10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,006 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 BMW 335:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #51

Oct 272022

335

  • miles
My car randomly started throwing an error for a failure with the passenger restraint system. From what I have read it has something to do with the OC3 Mat in the seat that detects if there is an occupant, and if the weight of the occupant is considered to be that of an adult, so the airbag does not deploy in the wrong circumstances, which is potentially dangerous to anyone that may ride in the passenger seat. There has been an extended warranty, and recall for previous years of E90 BMWs, but 2009 may not be included, even though the seats should be the same. I plan on contacting the dealership for further investigation, but I know I cannot afford to have this safety feature fixed out of my pocket at this time. Thank you for your time.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #50

Feb 172022

335

  • miles
I turned my car on an out of nowhere a seatbelt and airbag light came on. I did not get into a bump up or disconnect any sensors it just popped up one day.

- Blountville, TN, USA

problem #49

Mar 172020

335

  • 134,000 miles
The seat mat sensor is also defective in the 2009 model year. BMW has included only 2007 and 2008. We cannot put a child or elderly in the front seat as the airbag will go off.

- Elmhurst, IL, USA

problem #48

Nov 202020

335

  • 160,000 miles
Randomly while driving and sometimes when stationary my car's electrical system started going haywire including my gauges and the passenger airbag as well some other safety features with tthe seatbelt were disabled with & without a passenger in the car. I keep getting a warning screen that tread as follows: "restraint system malfunction. Fault in passenger-restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter. Continue to wear the safety belt. Have the system checked by the nearest BMW center." After looking online it is a common problem but for some reason my VIN isn't included on the recall.

- East Chicago, IN, USA

problem #47

Aug 122020

335

  • 128,000 miles
I was driving on the interstate when my car started to lose acceleration. I could not accelerate up an incline. Then I heard a rattling. The next exit was a rest stop and as I was exiting my vehicle failed and shut down. I had no power at all. I coasted to a parking stall and turned the vehicle off after parking it safely. When I opened the hood the vehicle was not hot or smoking so I tried to start it. The car started but with a very loud knocking and rattling so I shut it off again and phoned the dealership. I towed the vehicle to the dealership over 30 days ago and have not been contacted by them not 1X. I have called weekly to no avail.

- Parker, AZ, USA

problem #46

Feb 142020

335

  • 103,000 miles
When a passenger is belted - with car running/driving - an alarm comes on - basically not recognizing when belted. Also the inactive airbag light is not on. When no passenger, the car used to light up the 'airbag not active' - it no longer shows that (light is always off) whether passenger there or not.

- Ossining, NY, USA

problem #45

Mar 052019

335

  • miles
After a personal investigation into this issue, BMW seems to still deny that my model has the same issues described in the recall. "restraint system malfunction!" appears on the car every 20 seconds frighting drivers and passengers the airbags and seatbelts might not work. This is an american car curently in Canada.

- Sumas, WA, USA

problem #44

May 152019

335

  • 130,000 miles
Passenger seat restraints system malfunction. Fault in passenger-resteaint system affecting airbag, belt-tensioner or belt-force limiter.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #43

Dec 202018

335

  • 81,000 miles
My passenger side seat sensor is faulty which is a part of the passenger side air bag and may not cause it to deploy in the event there is an accident. There have been many bmws affected by this but BMW dealer will not do this under recall or warranty

- Garden Ridge, TX, USA

problem #42

Jul 142018

335

  • 87,000 miles
Takata recall faulty airbag deployment during minor accident causing no damage to vehicle. Impact occured from front of vehicle and air bags deployed after vehicle was at complete stop after accident causing nose damage and burn and bruise on left arm. Irregular deployment of air bags because the passenger air bag as well as the steering wheel air bag deployed. No one was seated on passenger side and the driver side vehicle side airbag where I was seated did not deploy.

