BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO · model year

2012 BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO

5 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012BMW535I GRAN TURISMO carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 535I GRAN TURISMO is engine with 1 filings, followed by service brakes (1) and fuel/propulsion system (1). 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 1 active recall campaign, 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 2012 535I GRAN TURISMO. 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.

5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

5 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE1
SERVICE BRAKES1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (1)

14V17600010/04/2014

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

Recent Complaints

20180520UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A SMOOTH ROAD (FM1488) ON A SUNNY DAY AND HEARD AN LOUD "POP". AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I DISCOVERED THAT MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD BURST IN AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTION. LUCKILY, MY SUN SHADE CAUGHT THE GLASS SO NONE OF IT CAME DOWN INTO THE INTERIOR. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE WERE NO ROCKS OR OTHER OBJECTS THAT HIT THE GLASS, IT JUST SEEMED TO BURST SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT A SUNROOF THIS LARGE IS NOT LAMINATED, ESPECIALLY IN A BMW.

Mileage: 75,300

20140914ENGINE

ON 8/24 MY 2012 535I WITH ONLY 17K MILES HAD ITS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY ONTARIO BMW DEALER. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, LOCKING BRAKES, NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE TRAVELING, RIGHT WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. LOST ALL POWER AND WOULDN'T MOVE. TODAY, 9/14 EXACTLY THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY THE ONTARIO BMW, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF 4 LANE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC ON THE 405 FWY , IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY CAR BECAME WEAKER IN POWER UNTIL IT LOST ALL POWER AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE APPEAR AGAIN. I MANAGED TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SHOULDER AFTER ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED. I WAITED OVER 50 MIN FOR AN OPERATED INSIDE THE CAR WITH A TEMP OVER 115 FOR THE ROAD ASSISTANCE OPERATOR TO LOCATE A TOW TRUCK. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WILL BE TOWED AFTER AN ADDITIONAL 90 MIN. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE ME TO A SAFE PLACE, WHILE MY CA

Mileage: 17,670

20140914SERVICE BRAKES

ON 8/24 MY 2012 535I WITH ONLY 17K MILES HAD ITS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY ONTARIO BMW DEALER. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, LOCKING BRAKES, NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE TRAVELING, RIGHT WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. LOST ALL POWER AND WOULDN'T MOVE. TODAY, 9/14 EXACTLY THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY THE ONTARIO BMW, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF 4 LANE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC ON THE 405 FWY , IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY CAR BECAME WEAKER IN POWER UNTIL IT LOST ALL POWER AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE APPEAR AGAIN. I MANAGED TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SHOULDER AFTER ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED. I WAITED OVER 50 MIN FOR AN OPERATED INSIDE THE CAR WITH A TEMP OVER 115 FOR THE ROAD ASSISTANCE OPERATOR TO LOCATE A TOW TRUCK. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WILL BE TOWED AFTER AN ADDITIONAL 90 MIN. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE ME TO A SAFE PLACE, WHILE MY CA

Mileage: 17,670

20140914FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ON 8/24 MY 2012 535I WITH ONLY 17K MILES HAD ITS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY ONTARIO BMW DEALER. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, LOCKING BRAKES, NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE TRAVELING, RIGHT WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. LOST ALL POWER AND WOULDN'T MOVE. TODAY, 9/14 EXACTLY THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY THE ONTARIO BMW, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF 4 LANE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC ON THE 405 FWY , IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY CAR BECAME WEAKER IN POWER UNTIL IT LOST ALL POWER AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE APPEAR AGAIN. I MANAGED TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SHOULDER AFTER ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED. I WAITED OVER 50 MIN FOR AN OPERATED INSIDE THE CAR WITH A TEMP OVER 115 FOR THE ROAD ASSISTANCE OPERATOR TO LOCATE A TOW TRUCK. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WILL BE TOWED AFTER AN ADDITIONAL 90 MIN. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE ME TO A SAFE PLACE, WHILE MY CA

Mileage: 17,670

20140914VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON 8/24 MY 2012 535I WITH ONLY 17K MILES HAD ITS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY ONTARIO BMW DEALER. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, LOCKING BRAKES, NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE TRAVELING, RIGHT WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. LOST ALL POWER AND WOULDN'T MOVE. TODAY, 9/14 EXACTLY THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY THE ONTARIO BMW, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF 4 LANE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC ON THE 405 FWY , IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY CAR BECAME WEAKER IN POWER UNTIL IT LOST ALL POWER AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE APPEAR AGAIN. I MANAGED TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SHOULDER AFTER ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED. I WAITED OVER 50 MIN FOR AN OPERATED INSIDE THE CAR WITH A TEMP OVER 115 FOR THE ROAD ASSISTANCE OPERATOR TO LOCATE A TOW TRUCK. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WILL BE TOWED AFTER AN ADDITIONAL 90 MIN. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE ME TO A SAFE PLACE, WHILE MY CA

Mileage: 17,670

Compare 2012BMW535I GRAN TURISMO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO have?
The 2012 BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO?
Yes, the 2012 BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO?
The most-complained component for the 2012 BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO is ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2012 BMW 535I GRAN TURISMO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.