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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Bmw 335I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

22 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

56,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 22 complaints (63.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation313.6%
Braking behavior29.1%
Electrical and battery issues29.1%
Steering behavior29.1%
Transmission and shifting14.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
14
Engine
4
Seats
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Electrical System
2
Steering
2
Service Brakes
1
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags14
Engine4
Seats3
Unknown Or Other3
Electrical System2
Steering2
Service Brakes1
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls1

Air Bags: 14; Engine: 4; Seats: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System: 2; Steering: 2; Service Brakes: 1; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2013
1
2014
1
2015
1
2016
6
2017
8
2019
1
2021
1
2023
1
2024
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20131
20141
20151
20166
20178
20191
20211
20231
20242

2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 6; 2017: 8; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10593767 · 2014-05-23 (May 23, 2014)

MY 2012 BMW 335I COUPLE M SPORT PACKAGE (AUTOMATIC) ENGINE STALLS RANDOMLY (5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2013). AS A RESULT, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND POWER BRAKE ASSIST ALSO FAILS. RESULTING IN SOME SCARY SITUATIONS INDEED. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS BETWEEN 5-40 MPH. ENGINE TYPICALLY RESTARTS AFTER 10-15 MIN. THE LAST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WAS ON 5/21/14 AT AROUND 9AM PST. I WAS STRANDED ON CA HIGHWAY 85. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 7K MILES. NO ENGINE FAULT CODES REGISTER WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SEND ME BACK TELLING ME T…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593767 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10851884 · 2016-03-28 (March 28, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VANOS BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO IT NOT BEING INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851884 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10747397 · 2015-08-10 (August 10, 2015)

ON SATURDAY 8/8/15, I WAS PARKING MY BMW 335I CAR TO GET GROCERIES, AND WHILE ENTERING THE PARKING SPOT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE SHIFT CONTROL WAS LOCKED IN DRIVE AND WOULD NOT MOVE. LASTLY I FINALLY HIT THE STOP ENGINE BUTTON, AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED, BUT NOT AFTER I HAD BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IN MY PARKING SPACE. AS I WAS RESTING AGAINST THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I HAD BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER AFTER STOPPI…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,460 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747397 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11055388 · 2017-12-18 (December 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.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055388 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11183863 · 2019-03-04 (March 4, 2019)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183863 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11545689 · 2023-09-20 (September 20, 2023)

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 whe…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11545689 at NHTSA ↗