NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 BMW 335XI Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 BMW 335XI has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 9 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 BMW 335XI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 BMW 335XI owner complaints

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 335XI, describing incidents dated November 12, 2012 to May 1, 2018.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Seat Belts 1 complaint

Of the 9 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 9 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11091941 · Filed May 4, 2018
IN A LEFT-HAND TURNING LANE OF A CITY STREET, INTENDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION, MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AT IDLE & IN NEUTRAL AT A COMPLETE STOP UNTIL ON-COMING TRAFFIC CLEARED INTERSECTION. FROM A DEAD STOP IN 1ST GEAR (STICK SHIFT), I STARTED A LEFT TURN…
ODI #11066551 · Filed February 1, 2018
DOOR SOMETIMES DOES NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. NORMALLY A DOUBLE PULL ON THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR. BUT SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT UNLOCK (THE HANDLE FEELS STUCK AND CAN'T BE FULLY PULLED) AND REQUIRES PRESSING THE ELECTRONIC CENTRAL LOCKING SWITCH. NOT SAFE IF THERE IS AN…
ODI #10980984 · Filed April 26, 2017
I WAS REAR ENDED FROM A DEAD STOP BY A VEHICHLE AROUND 50 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED. I HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH BUT NO ACTUAL AIR BAG PROTECTED ME BY COMING OUT. THE SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED UP AND NO LONGER WORK. THE CAR THEN FORCED ME TO LEAVE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT DOES…

Read all 9 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 BMW 335XI in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Side Marker Lamps Inoperative/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #15V520000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported August 17, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 7,727 vehicles

Repair completion: 91.63% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified October 7, 2015 · Vehicles built October 20, 2011 – June 24, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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].

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2013 BMW 335XI. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

9 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 BMW 335XI.

Vehicle Speed Control; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11091941

Crash 1 injury

Incident: May 1, 2018 · Filed: May 4, 2018

IN A LEFT-HAND TURNING LANE OF A CITY STREET, INTENDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION, MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AT IDLE & IN NEUTRAL AT A COMPLETE STOP UNTIL ON-COMING TRAFFIC CLEARED INTERSECTION. FROM A DEAD STOP IN 1ST GEAR (STICK SHIFT), I STARTED A LEFT TURN - SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY & UNINTENTIONALLY THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY & UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED TO 30 TO 40 MPH. I CLUTCHED OUT OF GEAR, SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS, BUT COULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUBSEQUENTLY JUMPED A CURB AND COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A TELEPHONE POLE. SEAT BELT WORKED AND AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CAR WAS TOWED. I WAS TRANSPORTED BY EMS TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM TO EVALUATE FOR INJURIES.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11066551

Incident: December 8, 2017 · Filed: February 1, 2018

DOOR SOMETIMES DOES NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. NORMALLY A DOUBLE PULL ON THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR. BUT SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT UNLOCK (THE HANDLE FEELS STUCK AND CAN'T BE FULLY PULLED) AND REQUIRES PRESSING THE ELECTRONIC CENTRAL LOCKING SWITCH. NOT SAFE IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I HAVE A VIDEO BUT CANT UPLOAD IT.

Air Bags; Seat Belts; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10980984

Crash 1 injury

Incident: April 25, 2017 · Filed: April 26, 2017

I WAS REAR ENDED FROM A DEAD STOP BY A VEHICHLE AROUND 50 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED. I HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH BUT NO ACTUAL AIR BAG PROTECTED ME BY COMING OUT. THE SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED UP AND NO LONGER WORK. THE CAR THEN FORCED ME TO LEAVE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO PUSH IT OR PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL IN ANY FASHION. THIS ALSO FORCED IT TO BE HARMFUL TO THE VEHICLE TO BE PUT ONTO THE TOW TRUCK BECAUSE ALL WHEELS WERE LOCKED UP.

