lists only 10 complaints and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths for this year.
- What are the most common problems on the 2015 BMW 335i?
- Electrical system issues, mainly door lock actuator failures, make up 40% of complaints. Engine problems (30%), steering (20%), and structure/body door-latch issues (20%) follow.
- Does the 2015 BMW 335i have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 335i, covering airbags (two campaigns) and an electrical system software issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What year BMW 335i should I avoid?
- Based on complaint index, 2007, 2008, and 2009 carry Avoid verdicts, with 2007 the worst at a complaint index of 100. The 2015 335i is not among the years to avoid.
- At what mileage do 2015 335i problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 46,500 miles, though electrical door actuator failures cluster around 42,000 miles and engine issues appear closer to 84,000 miles.