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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

What owners actually said

71 reports
115,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MISFIRED AND IDLED ROUGHLY. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. BLAGOI'S INTERNATIONAL CAR SERVICE (1880 RIVERSIDE DR, COLUMBUS, OH 43221, (614) 486-2449) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MISFIRED AND IDLED ROUGHLY. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. BLAGOI'S INTERNATIONAL CAR SERVICE (1880 RIVERSIDE DR, COLUMBUS, OH 43221, (614) 486-2449) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #11196472

121,300 miles · Feb 20, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE WAS OPERATING ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH IN FORWARD GEAR. ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP STOPPED CAUSING IMMEDIATE ENGINE POWER FAILURE AND LOSS OF FORWARD MOVEMENT CONTROL. IT WAS SNOWING AND THERE WAS NO SHOULDER. NO SAFE LANE OR OTHER AREA TO COAST IMMEDIATELY INOPERABLE VEHICLE INTO. HEAVY TRAFFIC REPEATEDLY NEARLY COLLID…

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VEHICLE WAS OPERATING ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH IN FORWARD GEAR. ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP STOPPED CAUSING IMMEDIATE ENGINE POWER FAILURE AND LOSS OF FORWARD MOVEMENT CONTROL. IT WAS SNOWING AND THERE WAS NO SHOULDER. NO SAFE LANE OR OTHER AREA TO COAST IMMEDIATELY INOPERABLE VEHICLE INTO. HEAVY TRAFFIC REPEATEDLY NEARLY COLLIDED. NO WAY TO SECURE IMMEDIATE SAFE REMOVAL OF INOPERABLE VEHICLE OFF ROADWAY. EMERGENCY FLASHERS QUIT AFTER 30 MINUTES. WRECKER TOO 2.5 HOURS TO ARRIVE, WHILE DRIVE WAS FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN UNSHELTERED FREEZING SNOW AND ICE, AND REMAINING IN VULNERABLE VEHICLE FOR TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. VEHICLE DISPLAYED "FUEL PUMP FAILURE" ON DIAGNOSTIC LCD SCREEN IN VEHICLE. THREE HOURS LATER, VEHICLE STARTED UP AND RAN WITHOUT INCIDENT, AFTER SITTING. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST FIFE YEARS, AND OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI #11181395

84,826 miles · Dec 2, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

WITHIN 15 MIN OF ARRIVING HOME IN SAID VEHICLE, WIFE STARTED CAR IN DRIVEWAY TO GO SHOPPING. IMMEDIATELY, DENSE BLACK SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM UNDER THE DASH. SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT LEFT KEY FOB IN COLUMN. SHE SUMMONED ME FROM INSIDE OUR HOUSE AND WHEN I ARRIVED THE SMOKE WAS STILL POURING OUT FROM UNDER CENTER TO DRIVER…

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WITHIN 15 MIN OF ARRIVING HOME IN SAID VEHICLE, WIFE STARTED CAR IN DRIVEWAY TO GO SHOPPING. IMMEDIATELY, DENSE BLACK SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM UNDER THE DASH. SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT LEFT KEY FOB IN COLUMN. SHE SUMMONED ME FROM INSIDE OUR HOUSE AND WHEN I ARRIVED THE SMOKE WAS STILL POURING OUT FROM UNDER CENTER TO DRIVER SIDE OF DASH. I REMOVED THE KEY FOB FROM COLUMN AND APPROX. 1 TO 2 MIN LATER THE SMOKE STOPPED - WAS GOING TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, BUT SMOKE STOPPED BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO OPEN GARAGE AND GATHER TOOLS. NO FLAMES WERE EVER SEEN AND ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD AREA - ALL INSIDE CAR. MANY WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOW ILLUMINATED - AWD SYS, DSC, ABS, 4X4, LIGHTING SYS (CHECK DISPLAYS, TURN SIGNALS, HIGH BEAMS, HEADLAMP FLASHER AND FOG LAMPS). NONE OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS SEEM TO FUNCTION. THIS ALL OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND FORTUNATELY HAPPENED WHILE STOPPED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CHECKED RECALL LOG ON NHTSA FOR VIN AND FOUND "0" RECALLS. THE VEHICLE ALSO INCLUDES "X-DRIVE" (ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM).

