FORCAR
Go Pro

BMW 335i VIN Check

NHTSA holds 201 owner complaints on the BMW 335i from 141 production runs; the worst run has 6, the typical one 1.4.

NHTSA complaint records · 201 complaints · 141 runs · 2011–2015 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported 335i run is WBADX7C50BE (2011 builds) with 6 complaints, 4.3× the typical run. Air bags problems make up 28% of reports; 2011 is the worst model year at 1.8 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for 335i model years 2007–2015.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The BMW 335i has 141 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 11% of every 335i complaint on file.

FIG.01·BMW 335i — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
WBADX7C50BE••••••201161—
WBADX7C5XBE••••••20115——
WBAPM5G56BN••••••20114——
WBAPL5C50BA••••••20114——
WBAPL5C55BA••••••20114——
WBADX7C51BE••••••20113——
WBAPM5G50BN••••••20113——
WBADX7C57BE••••••201131—
WBAPL5C56BA••••••20113——
WBA3A9C5XDF••••••201331—
WBADX7C56BE••••••20113——
WBAKG7C53BE••••••20113——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 129 335i runs has 3 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 56 335i VINs so far, most often 2013, 2011, 2008 builds; 3 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the BMW 335i the gap between build years is 1.8×: a 2011 car draws 1.8 complaints per run, a 2015 one 1.

FIG.02·BMW 335i — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
201511010—
20141.120182
20131.240334
20121.121192
20111.8110612
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2011 at 1.8 complaints per run; lightest is 2015 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 28% of everything BMW 335i owners report: Air Bags, 64 of 201 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·BMW 335i — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Air Bags644—
Engine551—
Electrical System3711
Fuel/propulsion System211—
Power Train211—
Unknown Or Other1722
Steering101—
Engine And Engine Cooling7——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 13 recall campaigns on the BMW 335i; the 6 below cover build years 2007 to 2015. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·BMW 335i — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
20V017000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module2007–2013
17V676000Electrical System:wiring2007–2011
13V044000Electrical System2007–2011
24V513000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module2007–2011
15V520000Exterior Lighting2012–2015
24V288000Air Bags:side/window2014–2015
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

20V017000 was opened in 2020 on cars built from 2007: 13 years on the road before the recall.

The 335i against its rivals

The 335i draws 1.4 complaints per production run; the Ford Thunderbird 3.4. That is the lowest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·BMW 335i VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
BMW 335i2011411.45%
Ford Thunderbird1,8925493.45.8%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 201 reports on the BMW 335i, 5% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·BMW 335i — complaint severity
OutcomeBMW 335iAll vehicles
Complaints filed2011,115,966
Involved a crash10 (5%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire2 (1%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported758,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Upgrade to Pro

You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.

  • Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
  • The original window sticker and factory options
  • Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
  • Decode a whole list of VINs at once
  • No ads, no tracking — and much more
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed

How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The BMW 335i share of that is 201 complaints over 141 runs, 0.02% of everything on record.

Everything on the BMW 335i
Recalls41 campaignsFuel economy26 mpg bestReliability4.5/5Common problems275 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space25 cu ftUsed prices825 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2007–2017

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a BMW 335i VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 201 NHTSA complaints from 141 335i runs and 13 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which 335i production run has the most complaints?

WBADX7C50BE, a 2011 build, with 6 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical 335i run has 1.4.

Which 335i years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2011 is heaviest at 1.8 complaints per run and 2015 lightest at 1.

Does the 335i get more complaints than the Ford Thunderbird?

No: 1.4 complaints per production run for the 335i against 3.4 for the Ford Thunderbird.

How many 335i complaints involve a crash?

5% of 201 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 2 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →