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2008 BMW 335I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 335I years

Owner complaints for the 2008 BMW 335I are substantially higher than the model-year median of 31.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

163 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports8 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

7 reports
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20,000 miles · May 5, 2015
Service Brakes

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 20000 MILES. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $4800 TO FIX BUT THAT BMW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING AND TYPICALLY OFFERED A BREAK ON THE COST OF THE PARTS AS A "GOODWILL" GESTURE. THIS SO CALLED "GOODWILL" WAS NOT OFFERED TO US AND WERE ADVISED THAT THE CAR COUL…

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ABS SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 20000 MILES. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $4800 TO FIX BUT THAT BMW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING AND TYPICALLY OFFERED A BREAK ON THE COST OF THE PARTS AS A "GOODWILL" GESTURE. THIS SO CALLED "GOODWILL" WAS NOT OFFERED TO US AND WERE ADVISED THAT THE CAR COULD BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE REPAIRS AS LONG AS WE REALIZED THAT WE "WERE DRIVING A CAR FROM THE '70S". HOW CAN YOU GARAGE KEEP A $52000 CAR AND HAVE SUCH A SYSTEM/SAFETY BREAKDOWN AFTER 20,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZE THIS FAILURE IN THE FORM OF "GOODWILL" GESTURES UNTIL THEY TIRE OF DOING SO? I WOULD ASK THE NHTSA TO PLEASE ENCOURAGE THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS VEHICLE (BMW) TO FIX THIS FAULT IN THEIR PRODUCTION/DESIGN AT THEIR COST. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714786

42,000 miles · Jan 24, 2014
Service Brakes

ABS UNIT FAILED, ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON. PER MECH. COMMON PROB, BMW EVEN SELLS REPAIR KIT SO COMMON. VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, I AM SURE PEOPLE DRIVING WITHOUT ABS/TRACTION CONTROL. VERY UNSAFE BMW FROM 2006-2009. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561327

29,000 miles · Oct 18, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

COMPLETE FAILURE OF ABS PUMP AND STABILITY CONTROL WITH ONLY 29000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR THIS BASIC SAFETY SYSTEM OVER $2900. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548369

49,000 miles · Oct 4, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

## VIN PASSED ## BMW 335 2008 ## PURCHASED CAR W/ 18000 MILES AND MY 2ND FUEL PUMP IS ON ITS WAY OUT (SCHEDULING APPT NEXT WEEK), BRAKES MAKE NOISE WHEN BRAKING (PADS ARE FINE), AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR IS NOW THROWING FUEL PRESSURE CODE 29F3.

NHTSA ODI #10546800

42,500 miles · Jul 12, 2013
Service Brakes

ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILURE. MANY BMW VEHICLES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS HAVE HAD VARIOUS ISSUES WITH THEIR BMW ABS SYSTEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PER BMW MEMBER SITES AND THE FACT THAT BMW PUT OUT A REPAIR KIT FOR THE PROBLEMS SHOULD CONFIRM THAT A LOT OF BMW AUTOS HAVE THIS ABS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT IS $400…

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ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILURE. MANY BMW VEHICLES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS HAVE HAD VARIOUS ISSUES WITH THEIR BMW ABS SYSTEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PER BMW MEMBER SITES AND THE FACT THAT BMW PUT OUT A REPAIR KIT FOR THE PROBLEMS SHOULD CONFIRM THAT A LOT OF BMW AUTOS HAVE THIS ABS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT IS $4000.00 ON AVERAGE AND I FEAR PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THAT AND ARE DRIVING WITH NO ABS AND MOST TIMES TRACTION CONTROL, I MYSELF STILL HAVEN'T FIXED MINE DUE TO THE EXPENSE. LOCAL BMW SAYS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOO BAD ; BUT NO WAY A $50K CAR HAS THIS BIG A DEFECT UNDER 50,000 MILES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524596

45,500 miles · Feb 12, 2013
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

