Reliability & cost of ownership
BMW 335I Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the BMW 335I? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
BMW 335I problems by model year
40 recall entries across 10 model years and 811 owner complaints across 11 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining model year — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 335I | Not confirmed | 2 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2015 335I | 3 | 10 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 335I | 5 | 20 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 335I | 2 | 43 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 335I | 3 | 23 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 335I | 7 | 98 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 335I | 4 | 41 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 335I | 4 | 85 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 335I | 4 | 201 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2007 335I | 5 | 288 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 335I | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the BMW 335I, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- air bags185 complaints
- fuel system, gasoline182 complaints
- electrical system147 complaints
- engine127 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system66 complaints
- engine and engine cooling49 complaints
- power train46 complaints
- steering37 complaints