- Aurora, FL, USA

problem #41

May 012017

335

  • 90,000 miles
Air bag sensor still on as faulty. BMW has stated its the sensor associated with the the event of roll over. Private company certified to service bmws states its the passenger air bag. My BMW's computer also states its the passenger air bag.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #40

Mar 302018

335 6-cyl

  • 84,000 miles
Hello, my 2009 BMW E92 328I is experiencing an issue where the front passenger seat sensor is not functioning properly, which will cause the airbag and seatbelt to not function as intended. There have been recalls on other models for the same issue, but with the same design and parts, I do not understand how my car is not covered. (https://brandilaw.com/2013/12/26/BMW-recalls-76565-vehicles-due-to-A-front-passenger-seat-electronic-sensing-mat-failure/) this is a very dangerous problem. I have read on several online forums that it is a recurring problem in the cars after the effective recall date. I am trying my best to do due diligence and inform the ntsb to review this incident within other BMW models and to hopefully remedy any affected cars. The design of the sensor is very poorly constructed and very expensive to fix, leaving many owners to simply forego making the necessary fixes. In fact, several mechanics informed me that customers typically avoid making the fix due to how expensive it is, running the risk of their passenger not being protected in the event of a collision. I hope the ntsb can look into this problem. Please feel free to contact me at [xxx] for any additional information. Thanks, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Playa Del Rey, CA, USA

problem #39

Feb 022017

335

  • 0 miles
Takata recall; bought car online from schmburg il. BMW and the BMW was delivered to my home address in san antonio, Texas. Called schmburg BMW and they told to call san antonio BMW. I did call san antonio BMW in 2-2-2017. Have not received anything from them and it's 5/7/2018---help!!!

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #38

Jul 042016

335

  • 95,000 miles
Issue: When seat unoccupied, will receive seat belt warning as if a person is in the seat. Issue: When passenger is in seat, airbag and seat belt light comes on, with warning on the display that there is a restraint system malfunction. Defect with front passenger air bag seat occupancy sensor mat, there are several recalls for this issue in different years/models. My year is not covered for the current recalls, even though its the same exact issue, and likely the same mat and/or seats. Example recalls: 17V-428 13V-564 17V-605

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #37

Dec 272017

335

  • miles
Takata recall in late September I was told it would be a roughly 3 week wait for parts. Called again the week of thanksgiving and was told it would be 4-6 week wait. I'm still getting the run around by BMW of dallas and believe they may be only helping select people.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #36

Feb 052016

335

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 BMW 335I. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (advantage BMW midtown, 1305 gray St, houston, tx 77002) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was contacted at 800-831-1117 and stated that the contact had to call the dealer. The manufacturer transferred the call to the dealer and the dealer stated that they would call back to schedule an appointment. The contact did not receive a call back from the dealer. A case number was not provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #35

Jun 012017

335 6-cyl

  • miles
2009 BMW 335I. Consumer writes in regards to drivers side air bag module safety recall. The consumer stated the recall repair exceeded a reasonable amount of time. Updated 12/7/2017

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #34

Oct 072017

335

  • 102,000 miles
Front passenger occupancy seat sensor is defective because it disables passenger airbag creating a safety hazard rendering vehicle inoperable for passenger occupancy. This is a known defect experienced by previous models. Cost of repair is excessive..

- Clermont, FL, USA

problem #33

Nov 142017

335 6-cyl

  • miles
I went to the BMW dealership (to have the several recall performed on my car lastweek 1. recall id 263858 2. recall id 190318 3. recall id 190319 4. recall id 190320 5. recall id 174817 the service guy (https://www.stevenscreekbmw.com) told me that they cant honor the recall because my car has a rebuilt/salvage title my call VIN number [xxx] car BMW 335I 2009 base on my understanding recalls are a safety issue and by law have to be completed on the car no matter the branding on title. Pleases let me know the way to get the recall process. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Palo Alto, CA, USA

problem #32

Sep 142016

335

  • 115,000 miles
My vehicle suddenly displayed a passenger restraint system malfunction message following someone sitting in the seat. Everything appears to be in full working order except whatever is causing the malfunction.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »