Problems · by component

2011 BMW 335 IS air bags problems

54 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 335 IS cite air bags, 30% of all 179 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
54
30% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2011 BMW 335I. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but became persistent whenever the vehicle was started. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact had researched and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10148018 - Front Passenger Air Bag Seat Occupancy Sensor (OC3) Mat (Air Bags). The contact was informed by the dealer and the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2024Air bagsODI 11621213
“The contact owns a 2011 BMW 335I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger’s side air bag sensor warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed front passenger’s side occupancy sensor. The contact was informed that the front passenger’s side occupancy sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2024Air bagsODI 11596878
“WHEN I SHIFT TO SPORTS MODE IT DOES NOT ENGAGE. NO RESPONSE WHEN I AM DRIVING. PASSENGER SEAT IS NO DETECTING IF SOMEONE SEATING ON IT. AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ON THE DASH BOARD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2020Electrical system, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11362129
“ON 2/5/2016, BMW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG (RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-071). I WASN'T EVEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL! I HAPPENED TO SEE THIS OPEN RECALL IN JULY 2017 AFTER I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE REAR DRIVESHAFT CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT (RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 17V-067). IT TOOK ALMOST 2 YEARS FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG RECALL TO BE FIXED (IT WAS FINALLY MADE AVAILABLE TO ME IN DECEMBER 2017). WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF GETTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE FIXED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE! I'VE SPOKEN TO BMW'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT & AUTHORIZED BMW MECHANICS REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENSOR MAT FAILING & WAS TOLD IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THAT IT WAS SO COMMON, THE WAITING LIST TO REPLACE/FIX THE MALFUNCTION WILL TAKE 1-2 YEARS (OR LONGER). THIS MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN RECALLED ON PREVIOUS BMW MODELS'THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED ON 2011 BMW'S AS IT IS STILL A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2018Air bagsODI 11111240
“IMMEDIATELY AFTER REPLACING THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, THE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AFTER TAKING IN MY CAR FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE ORIGINAL RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2018Air bagsODI 11103390
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2018Air bagsODI 11065896

Showing 6 of 54 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2011 335 IS problem areas