I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY AND MY ENGING CUT OFF ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START NOR GO INTO ANY GEAR TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR MIGHT BE ON A RECALL LIST BECAUSE IT JAS REACH OVER 70000MI NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TO
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 reportsWITH TIME, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE MATERIAL (ON DRIVER AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE ON FRONT AND REAR) MELTS / DISINTEGRATES AND IT SEEMS TO BE HARMFUL FOR KIDS TO BE TOUCHING IT AND MAYBE EVEN PLAYING WITH IT WITH A RISK TO BE INGESTING SUCH STICKY SUBSTANCE WHICH KEEPS PEELING. IT IS POTENTIALLY ALSO HARMFUL FOR ADULTS TO BE USI…
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WITH TIME, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE MATERIAL (ON DRIVER AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE ON FRONT AND REAR) MELTS / DISINTEGRATES AND IT SEEMS TO BE HARMFUL FOR KIDS TO BE TOUCHING IT AND MAYBE EVEN PLAYING WITH IT WITH A RISK TO BE INGESTING SUCH STICKY SUBSTANCE WHICH KEEPS PEELING. IT IS POTENTIALLY ALSO HARMFUL FOR ADULTS TO BE USING THE VEHICLE (SPECIALLY AN HANDLE WHICH IS USED TO CLOSE AND OPEN THE DOOR) AND THEN BY MISTAKE CONSUMING FOOD ITEMS WITH THAT HAND ' PLEASE REVIEW THIS CASE - IT SEEMS A PREVALENT PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL SYSTEMICALLY RIGHT SIDE HANDLE PART NUMBER OF BMW - 51-41-7-225-860 LEFT SIDE HANDLE PART NUMBER OF BMW - 51-41-7-261-929
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND HESITATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF MANHATTAN (555 W 57TH ST, NEW YORK, NY) ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND HESITATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF MANHATTAN (555 W 57TH ST, NEW YORK, NY) ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
TOOK MY 2011 BMW 535I XDRIVE WITH 68K MILES IN TO GET STATE INSPECTION AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD IT FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE CV BOOT WAS TORN AND THAT THRUST ROD BUSHING, AXLE AND CV BOOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL THAT ONLY AFFECT 8700 CARS FOR SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. I THINK THE SAFETY RECALL NE…
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TOOK MY 2011 BMW 535I XDRIVE WITH 68K MILES IN TO GET STATE INSPECTION AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD IT FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE CV BOOT WAS TORN AND THAT THRUST ROD BUSHING, AXLE AND CV BOOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL THAT ONLY AFFECT 8700 CARS FOR SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. I THINK THE SAFETY RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. THE CV BOOTS AND CV JOINTS ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM BY THE DEALERS AND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. BMW IS HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE REVENUE ... AS LONG AS IT FALLS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. TALKING A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SOMETHING BMW KNOWS ABOUT ... OH AND YEAH "IF THE CV JOINT BREAKS THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE A LOSS OF PROPULSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH" (SAFETY BULLETIN 17V067000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP. GRAYSON BMW (10671 PARKSIDE DR., KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (865) 693-4555) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $8,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP. GRAYSON BMW (10671 PARKSIDE DR., KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (865) 693-4555) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $8,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
(THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION; DUPLICATE OF 11091372) TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "FUEL MALFUNCTION" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (BMW OF ARLINGTON IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUM…
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(THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION; DUPLICATE OF 11091372) TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "FUEL MALFUNCTION" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (BMW OF ARLINGTON IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,196.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "FUEL MALFUNCTION" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (BMW OF ARLINGTON IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "FUEL MALFUNCTION" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (BMW OF ARLINGTON IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,196.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE'S PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING, A MESSAGE DISPLAYED INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE'S PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING, A MESSAGE DISPLAYED INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CASEY BMW (12861 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SOON AFTER THE REPAIR, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL HAD LEAKED FROM THE PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING ONTO THE ENGINE PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL FILTER HOUSING UNIT AND THE ENGINE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,600.
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 16V746; IN-TANK FUEL PUMP: THIS FUEL PUMP CONSIST OF 2 PARTS: A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) AND A LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (LPFP). AFTER CONTACTING BMW PACIFIC IN GLENDALE ,CA. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ONLY. MY QUESTION: IS IT ONLY ONE PART OF THE FUEL PUMP INCLUDED IN THI…
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NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 16V746; IN-TANK FUEL PUMP: THIS FUEL PUMP CONSIST OF 2 PARTS: A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) AND A LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (LPFP). AFTER CONTACTING BMW PACIFIC IN GLENDALE ,CA. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ONLY. MY QUESTION: IS IT ONLY ONE PART OF THE FUEL PUMP INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL??? AFTER CONTACTING MY MECHANIC (A BMW EX MASTER TECHNICIAN EMPLOYEE), I AM CONCERNED THAT NOT REPLACING THE WHOLE UNIT (HPFP AND LPFP UNIT FUEL PUMP) WILL KEEP THE PROBLEM ALIVE AND IT WILL GIVE THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF..... MY CAR HAS SHOWN UNEVEN START UPS IN THE MORNING AND ENGINE CODES RELATED THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION. THIS INCLUDE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY....
OCCASIONALLY DRIVER'S DOOR CANNOT BE UNLOCKED AND OPENED FROM INSIDE USING REGULAR DOOR LATCH, THUS TRAPPING THE DRIVER IN VEHICLE. DOOR WILL HOWEVER UNLOCK IF THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DASH IS PRESSED. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONE IN EVERY EIGHT TO TEN TIMES OF OPENING THE DOOR.
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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