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2012 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

40 reports with mileage · 14 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 12 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 →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

54 reports
33,000 miles · Apr 18, 2017
Electrical System

DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE AT 33000 MILES. UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN DOOR BY INSIDE HANDLE. THEREFORE, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY IF DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BMW BUT HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND AS A SAFETY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10979001

115,272 miles · Mar 2, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

VEHICLE HAS ISSUES IN LINE WITH THE RECALL THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR SOME VIN NUMBERS UNDER RECALL NUMBER #16V746000. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SHAKING UNDER ACCELERATION, SPUTTERING, FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND, MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ITEMS NOTED UNDER THE RECALL FIXED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE V…

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VEHICLE HAS ISSUES IN LINE WITH THE RECALL THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR SOME VIN NUMBERS UNDER RECALL NUMBER #16V746000. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SHAKING UNDER ACCELERATION, SPUTTERING, FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND, MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ITEMS NOTED UNDER THE RECALL FIXED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE VEHICLE OWNER. CURRENTLY THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED, AS HAS THE BATTERY WITHOUT MAKING ANY CHANGE ON THE VEHICLES PERFORMANCE. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERS HANDS (FOR THE LAST MONTH) WITH BMWNA CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE SERVICE RECORDS TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ISSUES WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ACCELERATING, AND DAILY DDRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10958015

43,000 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Air BagsSteering

I HAD TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNING ANY DIRECTION, SOUND HEARD WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE OR PARK. I HAD ABOUT 43,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE NOISE STARTED. I HAD CALLED BMW TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY WARRANTY ON THIS ITEM BEING IT IS PART OF THE SR…

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I HAD TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNING ANY DIRECTION, SOUND HEARD WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE OR PARK. I HAD ABOUT 43,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE NOISE STARTED. I HAD CALLED BMW TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY WARRANTY ON THIS ITEM BEING IT IS PART OF THE SRS SYSTEM FOR THE CAR, AND THEY TOLD ME FOR MY VEHICLE VIN THERE WAS NOT. BEING APART OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM I AM WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY SAFETY GUIDELINES OR EXTENDED WARRANTY I AM NOT BEING INFORMED OF FOR THE PART I HAD TO REPLACE 61-31-9-354-047. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10938578

30,000 miles · May 7, 2016
Electrical System

SEVERAL TIMES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION WITH THE AUTO START/STOP ENGAGED, THE CAR WILL STOP AND AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO NEUTRAL. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT HAPPENED ONCE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLED AFTER I STARTED THE TURN. I HAD TO …

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SEVERAL TIMES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION WITH THE AUTO START/STOP ENGAGED, THE CAR WILL STOP AND AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO NEUTRAL. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT HAPPENED ONCE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLED AFTER I STARTED THE TURN. I HAD TO GET THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE QUICKLY TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND AVOID BEING HIT BY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN FREQUENTLY, HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF 5 OR 6 TIMES IN THE 4 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10863729

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2015
Service Brakes

AT A SPEED OF 40-60 MPH WHEN I BRAKE MY CAR SHAKES REALLY BAD. I HAVE TAKEN TO ADVANTAGE BMW IN CLEAR LAKE, TX TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY CHANGED THE BRAKES. THE SECOND TIME I HAD A BUBBLE IN MY TIRE AND GOT IT REPLACED ALONG WITH A BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT. I DRIVE ON THE HWY. 5 DAYS A WEEK AND EVERY TIME I PRESS ON MY BRAKE MY CA…

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AT A SPEED OF 40-60 MPH WHEN I BRAKE MY CAR SHAKES REALLY BAD. I HAVE TAKEN TO ADVANTAGE BMW IN CLEAR LAKE, TX TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY CHANGED THE BRAKES. THE SECOND TIME I HAD A BUBBLE IN MY TIRE AND GOT IT REPLACED ALONG WITH A BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT. I DRIVE ON THE HWY. 5 DAYS A WEEK AND EVERY TIME I PRESS ON MY BRAKE MY CAR SHAKES. EVEN AFTER THE NEW TIRE, BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT IT STILL SHAKES WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES. I FEEL A HARD VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AND A SQUEAKING WHEN BACKING UP. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP OCTOBER 2 AND 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT FOR THE SAME THING. IT IS NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10780795

20,000 miles · Nov 10, 2014
Wheels

5/20/14 I84- TIRE BLOW OUT WITH GOODYEAR RUN FLATS 245/40/R19 98V ON INTERSTATE AFTER POTHOLE. 10/28 I95 2 TIRES BLOW OUT...TOWED 40 MILES TO DEALER AND REPLACED WITH 2 NEW TIRES. MILEAGE 26,000 10/28 DEALER...TWO OTHER TIRES HAVE BUBBLES IN SIDEWALL AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, ONE OF WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN MAY. BMW SERVIC…

