Total Complaints
153 filings
BMW 535I · model year
153 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011BMW535I carries 153 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 8 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 535I is engine with 36 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (34) and electrical system (17). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2011 535I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
153 filings
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 36 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 34 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 17 |
| POWER TRAIN | 16 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 8 |
| WHEELS | 7 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| AIR BAGS | 5 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| TIRES | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran T
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 xD
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated that when pressing the accelerator pedal to drive from being idle at a red light, the driver's side air bag deployed out of the steering wheel without impact. The contact sustained burns to the left arm, right cheek, and chest area. The contact had suffered stomach issues due to inhaling the dust and fumes from the air bag. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed by AAA to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the horn module needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, where the vehicle remained for a month, and Liberty Mutual was to retrieve the vehicle and investigate the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not investigated to her knowledge, and the vehicle was returned without being repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Mileage: 132,000
I purchased the BMW 535 and it continues to have drivetrain malfunction issues. This feels like a safety concern for several reasons. The first is that were not able to identify the issue, but I believe it has to do with the systems diagnostics being triggered or misfiring this is an unfortunateissue because wherever we are, we can get stuck randomly. Lastly, the car has an issue with Oberheu. Issue because wherever we are, we can get stuck randomly. Lastly, the car has a issue with overheating believe it has to do with the radial hose
My car suddenly shut off when I came to a stop at a red light while on a busy state route. The information cluster then began to read âFuel supplyâ and âBattery Dischargeâ My car would not turn back on and still has not turned back on since and it's been over a month now. According to the OBD results, the fuel pump and injectors were somehow seized and therefore have caused the car to become inoperable. I was forced to spend over $1000 just to get my car out of the police tow yard and towed to my home because I could not afford the cost of the repairs needed. The NHSTA website states that there is a recall on both the fuel system and the electrical system for my exact vehicle, but according to my Vin search results, there are 0 recalls. That doesn't make sense. I had just got my new inspection done maybe a month prior to my car breaking down.
My car suddenly shut off when I came to a stop at a red light while on a busy state route. The information cluster then began to read âFuel supplyâ and âBattery Dischargeâ My car would not turn back on and still has not turned back on since and it's been over a month now. According to the OBD results, the fuel pump and injectors were somehow seized and therefore have caused the car to become inoperable. I was forced to spend over $1000 just to get my car out of the police tow yard and towed to my home because I could not afford the cost of the repairs needed. The NHSTA website states that there is a recall on both the fuel system and the electrical system for my exact vehicle, but according to my Vin search results, there are 0 recalls. That doesn't make sense. I had just got my new inspection done maybe a month prior to my car breaking down.
My car suddenly shut off when I came to a stop at a red light while on a busy state route. The information cluster then began to read âFuel supplyâ and âBattery Dischargeâ My car would not turn back on and still has not turned back on since and it's been over a month now. According to the OBD results, the fuel pump and injectors were somehow seized and therefore have caused the car to become inoperable. I was forced to spend over $1000 just to get my car out of the police tow yard and towed to my home because I could not afford the cost of the repairs needed. The NHSTA website states that there is a recall on both the fuel system and the electrical system for my exact vehicle, but according to my Vin search results, there are 0 recalls. That doesn't make sense. I had just got my new inspection done maybe a month prior to my car breaking down.
The contact owned a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was unoccupied and parked in a parking lot, it was brought to the attention of the contact that the vehicle caught on fire. The local fire department arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire. The contact stated that it was unknown if a fire report was filed. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact stated that the fire damaged one other parked and unoccupied vehicle that was nearby. The vehicle was towed by the insurance and was deemed a total loss. The vehicle remained in the possession of the insurance provider for further investigation. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Mileage: 140,000
Product Safety Alert: Jan 30, 2025 Stop using the following item because of a potential safety issue. Visit the public recall notice for more guidance. 245/45R18 100Y XL RFT PIR CINTURA P7 (M0E)(BMW/RR) 245/45R18 100Y XL RFT PIR CINTURA P7 (M0E)(BMW/RR)
From very low speed (less than 5 MPH), car would not stop with full brakes applied. Front brakes were fully locked as evidenced by skid marks, but car kept pushing forward until stopped by solid object.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power and was running rough. The contact stated that the instrument cluster went black. The contact turned into a parking lot as the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but after several attempts failed to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact had an independent mechanic diagnose the vehicle at the residence. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the VANOS bolts had fractured and the timing camshaft had detached. The mechanic advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
The vehicle is having cooling/ heat problems. Does not overheat while driving but rather driving on high temp. Cools to norm temp here and there. My best thought is electrical. Also same vehicle rattles in rear center when going 65mph.. not sure the cause is.
