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2009 BMW 535I

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

61 reports with mileage · 10 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.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
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75,434 miles · Jan 9, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ON AN EARLY COLD MORNING, I CRANK MY CAR AND AFTER IT STARTED I NOTICED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; IT STALLED OUT AND I HAD TO RESTART IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP (BMW) WITHIN THE LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES. THE MAJOR REASON WAS FUEL PROBLEMS. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON IT AND THE BM…

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ON AN EARLY COLD MORNING, I CRANK MY CAR AND AFTER IT STARTED I NOTICED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; IT STALLED OUT AND I HAD TO RESTART IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP (BMW) WITHIN THE LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES. THE MAJOR REASON WAS FUEL PROBLEMS. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON IT AND THE BMW REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT I NEEDED ALL INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS AND A FUEL INLET VALVE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST ABOUT 2200. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT BMW PUBLISHED THIS INFORMATION TO CORRECT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 535I TWIN TURBO FUEL SYSTEM; HOWEVER AT THE CONSUMERS' EXPENSE. I SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR IN CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP AND SHE STATED THAT BMW WAS NOT RESPONSE FOR OR REPAIRING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559223

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire

2009 BMW 535I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED, WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL SERVICE HISTORY. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AS A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS S…

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2009 BMW 535I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED, WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL SERVICE HISTORY. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AS A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR STALLING PROBLEMS, WHICH WAS THE SAME ISSUE THAT OCCURRED ON THE DAY OF THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #10508026

58,750 miles · Sep 17, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel/propulsion System

MY FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON I-185. MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND BEGAN SPUTTERING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY BUT MIRACULOUSLY I WAS ABLE TO MERGE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE. BMW DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS IT AS A FAILED IN-TANK ELECTRIC…

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MY FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON I-185. MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND BEGAN SPUTTERING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY BUT MIRACULOUSLY I WAS ABLE TO MERGE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE. BMW DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS IT AS A FAILED IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR. IT WAS REPAIRED AND I PAID 1254.00. UNFORTUNATELY, A WEEK LATER, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS TIME BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAD TO UPGRADE SOFTWARE AND CHANGE OUT SOME INJECTORS AND THAT SHOULD SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR TO DRIVE IT AND NOT SEND IT BACK AND FORTH TO THE REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475737

8,300 miles · Aug 29, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT AND REDUCED POWER WARNING FOR BMW 535I. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352639

18,500 miles · Aug 19, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

PURCHASED A BMW 535I X DRIVE IN APRIL 2009. SINCE APRIL 2010, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY AUGUST 2010. ALL 4 TIMES, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON - OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. A PROBLEM IN THE FUEL AREA/CATALYST CONVERTER WAS JUST FIXED IN JULY. LAST PROBLEM WAS AT 18,400 MILES - DR…

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PURCHASED A BMW 535I X DRIVE IN APRIL 2009. SINCE APRIL 2010, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY AUGUST 2010. ALL 4 TIMES, THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON - OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. A PROBLEM IN THE FUEL AREA/CATALYST CONVERTER WAS JUST FIXED IN JULY. LAST PROBLEM WAS AT 18,400 MILES - DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH OUT OF TOWN IN ANOTHER STATE AT 10:45PM, AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL WENT OFF AND THEN 2 ENGINE LIGHTS APPEARS IN MY SPEEDOMETER AREA. ALSO, IN THE NAVIGATION AREA, ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCED POWER ERROR MESSAGE. THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING AND THE POWER WAS REDUCED DOWN TO 40MPH. AT THAT POINT, 225 MILES FROM HOME, NEEDED TO TURN BACK AND DRIVE 45 MINUTES FROM THE CITY THAT I JUST LEFT. CAR WAS TOWED TO A CITY 60 MILES FROM THERE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IMMEDIATELY IT WAS THE HPFP PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME, HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE NOT A PROBLEM NOW, BUT IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THEY WILL GO BAD WITHIN 6 MONTHS FROM NOW. CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN LOST IN THIS NEW CAR AND SAFETY CONCERNS FOR DRIVING THIS CAR MORE THAN 25-30 MILES OUT OF MY HOME CITY. EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT BREAKING DOWN AND STRANDED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350470

1,000 miles · Feb 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2009 BMW 535I ENGINE DIED ON THE FREEWAY 5 GOING 70MPH WITH MY FAMILY AND WAS VERY LUCK TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. BMW SAID IT WAS THE BRAIN AND HAD THE CAR FOR 7 DAYS TO PROGRAM IT. I FOUND OUT THAT ABOUT 5% OF ALL 335I AND 535I HAS THE SAME ISSUE, IT IS THE NEW TWIN TURBO ENGINE 3.0 IS HAVING ISSUES IN BOTH CAR…

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2009 BMW 535I ENGINE DIED ON THE FREEWAY 5 GOING 70MPH WITH MY FAMILY AND WAS VERY LUCK TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. BMW SAID IT WAS THE BRAIN AND HAD THE CAR FOR 7 DAYS TO PROGRAM IT. I FOUND OUT THAT ABOUT 5% OF ALL 335I AND 535I HAS THE SAME ISSUE, IT IS THE NEW TWIN TURBO ENGINE 3.0 IS HAVING ISSUES IN BOTH CARS. PLEASE CHECK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308910

11,263 miles · Sep 18, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

2009 BMW 535I: WHILE ACCELERATING, A SUDDEN NEAR-STALL/LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER INTO AN INTERSECTION, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. A WARNING WAS ALERTED THROUGH THE IDRIVE SYSTEM ("ENGINE MALFUNCTION - REDUCED POWER"). THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE, BUT EXTREMELY SLUGGISH AND SLOW TO ACCELERATE. BMW SERVICE CENT…

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2009 BMW 535I: WHILE ACCELERATING, A SUDDEN NEAR-STALL/LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER INTO AN INTERSECTION, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. A WARNING WAS ALERTED THROUGH THE IDRIVE SYSTEM ("ENGINE MALFUNCTION - REDUCED POWER"). THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE, BUT EXTREMELY SLUGGISH AND SLOW TO ACCELERATE. BMW SERVICE CENTER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS TO FIND THAT A HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAD FAILED. THEY REPLACED IT, WHICH HAS SINCE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR UPDATED 09/29/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10284470

Official recalls

1

13V407000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

Sep 11, 2013

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

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.