
2011 Bmw 335IS
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Bmw 335IS has 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (50% of all complaints), specifically: since i had the car at 32k miles. the vehicle would give me the low oil light way before the oil change intervals of 15k. this ultimately lead to catastrophic engine failure. it spun a cam shaft bearing. this has lead to having to replacement of he entire engine with a used one..
12
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
6 complaints- • SINCE I HAD THE CAR AT 32K MILES. THE VEHICLE WOULD GIVE ME THE LOW OIL LIGHT WAY BEFORE THE OIL CHANGE INTERVALS OF 15K. THIS ULTIMATELY LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IT SPUN A CAM SHAFT BEARING. THIS HAS LEAD TO HAVING TO REPLACEMENT OF HE ENTIRE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE.
- • THE BELT ON MY CAR BROKE OFF AND I HAD MY CAR TOWED INTO THE MECHANIC SHOP. ONCE IT WAS LOOKED AT IT WAS SAID TO HAVE JUMPED TIME AND I HAD AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION THAT IS A RECALL DO TO BMW. MY ENGINE IS NO LONGER WORKING AND I AM LEFT WITH PAYING A CAR NOTE ON A BMW THAT HAS AN ENGINE THAT JUMPED TI
- • WATER PUMP FAILURE OCCURRED AT 72,000 MILES. PART IS A COSTLY REPAIR, AND BMW WILL QUOTE $1800 TO REPLACE. CAR WARNING ON IDRIVE SYSTEM STATED 'ENGINE TOO HOT, PULL OVER AND SHUT ENGINE OFF.' LOSS OF POWER AT POTENTIAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
“SINCE I HAD THE CAR AT 32K MILES. THE VEHICLE WOULD GIVE ME THE LOW OIL LIGHT WAY BEFORE THE OIL CHANGE INTERVALS OF 15K. THIS ULTIMATELY LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IT SPUN A CAM SHAFT BEARING. THIS HAS LEAD TO HAVING TO REPLACEMENT OF HE ENTIRE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
3 complaints- • TAKATA RECALL. A FIX FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 16V-071 ISSUED IN MARCH 2016 BY BMW AGAINST THIS VIN HAS YET TO MATERIALIZE. BMW CLEARLY DOESN'T TAKE SERIOUSLY THEIR OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW.
- • TAKATA RECALL - I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALER "EAST BAY BMW" TO GET THE AIRBAGS REPLACED. I RECEIVED A FOLLOW-UP CALL 2 DAYS LATER INFORMING ME THAT THEY AIRBAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET. I'M NOT FORCED TO DRIVE MY UNSAFE VEHICLE UNTIL PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. AM I ABLE TO GET A RENTAL IN T
- • TAKATA RECALL. I CONTACTED THE BMW DEALERSHIP SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO RESOLVE THIS RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET TO FIX THIS ISSUE
“TAKATA RECALL. A FIX FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 16V-071 ISSUED IN MARCH 2016 BY BMW AGAINST THIS VIN HAS YET TO MATERIALIZE. BMW CLEARLY DOESN'T TAKE SERIOUSLY THEIR OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
2 complaints- • I had the recall repair for the HVAC harness done in 2018, and the recall fix failed in 6/22, I took it into BMW and they determined there was a short, I do not know why a replacement part failed so soon in my eyes after being replaced for a recall. I had to pay $670 to fix this issue from a "free"
“I had the recall repair for the HVAC harness done in 2018, and the recall fix failed in 6/22, I took it into BMW and they determined there was a short, I do not know why a replacement part failed so soon in my eyes after being replaced for a recall. I had to pay $670 to fix this issue from a "free"”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TIRES
1 complaints- • TIRES - I HAVE 1,500 MILES OR SO ON THEM (NEW). THEY WAS INSTALLED BY THEM BMW DEALERSHIP AS I WAS PURCHASING THE CAR. I HAD THE CARS SHIPPED HERE TO MD. DRIVING THE CAR LOCALLY AFTER SITTING IN THE GARAGE, IT STARTED TO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE ABOVE 40 MPH AND WOULD GET WORSE UP TO 60 MPH THAT'S AS F
“TIRES - I HAVE 1,500 MILES OR SO ON THEM (NEW). THEY WAS INSTALLED BY THEM BMW DEALERSHIP AS I WAS PURCHASING THE CAR. I HAD THE CARS SHIPPED HERE TO MD. DRIVING THE CAR LOCALLY AFTER SITTING IN THE GARAGE, IT STARTED TO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE ABOVE 40 MPH AND WOULD GET WORSE UP TO 60 MPH THAT'S AS F”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 12 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: SINCE I HAD THE CAR AT 32K MILES. THE VEHICLE WOULD GIVE ME THE LOW OIL LIGHT WAY BEFORE THE OIL CHANGE INTERVALS OF 15K. THIS ULTIMATELY LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IT SPUN A CAM SHAFT BEARING. THIS HAS LEAD TO HAVING TO REPLACEMENT OF HE ENTIRE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL. A FIX FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 16V-071 ISSUED IN MARCH 2016 BY BMW AGAINST THIS VIN HAS YET TO MATERIALIZE. BMW CLEARLY DOESN'T TAKE SERIOUSLY THEIR OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: I had the recall repair for the HVAC harness done in 2018, and the recall fix failed in 6/22, I took it into BMW and they determined there was a short, I do not know why a replacement part failed so soon in my eyes after being replaced for a recall. I had to pay $670 to fix this issue from a "free"
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TIRES: TIRES - I HAVE 1,500 MILES OR SO ON THEM (NEW). THEY WAS INSTALLED BY THEM BMW DEALERSHIP AS I WAS PURCHASING THE CAR. I HAD THE CARS SHIPPED HERE TO MD. DRIVING THE CAR LOCALLY AFTER SITTING IN THE GARAGE, IT STARTED TO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE ABOVE 40 MPH AND WOULD GET WORSE UP TO 60 MPH THAT'S AS F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw 335IS — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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