Total Complaints
6 filings
BMW 535XI · model year
2013 BMW 535XI
6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2013BMW535XI carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 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 2013 535XI is service brakes with 1 filings, followed by tires (1) and structure (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 2013 535XI. 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.
6
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recalls (1)
15V18800031/03/2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Sa
Recent Complaints
20180727POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *TT UPDATED 10/02/18*JB
Mileage: 106,000
20180727ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *TT UPDATED 10/02/18*JB
Mileage: 106,000
20180727SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *TT UPDATED 10/02/18*JB
Mileage: 106,000
20170911STRUCTURE
CPSC:THIS CAR HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CREATES THE ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE INSIDE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND THE GROWTH OF MOLD.*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FREQUENT RIDERS OF THE VEHICLE WERE EXPERIENCING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND ASTHMA LIKE SYMPTOMS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DI D NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS ...UPDATED 10/17/17 *BF UPDATED 7/17/18*JB *TR
20140313TIRES
BOTH FRONT TIRES DEVELOPED A BUBBLE AFTER GOING OVER A SMALL POTHOLE/BUMP AT UNDER 30MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR JUST OVER 7 MONTHS AND 3500 MILES. THESE STOCK TIRES ON 2013 BMW 535XI AWD WITH M SPORT PACKAGE -- GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 - SIZE 245/40R19 -- 98V CLEARLY HAVE A DESIGN FLAW OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND MUST BE RECALLED. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN DRIVING OVER VERY MINOR ROAD HAZARDS MIGHT CAUSE TIRE BLISTERS THAT COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A BLOWOUT. *TR
Mileage: 3,550
20130821CrashSERVICE BRAKES
ON SUNDAY, AUG. 11, 2013 WHILE TRAVELING IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON I-90W, MASS. PIKE NEAR EXIT 10A, TRAFFIC ABOUT 100 YARDS AHEAD STOPPED IN THE TRAVEL LANE. I TAPPED THE BRAKES WITH NO RESPONSE AND PROCEEDED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE, AGAIN NO RESPONSE. MY NEW BMW CRASHED, AT ABOUT 40 MPH, INTO THE REAR OF A VEHICLE IN MY TRAVEL LANE PUSHING THAT VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT CAUSING A FOUR CAR CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT. NO ONE IN THE OTHER THREE CARS CLAIMED TO BE INJURED. MY WIFE RIDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED A CONTUSION, DEPLOYED AIRBAG, ON HER LEG BELOW HER KNEE AND A CHEST PAIN. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. ALL AIRBAGS (6) IN THE FRONT SEAT COMPARTMENT DEPLOYED.THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY WITH NO PRECIPITATION AND THE ROADWAY WAS DRY. INITIAL APPRAISAL OF THE BMW DAMAGE IS $18,000+ WITH SUPPLEMENTAL APPRAISALS DUE ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN AUTO BODY EXPERTS CAN RAISE THE HOOD....UPDATED 09-26-13 *BF UPDATED 09/26/2013 *JS
Mileage: 502
Compare 2013BMW535XI to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2013 BMW 535XI have?▼
The 2013 BMW 535XI has 6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 BMW 535XI?▼
Yes, the 2013 BMW 535XI has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 BMW 535XI?▼
The most-complained component for the 2013 BMW 535XI is SERVICE BRAKES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and STRUCTURE.
Is the 2013 BMW 535XI 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.