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2010 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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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

49 reports with mileage · 9 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

58 reports
27,271 miles · Sep 4, 2012
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)CrashFireInjury

WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR, I EXPERIENCED A SERIES OF FAULTS IN THE SYSTEM WHERE THE CAR FROZE UP AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ELECTRONIC WARNING SYSTEM. ON 5/22/12, UPON LEAVING MY RESIDENCE, I LOST MOMENTA…

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WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR, I EXPERIENCED A SERIES OF FAULTS IN THE SYSTEM WHERE THE CAR FROZE UP AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ELECTRONIC WARNING SYSTEM. ON 5/22/12, UPON LEAVING MY RESIDENCE, I LOST MOMENTARY CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR STOPPED, JERKED AND THEN I HIT A CURB AND WHEN I RIGHTED THE CAR, I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CAR ACCELLERATED TO A HIGH SPEED. I TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 100' TO WHERE THERE WERE THREE CARS AND ONE MOTORCYCLE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND HIT THE DRIVER OF THE MOTOR CYCLE AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED WITH NEARLY $25,000 IN DAMAGE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING AFTER I HAD RECEIVED THE CAR, AND DURING A COLD START, THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT "JERKED" THE WHEEL TURNED AND THIS TIME I RIGHTED THE CAR. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE CAR DID IT AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. ONE WEEK LATER WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT (AGAIN A COLD START AND WITHIN 1/2 MILE OF MY HOME GARAGE), THE CAR DID THE "JERKING" MOVEMENT AND I TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CALLED BMW TO REPORT THE SITUATION AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FAULT IN THE CAR'S SOFTWARE SYSTEM. BMW HAD THE CAR AT ITS SHOP FOR 10 DAYS, RETURNED IT TO ME AND I'VE NOT EXPERIENCED THE MALFUNCTION SINCE.

NHTSA ODI #10474681

7,800 miles · May 9, 2011
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I (NA) EQUIPPED WITH GOOD YEAR EAGLE LS-2 TIRES, TIRE SIZE 245/45/18. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I (NA) EQUIPPED WITH GOOD YEAR EAGLE LS-2 TIRES, TIRE SIZE 245/45/18. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10399616

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS ACCELERATING UP A HILL ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR JUST LOST POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368176

8,614 miles · Oct 14, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

ACCELERATION FOR THE VEHICLE WAS REDUCED BY MORE THAN 50%. 0-60 MPH WAS APPROXIMATELY 15 SECONDS. AT LEAST THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. NO WARNING, NO INDICATOR. THE WARNING MESSAGE DID SHOW UP THE NEXT DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360549

1,370 miles · Sep 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE ON 2010 BMW 535XI THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED TWICE, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. ENGINE LOSES POWER - UNSAFE TO OPERATE. FIRST FAILURE IN OCTOBER OF 2009, SECOND FAILURE ON JUNE 22, 2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356356

6,600 miles · Sep 11, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

RECURRENT ENGINE FAILURE SECONDARY TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IN BRAND NEW BMW 535I. FIRST FAILURE AT 3000 MILES; SECOND FAILURE AFTER REPAIR AROUND 6600 MILES. BOTH FAILURES WITHOUT WARNING AND SEVERE LOSS OF POWER IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354995

11,000 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOWS AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION ALERT AND THEN THE POWER IMMEDIATELY SLOWS DOWN AND THEN I HAD A MINUTE TO TRY AND GET OFF TO THE RIGHT ON THE FREEWAY BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED ITSELF OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE HIGH POWERED FUEL PUMP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE ON…

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THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOWS AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION ALERT AND THEN THE POWER IMMEDIATELY SLOWS DOWN AND THEN I HAD A MINUTE TO TRY AND GET OFF TO THE RIGHT ON THE FREEWAY BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED ITSELF OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE HIGH POWERED FUEL PUMP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I AM SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT AND AM GRATEFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352954

9,900 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I . THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW STATING THAT IF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP THEY WOULD REPLACE IT AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BUT WHEN HE CALLED THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I . THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW STATING THAT IF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP THEY WOULD REPLACE IT AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BUT WHEN HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THE LETTER, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT TO HIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,900.

NHTSA ODI #10352356

25 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Steering

CAR HAS STEERED TO RIGHT SINCE IT WAS DELIVERED. BMW HAS CONTENDED THAT THIS WAS A SOFTWARE ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING. AS OF 8/24/10 I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SOFTWARE FIX WAS DELIVERED TO BMW NA BUT THE FIX DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SO THE CAR STILL PULLS STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT, IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY…

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CAR HAS STEERED TO RIGHT SINCE IT WAS DELIVERED. BMW HAS CONTENDED THAT THIS WAS A SOFTWARE ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING. AS OF 8/24/10 I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SOFTWARE FIX WAS DELIVERED TO BMW NA BUT THE FIX DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SO THE CAR STILL PULLS STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT, IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY BMW! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351486

3,000 miles · Jul 25, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

AT AROUND 3000 MILES (2010 535XI), WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ONTO HIGHWAY ENGINE POWER DIED - ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND CAR EVENTUALLY STALLED. LUCKILY WAS IN RIGHT LANE AT TIME SO MANAGED TO PULL OVER. TRIED TO START CAR SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK. WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND CAR DID START BUT CONTINUED HAVING ACCELERATI…

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AT AROUND 3000 MILES (2010 535XI), WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ONTO HIGHWAY ENGINE POWER DIED - ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND CAR EVENTUALLY STALLED. LUCKILY WAS IN RIGHT LANE AT TIME SO MANAGED TO PULL OVER. TRIED TO START CAR SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK. WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND CAR DID START BUT CONTINUED HAVING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED. TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345207

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.