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2013 BMW 335i Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 335i, most often about the engine (30% of complaints, typically around 27,500 miles). It is 5th of 10 335i model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.

Complaints43
Recalls2
Crashes reported5
Fires reported0
Injuries reported1

Most common 2013 BMW 335i problems

  1. Engine

    13 complaints · 30%

    Half of these problems showed up before 27,500 miles.

    While driving on the freeway going to work, around 5:30 in the morning, the power train warning light came on the screen.., while on sport mode selected I noticed that my RPM was close to 3k doing 65 MPH., the vehicle slowed down to 45 miles per hour and had no power.., I was able to pull over the shoulder and tried…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 27,539 miles
    The car goes into "limp mode" while driving reducing power immediately. I was making a turn onto a street crossing a highway and my car went into this limp mode. I was almost hit due to the sudden loss of power. Symptoms: 1) loss of power and car will not rev. Past ~3,000 RPM (no fault codes on dash) 2) radiator…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 14,600 miles
  2. Air bags

    12 complaints · 28%

    Passenger restraint system malfunction symbol came on on two different occasions as I started the car and remained on as I drove it and when I restarted it it was gone briefly
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 33,000 miles
    If cell phone placed on the passenger seat, it could cause a false seat belt light to illuminate. I noticed while charging my phone through the usb port and the phone is charging; I can repeat the incident over and over. It is unclear if the airbags are functional at this time. This could happen in motion at any speed…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 66,000 miles
  3. Electrical

    11 complaints · 26%

    Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles.

    1 day I drove the car all the door lockes except for the rear left stoped working and I got stuck in the car for 30 minutes then the door unlocked and then stoped working car doors have to be opens with the key hole or from inside the car major death hazard.all happened in one day in a parking garage
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2021, at 67,000 miles
    If cell phone placed on the passenger seat, it could cause a false seat belt light to illuminate. I noticed while charging my phone through the usb port and the phone is charging; I can repeat the incident over and over. It is unclear if the airbags are functional at this time. This could happen in motion at any speed…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 66,000 miles
  4. Transmission

    9 complaints · 21%

    Half of these problems showed up before 27,500 miles.

    While driving on the freeway going to work, around 5:30 in the morning, the power train warning light came on the screen.., while on sport mode selected I noticed that my RPM was close to 3k doing 65 MPH., the vehicle slowed down to 45 miles per hour and had no power.., I was able to pull over the shoulder and tried…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 27,539 miles
    Driving the vehicle on a highway with normal speed limit. Vehicle started to sputter and drivetrain malfunction warning light came on. Vehicle was losing power and speed decreasing quickly in the middle of the highway. I did have a chance to pull over safely on the shoulder. Wife and children was scared and so was I.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 13,050 miles
  5. Fuel system

    7 complaints · 16%

    Half of these problems showed up before 14,500 miles.

    The car goes into "limp mode" while driving reducing power immediately. I was making a turn onto a street crossing a highway and my car went into this limp mode. I was almost hit due to the sudden loss of power. Symptoms: 1) loss of power and car will not rev. Past ~3,000 RPM (no fault codes on dash) 2) radiator…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 14,600 miles
    Driving the vehicle on a highway with normal speed limit. Vehicle started to sputter and drivetrain malfunction warning light came on. Vehicle was losing power and speed decreasing quickly in the middle of the highway. I did have a chance to pull over safely on the shoulder. Wife and children was scared and so was I.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 13,050 miles
  6. Speed control

    4 complaints · 9%

    The contact owns a 2013 BMW 335i. While driving 20 MPH making a 90 degree turn, the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into a telephone pole. The contact sustained neck and back injuries, but no medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 42,000 miles
    While parking car turning wheels to left, car suddenly accelerated on it's own without any warning, causing car to jump over parking bumper, through concrete block wall and continued to ram into private home, making home unsafe to enter. All this caused $14000.00 damage to the car, not including the cost of damage to…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 10,000 miles
  7. Seat belts

    3 complaints · 7%

    If cell phone placed on the passenger seat, it could cause a false seat belt light to illuminate. I noticed while charging my phone through the usb port and the phone is charging; I can repeat the incident over and over. It is unclear if the airbags are functional at this time. This could happen in motion at any speed…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 66,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2013 BMW 335i recalls

  1. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 20V017000 · January 15, 2020 · 59,965 vehicles

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On x5 and x6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began march 11, 2020. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    Full defect summary

    Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i convertibles, 128i, 135i, and m coupes, 2007-2010 x3 30si and x3 xdrive30i, 2013-2015 x1 sdrive28i, x1 xdrive28i and x1 xdrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xdrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xdrive and m3 coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xdrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xdrive and m3, 2009-2011 335d, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xdrive, 2010-2011 x6 activehybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, m3 coupes, x5 30si, x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 48i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i and x5 m, 2009-2013 x5 xdrive35d and 2008-2014 x6 xdrive35i, x6 xdrive50i and x6m vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradat

  2. Lights: exterior lighting

    NHTSA 15V520000 · August 17, 2015 · 7,727 vehicles

    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 [email protected].

    Full defect summary

    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."

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

NHTSA defect investigations

Questions about the 2013 BMW 335i

What are the most common problems with the 2013 BMW 335i?
By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (13 complaints, typically around 27,500 miles); air bags (12 complaints); electrical (11 complaints, typically around 67,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2013 BMW 335i have?
2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 15, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2013 a bad year for the BMW 335i?
It is 5th of 10 335i model years by number of complaints, with 43 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other BMW 335i years

BMW 335i problems by year