THIS IS THE 1ST INCIDENT. DRIVING LIKE USUAL, UP A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR THEN LET GO OF GAS AND BRAKE TO LET THE CAR GO DOWN THE HILL ITSELF. SUDDENLY, THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT HAS SHIFTED AND AT THE SAME TIME SPEED UP BY ITSELF. THOUGHT I SWITCHED TO MANUAL DRIVE, SO TRY TO SWITCH BACK, BUT NO SWITCHES WAS MAD.…

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THIS IS THE 1ST INCIDENT. DRIVING LIKE USUAL, UP A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR THEN LET GO OF GAS AND BRAKE TO LET THE CAR GO DOWN THE HILL ITSELF. SUDDENLY, THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT HAS SHIFTED AND AT THE SAME TIME SPEED UP BY ITSELF. THOUGHT I SWITCHED TO MANUAL DRIVE, SO TRY TO SWITCH BACK, BUT NO SWITCHES WAS MAD. TRY TO STEP ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. SO, TRY TO SWITCH FROM AUTO TO MANUAL DRIVE, CAR STILL HAS NO REACTION. STEP ON THE BRAKE FORCEFULLY TO HAVE THE CAR STOP. THANK GOODNESS THIS WAS LATE AT NIGHT SO NO CAR WAS BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497929

45,800 miles · Feb 12, 2013
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES/HR, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN SPEED DRASTICALLY (FELT LIKE SOMEONE DOWN SHIFTED THE CAR) AND STARTED TO SHAKE AND RUMBLE. TRY TO STEP ON THE GAS, BUT THE CAR WON'T RESPOND IN SPEEDING CAR; TRY TO STEP ON THE BREAK, THE CAR WON'T STOP EITHER. COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES/HR, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN SPEED DRASTICALLY (FELT LIKE SOMEONE DOWN SHIFTED THE CAR) AND STARTED TO SHAKE AND RUMBLE. TRY TO STEP ON THE GAS, BUT THE CAR WON'T RESPOND IN SPEEDING CAR; TRY TO STEP ON THE BREAK, THE CAR WON'T STOP EITHER. COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THEN, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHIFTED BACK IT IT'S NORMAL GEAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. READ THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE OIL, THE TEMPERATURE WAS ON "0". THIS IS THE 2ND INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497926

Official recalls

4

24V513000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jul 3, 2024

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

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

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags:frontal

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

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

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

20V017000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 15, 2020

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 degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

17V676000 · Electrical System:wiring

Oct 25, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

13V044000 · Electrical System; Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables; Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Feb 7, 2013

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons manufactured March 2007 through June 2011; and 2009-2011 Z4 vehicles manufactured March 2009 through June 2011. In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles. In July 2013, BMW informed the agency that it was adding 1-Series, 3-Series, and Z4 vehicles, representing an additional 12,094 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 516,791. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a breakage of the connection, and a loss of electrical power to the vehicle.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons manufactured March 2007 through June 2011; and 2009-2011 Z4 vehicles manufactured March 2009 through June 2011. In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles. In July 2013, BMW informed the agency that it was adding 1-Series, 3-Series, and Z4 vehicles, representing an additional 12,094 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 516,791. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a breakage of the connection, and a loss of electrical power to the vehicle.

Consequence: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons manufactured March 2007 through June 2011; and 2009-2011 Z4 vehicles manufactured March 2009 through June 2011. In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles. In July 2013, BMW informed the agency that it was adding 1-Series, 3-Series, and Z4 vehicles, representing an additional 12,094 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 516,791. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a breakage of the connection, and a loss of electrical power to the vehicle.

Consequence: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Electrical System

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons manufactured March 2007 through June 2011; and 2009-2011 Z4 vehicles manufactured March 2009 through June 2011. In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles. In July 2013, BMW informed the agency that it was adding 1-Series, 3-Series, and Z4 vehicles, representing an additional 12,094 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 516,791. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a breakage of the connection, and a loss of electrical power to the vehicle.

Consequence: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.