Air Bags

ODI #10949142

Incident: February 5, 2016 · Filed: February 2, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 335XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Service Brakes

ODI #10763354

Incident: June 1, 2013 · Filed: September 13, 2015

EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, NEW OFF THE LOT, THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEALED WHILE COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. THE NOISE IS SUCH A HIGH PITCH THAT OTHER CARS LOOK AT ME LIKE NAILS ON A CHALK BOARD. I HAVE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION TO BMW SERVICE CENTER AT LEAST 6X WHILE THE CAR IS BEING SERVICED AND CONTACTED BMW USA, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR TO MAKE THIS NOISE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AT 22,000 MILES IT IS BEYOND ACCEPTABLE. ONE SERVICE CENTER CLEANED THE BRAKES, BUT ALL WILL NOT REPLACE ANY COMPONENTS, SUCH AS ROTORS OR BRAKE PADS. I GUARANTEE THAT IF THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I WOULD GET THEM REPAIRED FOR A SIZABLE COST. ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER, SAID THAT IF ENOUGH CUSTOMERS PRESENT THE PROBLEM TO BMW USA THEY MAY ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. TO ME THAT IS AN ADMISSION IF AN ISSUE. I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OUTLETS AND DECIDED TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLIANT HERE WITH NO EXPECTATIONS.

Suspension

ODI #10586583

Incident: April 2, 2014 · Filed: May 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 335XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVE SLOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT HAD STRUCK SOMETHING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10553052

Incident: November 12, 2012 · Filed: November 20, 2013

LOSS OF POWER, THE CAR WILL NOT REV PAST 3,000 RMP AND NO FAULT CODES SHOW ON DASH. *TR

Tires; Wheels

ODI #10526458

Incident: July 14, 2013 · Filed: July 23, 2013

NEW CAR (2MONTHS), BMW335XI (EXCELLENT), DELIVERED BY BMW FRANCE WITH 4 RUNFLAT 18' 225/45 GOODYEAR (IN FRANCE THE CLIENT CANNOT CHOOSE THE TRADE MARK OF THE TYRES DURING ORDERING). AFTER ONLY 4500 KMS, BUBBLES ON THE EXTERNAL WALL OF THE TYRES (ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR RIGHT). ONE WEEK LATER (STRICT SPEED LIMITATION TO 80 KM/H), BUBBLE AND EXTERNAL INJURY ON THE EXTERNAL WALL OF THE LEFT ANTERIOR TYRE. NO SHOCK, NO WHOLE ON THE ROAD, NO IMPACT ON WHEELS BUT SPONTANEOUS BUBBLES. NO PERCEPTION WHEN DRIVING, NO SIGNAL OF DYSFUNCTION ON THE ELECTRONIC BOARD UNTIL THE LEFT TIRE RISE DOWN THE PRESSURE AND WAS DEFINITELY OUT OF ORDER. 3 OUT OF 4 TYRES OUT OF ORDER ON A NEW CAR (<2 MONTHS) AFTER ONLY 4500 KMS!!!! THIS IS THE REVERSE OF TECHNICAL PROGRESS. THIS IS A VERY SEVERE AND SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH SAFETY CONSEQUENCES THAT ENGAGE LIFE OF BMW CLIENTS. THIS CANOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO BMW BUT TO EITHER TYRE MANUFACTURER OR AGENCIES DVOTED TO TYRE HOMOLOGATIONS. *TR

Engine

ODI #10519705

Incident: June 13, 2013 · Filed: June 13, 2013

AUTO START STOP FAILURE ON AUTOMATIC TRANS VEHICLE. SECOND TIME THE ENGINE HAS STALLED AND DROPPED INTO NEUTRAL IN TRAFFIC WHILE THE AUTO START STOP FEATURE IS ACTIVE. RATHER THAN STARTING BACK UP AS NORMAL THE ENGINE THROWS AN ERROR CODE AND FORCES THE DRIVER TO MANUALLY TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE AT A STOP LIGHT TURNING RED TO GREEN. *TR

Other BMW 335XI model years

Check your 2013 BMW 335XI VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 335XI at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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