BMW 135i years to avoid (and the best years)

73 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls across 4 model years, 2010 to 2013. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.

73complaints
6recalls
2reported crashes
3reported fires
1reported injuries

Which BMW 135i years should you avoid?

No BMW 135i model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical BMW 135i year has 17 complaints on file.

What are the best BMW 135i years?

The BMW 135i years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2013 (12), 2010 (15) and 2012 (19). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Year	Complaints	vs typical year	Recalls	Crashes	Injuries	Our read	Most reported
2013	12	0.7×	2	0	0	Few red flags	Airbags
2012	19	1.1×	6	0	0	Few red flags	Engine
2011	27	1.6×	6	1	1	Few red flags	Engine
2010	15	0.9×	4	1	0	Few red flags	Fuel system

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 42 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

Engine & powertrain23 (55%)
Airbags & seat belts6 (14%)
Other systems6 (14%)
Electrical & infotainment4 (10%)
Structure & body3 (7%)

Recalls (6)

Airbags · 20V017000 · Jan 2020 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Electrical system · 19V579000 · Aug 2019 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Transmission · 17V067000 · Feb 2017 · model years 2011, 2012
If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 16V071000 · Feb 2016 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Engine · 14V176000 · Apr 2014 · model years 2011, 2012
If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 13V044000 · Feb 2013 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.