The vehicle is having cooling/ heat problems. Does not overheat while driving but rather driving on high temp. Cools to norm temp here and there. My best thought is electrical. Also same vehicle rattles in rear center when going 65mph.. not sure the cause is.
The vehicle is having cooling/ heat problems. Does not overheat while driving but rather driving on high temp. Cools to norm temp here and there. My best thought is electrical. Also same vehicle rattles in rear center when going 65mph.. not sure the cause is.
BMW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUES CAUSED MY FAULTY FUEL PUMP RECALL AND IS TRYING TO CHARGE ME 21000 to fix. Engine reads maximum drivetrain output drive moderately
BMW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUES CAUSED MY FAULTY FUEL PUMP RECALL AND IS TRYING TO CHARGE ME 21000 to fix. Engine reads maximum drivetrain output drive moderately
Been fixing an unknown issue due to fuel presure, loss of engine power and car gets extra hot but doesnât over heat, I have fixed the issue more on 2 different occasions. I didnât pass the smog text so thatâs when I was told to check for any recalls, now the issues returned with same problems and probably wonât pass smog again. I have all recorded from all the years of maintenance and Iâm very diligent on on time maintenance or if theirs is any kind of malfunction. Iâm now addressing the situation to you as I believe that thereâs something wrong thatâs beyond my control. Iâve also encountered other people with same vehicle with similar issues.
Been fixing an unknown issue due to fuel presure, loss of engine power and car gets extra hot but doesnât over heat, I have fixed the issue more on 2 different occasions. I didnât pass the smog text so thatâs when I was told to check for any recalls, now the issues returned with same problems and probably wonât pass smog again. I have all recorded from all the years of maintenance and Iâm very diligent on on time maintenance or if theirs is any kind of malfunction. Iâm now addressing the situation to you as I believe that thereâs something wrong thatâs beyond my control. Iâve also encountered other people with same vehicle with similar issues.
Hello, I received a recall notice almost 6 months ago on my car and I have been in contact with BMW Corporate and they have been completely useless (This is my first BMW and it will be my last). I haven't been able to drive my car for almost 6 months due to the VANOS engine bolt recall. My car has been experiencing the symptoms of stalling, loss of power and it has gone into Safe mode. I have called McKenna BMW in Norwalk and was told not to drive the car because it isn't safe to do so. and by the Owner of Orange Motors who is a Specialty Shop for BMW owners. I have called BMW Corporate numerous times and sent multiple emails ( i can't even get a response to my emails) and cant get any assistance in getting my car fixed. I asked BMW for assistance in getting a rental car and they said that is the responsibility of the dealership and the dealership is telling me that I need to call BMW Corporate. I spoke to a woman named Jenny at BMW corporate about 2 - 3 weeks ago and she told me to ca
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated while jump-starting another vehicle in the driveway, he reversed to park the vehicle by the side of the other vehicle; however, the vehicle surged and accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle sped into the garage, hit equipment, and hit the contact's wife. The contact stated that he then shifted into drive (D) to drive out of the garage; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle sped through the driveway, struck a stone retaining wall, and entered the roadway. The contact stated that he slightly steered the vehicle to the right and hit a utility pole to stop the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact hit his forehead against the rearview mirror and sustained a bruise. The contact's wife sustained a fractured left lower leg. The ambulance transported the contact's wife to the hospital, where she un
Mileage: 57,000
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated while jump-starting another vehicle in the driveway, he reversed to park the vehicle by the side of the other vehicle; however, the vehicle surged and accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle sped into the garage, hit equipment, and hit the contact's wife. The contact stated that he then shifted into drive (D) to drive out of the garage; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle sped through the driveway, struck a stone retaining wall, and entered the roadway. The contact stated that he slightly steered the vehicle to the right and hit a utility pole to stop the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact hit his forehead against the rearview mirror and sustained a bruise. The contact's wife sustained a fractured left lower leg. The ambulance transported the contact's wife to the hospital, where she un
Mileage: 57,000
The drivers headlight has developed significant condensation on its interior caused by a failed seal which in turn damaged or short-circuited the modules disabling my daytime running light, low beam, high beam, and turn signal
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.