Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2008 BMW 335 with NHTSA between 2017 and 2018.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 5 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 28
Against the median year of the BMW 335. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
30% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 21
13% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2008 BMW 335
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
330.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 106,000 mi
Fuel & Propulsion
220.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 109,000 mi
Airbags
220.0%
Median failure at 112,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 95,000 mi
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
112.5%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
112.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
675.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2017peak 3Jul 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2008 BMW 335
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
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.C...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 106,000 milesBethlehem, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWNED A 2008 BMW 335I FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. LAST MONTH I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND ALSO WENT FOR THE BATTERY RECALL. DRIVING BACK FROM THE DEALER BACK TO MY APARTMENT WAS ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. SO RIGHT WHEN I PULLED INTO THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT, I NOTICED MY TRUNK WAS SMOKING THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PARK SOMEWHERE EMPTY, THEN I GOT OUT AND I SAW THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS FLAMING UP. IT TOOK LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS COVERED WITH FIRE. SINCE THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR, I AM SURE THAT'S THE BATTERY WIRE CONNECTION THAT CAUSED THIS. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DD THIS CAR AND ONLY HAPPEN AFTER THE SERVICE FROM THE DEALER. ALSO WHY BMW DESIGN AND POSITION THE FREAKING BATTERY AND WIRES BEHIND THE GAS TANK?
NHTSA complaint #11006339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesBethlehem, PAFire
ENGINE
I OWNED A 2008 BMW 335I FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. LAST MONTH I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND ALSO WENT FOR THE BATTERY RECALL. DRIVING BACK FROM THE DEALER BACK TO MY APARTMENT WAS ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. SO RIGHT WHEN I PULLED INTO THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT, I NOTICED MY TRUNK WAS SMOKING THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PARK SOMEWHERE EMPTY, THEN I GOT OUT AND I SAW THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS FLAMING UP. IT TOOK LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS COVERED WITH FIRE. SINCE THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR, I AM SURE THAT'S THE BATTERY WIRE CONNECTION THAT CAUSED THIS. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DD THIS CAR AND ONLY HAPPEN AFTER THE SERVICE FROM THE DEALER. ALSO WHY BMW DESIGN AND POSITION THE FREAKING BATTERY AND WIRES BEHIND THE GAS TANK?
NHTSA complaint #11006339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesBethlehem, PAFire
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I OWNED A 2008 BMW 335I FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. LAST MONTH I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND ALSO WENT FOR THE BATTERY RECALL. DRIVING BACK FROM THE DEALER BACK TO MY APARTMENT WAS ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. SO RIGHT WHEN I PULLED INTO THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT, I NOTICED MY TRUNK WAS SMOKING THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PARK SOMEWHERE EMPTY, THEN I GOT OUT AND I SAW THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS FLAMING UP. IT TOOK LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS COVERED WITH FIRE. SINCE THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR, I AM SURE THAT'S THE BATTERY WIRE CONNECTION THAT CAUSED THIS. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DD THIS CAR AND ONLY HAPPEN AFTER THE SERVICE FROM THE DEALER. ALSO WHY BMW DESIGN AND POSITION THE FREAKING BATTERY AND WIRES BEHIND THE GAS TANK?
NHTSA complaint #11006339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 50 milesOrlando, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING HARNESS RECALL WARNING WAS 10 MONTHS AGO. DEALERSHIP SAYS NO PART IS IN YET. EVERY NITE I WONDER IF MY CAR WILL CATCH FIRE N MY GARAGE. THEY NEED TO FIX OR GIVE A LOANER OR SOMETHING TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. THIS IS THE 3RD ATTEMPT TO GET A RESPONSE FROM YOU GUYS WHO AREN'T MUSH BETTER IT WOULD SEEM. GET SOMETHING DONE SOON, PLEASE.
NHTSA complaint #11111148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Napa, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 17V-676: BLOWER MOTOR WIRING. ACCORDING TO RECALL COULD LEAD TO FIRE. ACCORDING TO BMW NOTICE AS OF DECEMBER 2017THERE IS NO REMEDY. FEBRUARY 12TH 2018, NO REMEDY. APRIL 4TH 2018, NO REMEDY. AT WHAT POINT DO THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?
