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2011 BMW 535I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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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

65 reports with mileage · 47 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.

  • Engine. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

5 crash reports6 fire reports5 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

34 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2025
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

My car suddenly shut off when I came to a stop at a red light while on a busy state route. The information cluster then began to read “Fuel supply” and “Battery Discharge” My car would not turn back on and still has not turned back on since and it's been over a month now. According to the OBD results, the fuel pump and injectors…

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My car suddenly shut off when I came to a stop at a red light while on a busy state route. The information cluster then began to read “Fuel supply” and “Battery Discharge” My car would not turn back on and still has not turned back on since and it's been over a month now. According to the OBD results, the fuel pump and injectors were somehow seized and therefore have caused the car to become inoperable. I was forced to spend over $1000 just to get my car out of the police tow yard and towed to my home because I could not afford the cost of the repairs needed. The NHSTA website states that there is a recall on both the fuel system and the electrical system for my exact vehicle, but according to my Vin search results, there are 0 recalls. That doesn't make sense. I had just got my new inspection done maybe a month prior to my car breaking down.

NHTSA ODI #11651226

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion System

BMW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUES CAUSED MY FAULTY FUEL PUMP RECALL AND IS TRYING TO CHARGE ME 21000 to fix. Engine reads maximum drivetrain output drive moderately

NHTSA ODI #11590623

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion System

Been fixing an unknown issue due to fuel presure, loss of engine power and car gets extra hot but doesn’t over heat, I have fixed the issue more on 2 different occasions. I didn’t pass the smog text so that’s when I was told to check for any recalls, now the issues returned with same problems and probably won’t pass smog again. …

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Been fixing an unknown issue due to fuel presure, loss of engine power and car gets extra hot but doesn’t over heat, I have fixed the issue more on 2 different occasions. I didn’t pass the smog text so that’s when I was told to check for any recalls, now the issues returned with same problems and probably won’t pass smog again. I have all recorded from all the years of maintenance and I’m very diligent on on time maintenance or if theirs is any kind of malfunction. I’m now addressing the situation to you as I believe that there’s something wrong that’s beyond my control. I’ve also encountered other people with same vehicle with similar issues.

NHTSA ODI #11588254

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

While driving on the highway my car turned off suddenly. car was towed to home After checking possible causes we found out that even the fuel gauge in the instruments cluster was displaying a large amount of fuel ( 1/2 tank) actually it was empty. We put two gallons of gasoline then car start up again but fuel gauge still show…

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While driving on the highway my car turned off suddenly. car was towed to home After checking possible causes we found out that even the fuel gauge in the instruments cluster was displaying a large amount of fuel ( 1/2 tank) actually it was empty. We put two gallons of gasoline then car start up again but fuel gauge still showing half of tank

NHTSA ODI #11427066

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2021
Fuel/propulsion System

while driving on the highway the car turned off suddenly. Car was towed to home after checking possible causes we found out the even the THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS displaying a large amount of fuel ( 1/2 tank) actually it was empty . We did put 2 gallons of gasoline than car start up again but the fuel gauge…

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while driving on the highway the car turned off suddenly. Car was towed to home after checking possible causes we found out the even the THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS displaying a large amount of fuel ( 1/2 tank) actually it was empty . We did put 2 gallons of gasoline than car start up again but the fuel gauge still showing half of tank.

NHTSA ODI #11424497

60,345 miles · Oct 15, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System

TRYING TO CHANGE LINE GO SEVENTH MILES CAUSES THE CAR TO GO IN LIMP MODE

NHTSA ODI #11364426

71,000 miles · Mar 19, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE HAS STOPPED RUNNING MULTIPLE TIMES. MOST TIMES IT HAS STALLED OUT WHILE IDLING AFTER A LONG DRIVE AND HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK. ONE TIME IT JUST STOP RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AND INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC TURNING RIGHT. ANOTHER TIME I HAD A ST UDDER WHILE TURNING LEFT WHICH I LOOKED DOWN AND GOT…

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VEHICLE HAS STOPPED RUNNING MULTIPLE TIMES. MOST TIMES IT HAS STALLED OUT WHILE IDLING AFTER A LONG DRIVE AND HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK. ONE TIME IT JUST STOP RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AND INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC TURNING RIGHT. ANOTHER TIME I HAD A ST UDDER WHILE TURNING LEFT WHICH I LOOKED DOWN AND GOT IN A ACCIDENT. BMW HAS TOLD ME THIS IS THE BATTERY, LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACE; HOWEVER I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11318663

110,000 miles · Dec 29, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION IS ON MAY BE DUE TO A BAD FUEL PUMP OR ENGINE COILS

NHTSA ODI #11291852

132,000 miles · Dec 23, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

CARE WAS IN MOTION ON LOCAL STREET CARE STARTED STALLING, DECREASE IN FUEL, SMOKE OUT OF TAIL PIPE, COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, UNABLE TO START ON ENGINE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE FORUMS ON THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE WITH ISSUES DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR. SINCE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL BUYER ON VEHICLE I WAS NOT AWARE AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY THE …

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CARE WAS IN MOTION ON LOCAL STREET CARE STARTED STALLING, DECREASE IN FUEL, SMOKE OUT OF TAIL PIPE, COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, UNABLE TO START ON ENGINE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE FORUMS ON THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE WITH ISSUES DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR. SINCE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL BUYER ON VEHICLE I WAS NOT AWARE AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY THE NEW DEALER THAT THERE WOULD BE AN ISSUE. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT AT 126K MILES IN SEPT 2019.

NHTSA ODI #11290834

143 miles · Oct 24, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

MY VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DRIVE TRAIN/ DRIVE SHAFT MESSAGE CAME ON WHICH MADE MY ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SHUDDERING WITH HEAVY SHAKING MAKING WEIRD NOISES WHICH ARE THE SYSTEMS OF A DEFECTED DRIVE SHAFT SAME SYMPTOMS THAT APPLY TO RECALL 17V067000 VERY SCARY MY VEHICLE WAS JUST AT BMW DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL DUE TO AN AGGRE…

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MY VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DRIVE TRAIN/ DRIVE SHAFT MESSAGE CAME ON WHICH MADE MY ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SHUDDERING WITH HEAVY SHAKING MAKING WEIRD NOISES WHICH ARE THE SYSTEMS OF A DEFECTED DRIVE SHAFT SAME SYMPTOMS THAT APPLY TO RECALL 17V067000 VERY SCARY MY VEHICLE WAS JUST AT BMW DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL DUE TO AN AGGRESSIVE FUEL LEAK...,I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVE TRAIN I WAS ADVISED YES IT'S A RECALL BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A 2011 535I AT THE TOP OF THE RECALL LIST THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE 2ND TIME THIS CAR HAVE PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER HOW CAN YOU HAVE A RECALL ON THE 2011 535I AND THEN SAY NOT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE BMW IS THE WORST I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER BMW I CANNOT BELIEVE IT THESE PARTS CANNOT BE FROM WEAR AND TEAR THIS STARTS FROM PRODUCTION OF VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11270873

Official recalls

4

17V067000 · Power Train:driveline:constant Velocity Joint

Feb 2, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

16V832000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 17, 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been incorrectly programmed and, as a result, the SCU may not accurately determine if activation and deployment of the air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and head restraints is necessary in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Depending on the severity of the crash, inadequate activation of the driver and/or passenger air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and active head restraints may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the SCU, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

16V746000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Oct 17, 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

14V176000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Apr 10, 2014

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

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.