2013 BMW 335xi recalls & problems

The 2013 BMW 335xi has 1 safety recall and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (2 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lighting

NHTSA recall 15V520000 · Aug 17, 2015 · 7,727 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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 CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control	2	1	1	—
Air bags	2	1	1	—
Engine	1	0	0	—
Wheels	1	0	0	—
Tires	1	0	0	—
Suspension	1	0	0	—
Service brakes	1	0	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	1	1	1	—
Seat belts	1	1	1	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—
Fuel/propulsion system	1	1	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

May 1, 2018 · 25,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryFuel/propulsion system
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.
Dec 8, 2017 · 25,000 milesUnknown or other
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.
Apr 25, 2017 · 45,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags
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.
Feb 5, 2016Air bags
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.
Jun 1, 2013 · 5 milesService brakes
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…
Apr 2, 2014 · 15,000 milesSuspension
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.
Nov 12, 2012 · 2,993 milesVehicle speed control
LOSS OF POWER, THE CAR WILL NOT REV PAST 3,000 RMP AND NO FAULT CODES SHOW ON DASH. *TR
Jul 14, 2013 · 4,500 milesWheels
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…

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · openDesiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…