NHTSA complaint #11083352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesNorth LAS Vegas, NV
AIR BAGS
DRIVING MY CAR AT 65MPH THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WAS BARELY ABLE TO POWER THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. WHERE I WAS STILL NOT IN A SAFE PLACE BECAUSE MY BRAKES HAD NO RESPONSE AS WELL. FINALLY SNATCHED UP THE EBRAKE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH ME DRIVING AND I'M LUCKY TO HAVE MY LIFE AFTER TWO HORRIFIC INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. ALSO I HAVE NO AIR BAG SO IF I WOULDN'T OF BEEN SO LUCKY TO NOT HIT ANYTHING HEAD ON I WOULD OF NOT EVEN HAD A AIRBAG DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD BY BMW MY CAR SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE WATER PUMP BUT WHEN THIS WAS REPLACED AFTER A $950 BILL MY CAR STILL DOESN'T WORK AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD BY BMW NOW IT WILL BE ANOTHER $500 TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FREE OF CONCERN FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS. AS MUCH AS THIS CAR HAS SHUT DOWN OR STALLED ON ME I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. GOT THE CAR JANUARY 2015 AND MY WARRANTY WAS USED UP WITHIN 1 YEAR FIXING THE SAME PARTS REPEATEDLY. NO MY CAR WON'T EVEN START OR RUN PROPERLY. THIS IS AFTER I GO THE WATER PUMP REPLACED LIKE I WAS INSTRUCTED BY BMW. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO LOAD THAT DOCUMENT BUT I HAVE IT AVAILABLE ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #11054403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesNorth LAS Vegas, NV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING MY CAR AT 65MPH THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WAS BARELY ABLE TO POWER THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. WHERE I WAS STILL NOT IN A SAFE PLACE BECAUSE MY BRAKES HAD NO RESPONSE AS WELL. FINALLY SNATCHED UP THE EBRAKE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH ME DRIVING AND I'M LUCKY TO HAVE MY LIFE AFTER TWO HORRIFIC INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. ALSO I HAVE NO AIR BAG SO IF I WOULDN'T OF BEEN SO LUCKY TO NOT HIT ANYTHING HEAD ON I WOULD OF NOT EVEN HAD A AIRBAG DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD BY BMW MY CAR SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE WATER PUMP BUT WHEN THIS WAS REPLACED AFTER A $950 BILL MY CAR STILL DOESN'T WORK AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD BY BMW NOW IT WILL BE ANOTHER $500 TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FREE OF CONCERN FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS. AS MUCH AS THIS CAR HAS SHUT DOWN OR STALLED ON ME I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. GOT THE CAR JANUARY 2015 AND MY WARRANTY WAS USED UP WITHIN 1 YEAR FIXING THE SAME PARTS REPEATEDLY. NO MY CAR WON'T EVEN START OR RUN PROPERLY. THIS IS AFTER I GO THE WATER PUMP REPLACED LIKE I WAS INSTRUCTED BY BMW. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO LOAD THAT DOCUMENT BUT I HAVE IT AVAILABLE ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #11054403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesNorth LAS Vegas, NV
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING MY CAR AT 65MPH THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WAS BARELY ABLE TO POWER THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. WHERE I WAS STILL NOT IN A SAFE PLACE BECAUSE MY BRAKES HAD NO RESPONSE AS WELL. FINALLY SNATCHED UP THE EBRAKE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH ME DRIVING AND I'M LUCKY TO HAVE MY LIFE AFTER TWO HORRIFIC INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. ALSO I HAVE NO AIR BAG SO IF I WOULDN'T OF BEEN SO LUCKY TO NOT HIT ANYTHING HEAD ON I WOULD OF NOT EVEN HAD A AIRBAG DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD BY BMW MY CAR SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE WATER PUMP BUT WHEN THIS WAS REPLACED AFTER A $950 BILL MY CAR STILL DOESN'T WORK AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD BY BMW NOW IT WILL BE ANOTHER $500 TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FREE OF CONCERN FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS. AS MUCH AS THIS CAR HAS SHUT DOWN OR STALLED ON ME I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. GOT THE CAR JANUARY 2015 AND MY WARRANTY WAS USED UP WITHIN 1 YEAR FIXING THE SAME PARTS REPEATEDLY. NO MY CAR WON'T EVEN START OR RUN PROPERLY. THIS IS AFTER I GO THE WATER PUMP REPLACED LIKE I WAS INSTRUCTED BY BMW. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO LOAD THAT DOCUMENT BUT I HAVE IT AVAILABLE ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #11054403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunnyvale, CA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG: DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE THAT COULD CAUSE THE INFLATOR TO RUPTURE.
