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2011 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

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

Tires complaints

3 reports
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11,000 miles · Aug 15, 2014
TiresWheels

6 TIRES IN LESS THAN A 3 YEAR PERIOD HAVE FAILED. SOME HAVE BUBBLED. TWO HAVE GONE FLAT. ONE FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH THE GOODYEAR RUNFLAT TIRES ON THE 19 INCH RIMS ON THIS VEHICLE. SMALL POTHOLES ARE UNAVOIDABLE ON MASSACHUSETTS ROADWAYS. SOME OF THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED DAYS AFTE…

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6 TIRES IN LESS THAN A 3 YEAR PERIOD HAVE FAILED. SOME HAVE BUBBLED. TWO HAVE GONE FLAT. ONE FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH THE GOODYEAR RUNFLAT TIRES ON THE 19 INCH RIMS ON THIS VEHICLE. SMALL POTHOLES ARE UNAVOIDABLE ON MASSACHUSETTS ROADWAYS. SOME OF THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED DAYS AFTER. OTHERS WERE UNASSOCIATED WITH SUCH AN INCIDENT. BOTH BMW AND GOODYEAR REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622515

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2013
TiresWheels

THE GOODYEAR RUN FLAT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOP BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND BMW REPLACED BECAUSE I HAD A TIRE/WHEEL PACKAGE. NOW THAT THE TIRE/WHEEL PACKAGE HAS EXPIRED I HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO GOODYEAR REGARDING THIS MATTER. I DO FEEL THAT THIS IS A GOODYEAR ISSUE BUT …

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THE GOODYEAR RUN FLAT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOP BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND BMW REPLACED BECAUSE I HAD A TIRE/WHEEL PACKAGE. NOW THAT THE TIRE/WHEEL PACKAGE HAS EXPIRED I HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO GOODYEAR REGARDING THIS MATTER. I DO FEEL THAT THIS IS A GOODYEAR ISSUE BUT ALSO A BMW ISSUE BECAUSE THEY ARE INSTALLING A DEFECTED PRODUCT ON THEIR VEHICLES. FROM MY RECENT RESEARCH I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE RECTIFIED. THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND ARE A HAZARDS. WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE BEING KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS REQUIRED OF BOTH BMW AND GOODYEAR TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE AND NOT THE CONSUMERS???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505615

17,900 miles · Apr 1, 2013
TiresWheels

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 BMW 535I ON THE INTERSTATE, ON A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, AT 11:00 PM, I HIT A POT HOLE WITH MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY NOTICED FRONT END VIBRATION. PULLED OVER, DID NOT NOTICE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL/ TIRE AND CONTINUED DRIVING UNTIL ARRIVED AT HOME WITHOUT TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING ACTIVATION. UPO…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 BMW 535I ON THE INTERSTATE, ON A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, AT 11:00 PM, I HIT A POT HOLE WITH MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY NOTICED FRONT END VIBRATION. PULLED OVER, DID NOT NOTICE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL/ TIRE AND CONTINUED DRIVING UNTIL ARRIVED AT HOME WITHOUT TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING ACTIVATION. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, NOTICED AN APPROXIMATELLY A 3 INCH LONG "BUBBLE" ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. FOLLOWING MONDAY, BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE GOOD YEAR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AFTER OPENING UP A CASE VIA THE 800 NUMBER WITH GOODYEAR. UPON INSPECTION BY THE GOODYEAR MECHANIC, THERE WAS A LARGE 3-4 INCH TEAR IN THE INSIDE LAYER OF THE SIDEWALL. UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY LAYERS INVOLVED. MOST LIKELY THAT THE OUTSIDE LAYER NOT INVOLVED BECAUSE TIRE MAINTENED PRESSURE AT ALL TIMES. BASED ON A WEB SEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE SIDEWALL OF THESE TIRES. TIRE INVOLVED, GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 ROF, DOT NE66 JP1R 2011. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505304

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.