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2011 BMW 535I Us

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

32 reports with mileage · 4 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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76,000 miles · Jan 8, 2018
Power Train

MY BMW HAS ABOUT 75K MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING IT ONE DAY AFTER WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR DID NOT SHUT DOWN OR ANYTHING BUT LOSS OF POWER, IT'S LIKE MY VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH. 'DRIVETRAN MALFUNCTION'…

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MY BMW HAS ABOUT 75K MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING IT ONE DAY AFTER WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR DID NOT SHUT DOWN OR ANYTHING BUT LOSS OF POWER, IT'S LIKE MY VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH. 'DRIVETRAN MALFUNCTION' CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY WEIRD FOR A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 75K MILES ON IT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS, CAR COMPLETELY STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, I THANK GOD I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EXITING OFF THE HIGHWAY, OTHER WISE I WOULD'VE HAD A VERY FATAL CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #11061260

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2017
Power Train

CAR SHOWS ERROR OF DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE.

NHTSA ODI #11043150

15 miles · Mar 10, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC URBAN AREA WITH LOTS…

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UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC URBAN AREA WITH LOTS OF HILLS(SAN FRANCISCO), THE DELAY HAS CAUSED ME AND MY FAMILY TO COME CLOSE TO MANY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY FOR LEFT TURNS AND AM NEARLY T-BONED WITH MY WIFE FEARING FOR HER LIFE. THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME. IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT BMW FAILS TO ADDRESS. TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, BUT THE PROBLEMS REMAINS. TOOK IT IN AGAIN. THIS TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER INSISTED IT WAS TURBO LAG. TEST DROVE WITH A TECHNICIAN AND AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, HE ADMITTED THAT OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED AS WELL AND THAT THIS WAS A SOFTWARE DESIGN FLAW. SAID THAT THERE WAS NO FIX AVAILABLE, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS A DEFINITE PROBLEM. I WAS GIVEN A 1-SERIES AS A LOANER AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT EVIDENT. TO ME, BMW HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT WILL RESULT IN MAJOR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS SHOULD I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10451079

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.