NHTSA complaint #11020624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesBethlehem, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWNED A 2008 BMW 335I FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. LAST MONTH I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND ALSO WENT FOR THE BATTERY RECALL. DRIVING BACK FROM THE DEALER BACK TO MY APARTMENT WAS ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. SO RIGHT WHEN I PULLED INTO THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT, I NOTICED MY TRUNK WAS SMOKING THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PARK SOMEWHERE EMPTY, THEN I GOT OUT AND I SAW THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS FLAMING UP. IT TOOK LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS COVERED WITH FIRE. SINCE THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR, I AM SURE THAT'S THE BATTERY WIRE CONNECTION THAT CAUSED THIS. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DD THIS CAR AND ONLY HAPPEN AFTER THE SERVICE FROM THE DEALER. ALSO WHY BMW DESIGN AND POSITION THE FREAKING BATTERY AND WIRES BEHIND THE GAS TANK?
NHTSA complaint #11006339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesBethlehem, PAFire
ENGINE
I OWNED A 2008 BMW 335I FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. LAST MONTH I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND ALSO WENT FOR THE BATTERY RECALL. DRIVING BACK FROM THE DEALER BACK TO MY APARTMENT WAS ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. SO RIGHT WHEN I PULLED INTO THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT, I NOTICED MY TRUNK WAS SMOKING THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PARK SOMEWHERE EMPTY, THEN I GOT OUT AND I SAW THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS FLAMING UP. IT TOOK LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS COVERED WITH FIRE. SINCE THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR, I AM SURE THAT'S THE BATTERY WIRE CONNECTION THAT CAUSED THIS. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DD THIS CAR AND ONLY HAPPEN AFTER THE SERVICE FROM THE DEALER. ALSO WHY BMW DESIGN AND POSITION THE FREAKING BATTERY AND WIRES BEHIND THE GAS TANK?
NHTSA complaint #11006339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesBethlehem, PAFire
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I OWNED A 2008 BMW 335I FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. LAST MONTH I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND ALSO WENT FOR THE BATTERY RECALL. DRIVING BACK FROM THE DEALER BACK TO MY APARTMENT WAS ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES. SO RIGHT WHEN I PULLED INTO THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT, I NOTICED MY TRUNK WAS SMOKING THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PARK SOMEWHERE EMPTY, THEN I GOT OUT AND I SAW THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS FLAMING UP. IT TOOK LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS COVERED WITH FIRE. SINCE THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE REAR, I AM SURE THAT'S THE BATTERY WIRE CONNECTION THAT CAUSED THIS. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DD THIS CAR AND ONLY HAPPEN AFTER THE SERVICE FROM THE DEALER. ALSO WHY BMW DESIGN AND POSITION THE FREAKING BATTERY AND WIRES BEHIND THE GAS TANK?
NHTSA complaint #11006339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesRound Lake, IL
ENGINE
WATER PUMP FAILURE THE WATER PUMP ON MY CAR HAS NOW FAILED TWICE. IT FAILED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 AND I PAID THE DEALER TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. IT HAS NOW FAILED AGAIN. THE CAR HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO WAY WATER PUMPS SHOULD FAIL TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #10954020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.