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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
24,000 miles · Apr 13, 2014
Engine

CAR STARTS NORMALLY. UPON REACHING CRUISING SPEED CAR ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR IMMEDIATELY REDUCES ENGINE POWER. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, AND HAS HAPPENED ON SIDE ROADS AND FREEWAYS. I HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND SHUT OFF CAR, WAIT, AND RE-START CAR. LATER, AND RANDOMLY SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. SCARY. *JS …

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CAR STARTS NORMALLY. UPON REACHING CRUISING SPEED CAR ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR IMMEDIATELY REDUCES ENGINE POWER. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, AND HAS HAPPENED ON SIDE ROADS AND FREEWAYS. I HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND SHUT OFF CAR, WAIT, AND RE-START CAR. LATER, AND RANDOMLY SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. SCARY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579430

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

68,000 miles · Oct 25, 2013
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V407000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V407000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68000.

NHTSA ODI #10549497

52,000 miles · Sep 30, 2013
Engine

FAN RAN TOO FAST, ENGINE HOT MESSAGE, REDUCE SPEED MESSAGE, CAR LIMPED TO A STOP. OVER HEATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546199

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

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2012
Air BagsSeat Belts

I GOT A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER RESTRAINT PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN A RED AIRBAG LIGHT AND RED PASSENGER BELT TO COME ON THE DASH AND IDRIVE. THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND BELT TENSIONER IS SAID TO BE BAD . THI…

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I GOT A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER RESTRAINT PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN A RED AIRBAG LIGHT AND RED PASSENGER BELT TO COME ON THE DASH AND IDRIVE. THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND BELT TENSIONER IS SAID TO BE BAD . THIS TIME WITH A RED AIRBAG LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, AND THE SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED LIGHT ON AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490133

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

34,284 miles · Jul 27, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE HAD LOSS OF POWER, SHAKY AT START UP. VEHICLE HAD A LOSS POWER TO ONLY GO ABOUT 5MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415418

18,000 miles · Apr 16, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BMW REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER BUT SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES (AT 8,000MILES, 13,000 MILES AND 18,000 MILES). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396103

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

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

NHTSA ODI #10352639

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.