NHTSA ODI #11155472

129,500 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN LOSE POWER THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COME DASH. THEN ON THE IDRIVE SYSTEM IT ALWAYS SAY "FUEL PUMP" PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS UNEXPECTED AND HAS PUT ME IN DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND PUT THE FLASHERS ON. AFTER ABOUT TEN MIN…

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AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN LOSE POWER THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COME DASH. THEN ON THE IDRIVE SYSTEM IT ALWAYS SAY "FUEL PUMP" PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS UNEXPECTED AND HAS PUT ME IN DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND PUT THE FLASHERS ON. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES THE FLASHERS GO OFF AND THE CAR IS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. LASTLY, THE PROBLEM ALWAYS HAPPEN UNEXPECTED REGARDLESS ON CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY. I CAN BE TRAVELING AT 25 TO 75MPH AND IT JUST RANDOMLY HAPPENS. MANY OCCASIONS I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TRAVELING IN THE FAR LEFT LANE. DUE TO MOVING TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND CARS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11113681

128,000 miles · Jul 21, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemSteering

FUEL PUMP FAILURES, CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (NUMEROUS TIMES) LOST POWER STEERING WHILE GOING OVER 60 MPH. COST OVER $10,000 TO MAKE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE BMW SAID IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11112838

115,000 miles · May 30, 2018
Fuel/propulsion SystemCrash

THE CAR SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN IT'S BEING USED BECAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMP. I THINK IT'S UNFAIR THAT THE 2008 MODELS GOT RECALLS UP TO 10 YRS AND 120,000 MILES. I FEEL LIKE THE 2009 BMW XI WAS MISSING FROM THIS RECALL. THE SAME HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM FOR THE RECALL. I'M BOTH CLOSE TO REACHING MY 120,000 MILES …

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THE CAR SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN IT'S BEING USED BECAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMP. I THINK IT'S UNFAIR THAT THE 2008 MODELS GOT RECALLS UP TO 10 YRS AND 120,000 MILES. I FEEL LIKE THE 2009 BMW XI WAS MISSING FROM THIS RECALL. THE SAME HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM FOR THE RECALL. I'M BOTH CLOSE TO REACHING MY 120,000 MILES OR THE 10 YR MARK SO IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO SEE SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS SOON.

NHTSA ODI #11098713

127,000 miles · May 9, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL PUMP ERROR WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN, WE LOSE POWER STEERING AND HAVE DONE SO ON THE HIGHWAY, AND CITY NUMEROUS TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11092705

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2018
Air BagsSeat Belts

SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHERE LIGHT KEEPS COMING IN...NOT SURE IF AIRBAG OR SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS WILL HELP IN AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI #11084658

130,000 miles · Apr 10, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND UPON ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION.THE "FUEL PUMP" WARNING CAME UP ON MY SCREEN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY PROBLEMS,…

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STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND UPON ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION.THE "FUEL PUMP" WARNING CAME UP ON MY SCREEN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY PROBLEMS, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE VEHICLE RAN FINE. NONETHELESS, THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. DROVE THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN. SAME SCENARIO, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE DAYS. AWAITING TO SEE IF A NEW HPFP WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11084359

153,000 miles · Mar 26, 2018
EngineFireInjury

THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN RECALL FOR THE E60 BMW 535I NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY! THE CAR WILL BLOW UP. BMW NEEDS THIS PROBLEM EXPLICITLY TAKEN OFF THE STREET. YOU DONT EXPECT THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE TO EXPLODE. IN ACCORDANCE TO A TOTAL LOSS CLAIM MY INSURANCE USAA CLAIM NUMBER 013162236000000007001…

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THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN RECALL FOR THE E60 BMW 535I NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY! THE CAR WILL BLOW UP. BMW NEEDS THIS PROBLEM EXPLICITLY TAKEN OFF THE STREET. YOU DONT EXPECT THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE TO EXPLODE. IN ACCORDANCE TO A TOTAL LOSS CLAIM MY INSURANCE USAA CLAIM NUMBER 013162236000000007001 . THE ENGINE CAUGHT COMPLETE FIRE AND ENGULFED THE CAR. I WAS INSIDE THE BAVARIAN MOTOR WORKS VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE DIED. MAGNESIUM IN THE CAR MEANS IT IS THEN SUBJECT TO COMBUSTION AND ALSO TO CATCH FIRE AGAIN WHICH IT DID. IN THE MORNING THE CAR WAS A FULL BLAZE AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LEFT THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. BMW NEEDS TO COMPENSATE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR NICE CAR, LOST LOTS OF DAYS AT WORK , AND NEARLY LOST THEIR LIFE, BECAUSE OF THAT RECALL COULD HAVE THE CAR BLOW UP AT ANY TIME. MARCH 2 2018 (2009 535 BMW )

NHTSA ODI #11081318

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.