Model year guide

2012 BMW 335i

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 BMW 335i is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 77 on record.

2012 BMW 335i — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 BMW 335i at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints33
Combined23–26 mpg
Typical price$16,696

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2012 BMW 335i recalls 3

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #20V017000 · 15/01/2020

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 an…

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.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #15V520000 · 17/08/2015

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, …

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 CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine NHTSA Campaign #14V176000 · 10/04/2014

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, …

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2012 BMW 335i common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Seats
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

2012 BMW 335i safety ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Rollover risk: 9.3% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 BMW 335 I C RWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 BMW 335i MPG & running costs

Combined23–26 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway31 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,350
EPA size classCompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (S8) or Manual 6-spd
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$4,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2012 BMW 335i worth?

Low
$13,995
Typical price
$16,696
High
$18,695

From 6 comparable 2012 BMW 335i listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 BMW 335i costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$16,750
Depreciation (5 yrs)$8,250
Total$25,000
Per mile$0.33

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($16,696) with the same model 4 model-years older ($10,115), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open

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 deploymen…

NHTSA #EA21002 · Air Bags · opened Sep 2021

Loss of power assist braking Closed

In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454). According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft…

NHTSA #PE13030 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · opened Sep 2013 · closed Oct 2013

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 592

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 592.

The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been supplementarily increased to 15 years / 240,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

Bulletin B012016 · Electrical System · Feb 2025

Hot-Film Air Mass Meter Return

Bulletin B063924 · Engine · May 2024

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

Bulletin B510819 · Electrical System, Visibility · Jan 2024

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “di…

Bulletin B611305 · Electrical System · Jan 2024

Spl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471

Bulletin SB23-01 · Steering, Suspension, Equipment · Aug 2023

This is the companion to SPL Parts, Inc.'s SB 23-01 mailed by private label independent distributor Turner Motorsports.

Bulletin sb23-01TMS · Steering, Suspension, Equipment · Jul 2023

SPL Parts, Inc. manufacturers and distributes aftermarket lower control arms for dedicated competition vehicles and "track day" cars some of which may be used on both track and highway. SB 23-01 adresses proper installation torque of cap bolt fasteners attachi…

Bulletin SB 23-01 · Suspension, Equipment, Steering · Jul 2023

After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.

Bulletin B651523 · Electrical System · May 2023

The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via the Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose, the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in t…

Bulletin B840822 · Electrical System, Equipment · Mar 2023

Exterior rear lights do not work.

Bulletin B630917 · Electrical System, Exterior Lighting · Mar 2023

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the 335I RWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the BMW 335i

The fifth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars is designated under the model codes E90 (saloon), E91, E92 (coupé) and E93 (convertible). The model was introduced in December 2004, and produced by BMW until October 2013 and is often collectively referred to as the E90, E9x, or occasionally, the E92.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2012 BMW 335i trims & engines on record

Trims
SA · xDrive
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 300 hp

2012 BMW 335i vehicles on record

Other BMW 335i model years

2012 BMW 335i — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 BMW 335i have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 BMW 335i. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 335i?

Across all 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, engine, seats.

What is the 2012 BMW 335i safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 BMW 335i crash-test ratings of rollover 5★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2012 BMW 335i get?

The 2012 BMW 335i has U.S. EPA estimates of 23–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

How much is a 2012 BMW 335i worth?

Comparable 2012 BMW 335i listings run roughly $13,995–$18,695, typically around $16,696 (from 6 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.