THE BACK AND FRONT AXLES AREN'T RELIABLE AT ALL. ALL FOUR ON MY CAR ARE DAMAGED AND EVERY TIME I GO OVER A BUMP IT'S A VIOLENT SOUND AND FEELING.
2011 BMW 535I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 535I years →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.
What owners actually said
112 reportsMY DRIVER AIRBAG HAS A MALFUNCTION BUT NO RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A DEFORMED BAG THAT MEANS MAYBE SOMEONE HIT THE COVER / HORN WHERE THE AIRBAG IS. I'M OVER 60 YEARS OLD AND COULDN'T HIT A FLY THAT HARD.
A WARNING CAME ON FOR DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO CHOKE AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.
TRYING TO CHANGE LINE GO SEVENTH MILES CAUSES THE CAR TO GO IN LIMP MODE
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT MY WORK AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. BMW OF SAN ANTONIO SAYS OIL LEAKED FROM THE VALVE COVER TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. PROBLEM IS, EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS FAR PASSENGER SIDE. FIRE WAS TOP REAR OF THE MOTOR.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SENT AN OVERHEATING MESSAGE AND INSTANTLY THE POWER TO THE MOTOR WAS CUT OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY SLOW DOWN WITH NO BRAKE SIGNAL SO THE REAR CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SIGNAL CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE DURING THE OVERHEAT MESSAGE, ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER …
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SENT AN OVERHEATING MESSAGE AND INSTANTLY THE POWER TO THE MOTOR WAS CUT OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY SLOW DOWN WITH NO BRAKE SIGNAL SO THE REAR CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SIGNAL CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE DURING THE OVERHEAT MESSAGE, ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP IT WAS FINE? I CHECKED THE COOLANT AFTER I GOT HOME AND IT WAS AT THE LEVEL REQUIRED, AFTER I WAS ABLE TO THE READ THE CODES IT SHOWED WATERPUMP ? I RECENTLY SAW RECALLS FOR 2011 BMW 5 SERIES ON WATER PUMP ISSUES, I WOULD LIKE TO AD THIS PROBLEM AND OR SAFEY ISSUE TO BE NOTICED, IF ALL THOSE VEHICLES ARE BEING REPORTED TO HAVE WATERPUMP ISSUES ,L BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE ON THAT LIST OF RECALLS AS WELL , THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME WATER PUMP ,SO THAT WOULD EFFECT ALL MODELS 6 CLYINDER ,8 CYLINDER ETC,, TTHE AFTER A MONTH OF NO CODES NO ISSUES, I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO GET SOMETHING FROM THE HOUSE, I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING, WHEN I CAM OUT IT HAD SENT AN OVER HEAT SIGNAL AGAIN, WHEN THE CAR WASNT OVERHEATING? IT WAS JUST WEIRD, IT MIGHT BE WISE TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES WITH THE 2010-2011 STYLE WATER PUMP TO BE REPLACED AND LOOK INTO THE POWER CUT OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PUMPS/AND OR THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WHICH ARE BEING RECALLED , PLEASE LET KNOW IF MY CAR CAN BE ADDED TO THE RECALL SO IT COULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHER MODELS THAT RECALLED, HAVENT DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY SINCE, SCARED I MIGHT GET REAR ENDED, IF THE POWER CUTS OFF TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD GO ON OR SOME INDICATOR TO LET VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND KNOW THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN, LIVE AND LEARN I GEUSS,
LIGHTING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD DURING 1ST WEEK OF APRIL 2020. IT AFFECTED BATTERY CONSUMPTION, TURN INDICATORS, WINDOW CONTROLS, HEADLIGHT CONTROLS, LOCK/UNLOCK CONFIRMATION... THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED FAULTY FOOTWELL MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT, COST APPROX. $1323+TAX. A WARRANTY EXTENSION DOCUMENT FOUND ON …
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LIGHTING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD DURING 1ST WEEK OF APRIL 2020. IT AFFECTED BATTERY CONSUMPTION, TURN INDICATORS, WINDOW CONTROLS, HEADLIGHT CONTROLS, LOCK/UNLOCK CONFIRMATION... THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED FAULTY FOOTWELL MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT, COST APPROX. $1323+TAX. A WARRANTY EXTENSION DOCUMENT FOUND ON THE INTERNET FOR FOOTWELL MODULE LISTS ALL MODELS EXCEPT MINE. HTTPS://BIMMERSCAN.COM/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2018/09/B012016-1.PDF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL WHEELS FRACTURED PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CIRCLE BMW (500 STATE ROUTE 36, EATONTOWN, NJ, 07724, (732)-440-1200) TO BE INSPECTED DUE TO AN ABNORMAL …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL WHEELS FRACTURED PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CIRCLE BMW (500 STATE ROUTE 36, EATONTOWN, NJ, 07724, (732)-440-1200) TO BE INSPECTED DUE TO AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WHEELS WERE BENT. THE WHEELS WERE NOT REPAIRED NOR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,500. *LN
CV JOINTS . CARS WAS PARKED AND THE CAR LEANED . AT TIME WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAN TO ONE SIDE . ONCE YOU START DRIVING THE LEANING WOULD ADJUST AND THE CAR WOULD EVEN OUT
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.
Official recalls
417V067000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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