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5/20/14 I84- TIRE BLOW OUT WITH GOODYEAR RUN FLATS 245/40/R19 98V ON INTERSTATE AFTER POTHOLE. 10/28 I95 2 TIRES BLOW OUT...TOWED 40 MILES TO DEALER AND REPLACED WITH 2 NEW TIRES. MILEAGE 26,000 10/28 DEALER...TWO OTHER TIRES HAVE BUBBLES IN SIDEWALL AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, ONE OF WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN MAY. BMW SERVICE'S ONLY INTEREST IS SELLING NEW TIRES. BMW CONTACTED AT CORPORATE RELATIONS AFTER 2ND INCIDENT ON 10/29/14 AND AS OF TODAY 11/10/14 NO SOLUTION. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON INTERSTATES. GOODYEAR INSPECTED CURRENT TIRES WITH BUBBLES AND COULD FIND NO DAMAGE OR CAUSE FOR SIDEWALL BUBBLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653840

1,500 miles · Oct 11, 2014
TiresWheelsFire

I LEASED A 2012 NBMW 535I FROM PAUL MILLER BMW OF WAYNE, NJ. PAUL MILLER BMW IS A CERTIFIED AND AUTHORIZED BMW DEALER IN NJ, AND HANDLED ALL SERVICES FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 19 TIRES FOR FLATS AND OTHER ISSUES IN A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS SINCE LEASING MY VEHICLE. THIS CAR OBVIOUSLY HAS A TIGHT SU…

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I LEASED A 2012 NBMW 535I FROM PAUL MILLER BMW OF WAYNE, NJ. PAUL MILLER BMW IS A CERTIFIED AND AUTHORIZED BMW DEALER IN NJ, AND HANDLED ALL SERVICES FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 19 TIRES FOR FLATS AND OTHER ISSUES IN A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS SINCE LEASING MY VEHICLE. THIS CAR OBVIOUSLY HAS A TIGHT SUSPENSION WITH LOW PROFILE (40) TIRES AND THIS CAR IS PARTICULAR MAY BE MORE DEFECTIVE THAN OTHERS. SINCE THIS CAR?S RELEASE AND SOME PRIOR YEARS OF THE BMW 535I, I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE DANGER OF DRIVING THIS CAR AS IT FEELS LIKE GIANT BOULDER FALLS ONTO THE CAR WHEN IT HITS EVEN MODEST POTHOLES OR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS. BMW AS COMPANY SHOULD NOT MARKET THIS CAR TO ANY URBAN AREA CUSTOMERS, WHICH I HOPE THE FTC AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WOULD PLEASE ENFORCE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO ASK BMW CORPORATION, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND NJ PAUL MILLER BMW IN WAYNE NJ TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO SO. ALSO BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES BREACHED WARRANTY AS THEY PROVIDED USED TIRES DURING FEBRUARY 2014 EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A TIRE REPLACEMENT CONTRACT THAT I PAID THEM $1813 FOR. PAUL MILLER BMW ALSO TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR NEW TIRES BECAUSE 3 OF THEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DURING ONE EPISODE WHEN I HIT SOME HIGHWAY BUMPS. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED PUTTING LIQUID NITROGEN INTO THE TIRES AND BILLED ME FOR THIS. THE TIRES WENT FLAT IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. THIS WAS YET ANOTHER BREACH OF CONTRACT AS BMW'S TOWING SERVICE DID NOT PICK ME UP MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN FLATS OCCURRED. THEY ALSO SAID THE RUNFLAT TIRES CAN BE DRIVEN AT 50 MPH OR LESS FOR SEVERAL MILES AND THIS DID NOT WORK ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AS THE TIRES SHREDDED AND I WAS STRANDED - ONE TIME OF WHICH WAS WITH A CUSTOMER IN THE CAR! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644000

27,000 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Tires

I HAVE PURCHASE 5 DUNLOP RUN FLAT TIRES DO TO SIDE WALL DAMAGE. SIDEWALL DAMAGE CAUSED ME TO PURCHASE 3 275/35R19 96Y BMW B DUN SP SPRT MAX DSST RF B & 2 245/40R19 94Y BMW B DUN SP SPRT MAX DSST RF THESE TIRES ARE VERY COSTLY THEY DO NOT PERFORM AND COULD BE DEFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563634

4,000 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2012 535I AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STALLS WHEN AUTO START/STOP ENGAGES, WHEN THE VEHICLE TRIES TO RESTART THE ENGINE IT SWITCHES TO N WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IN CERTAIN DRIVING SITUATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563632

33,573 miles · Oct 25, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS FROM THE MOMENT WE BOUGHT IT. THE CAR STARTED MAKING WHISTLING SOUNDS AND ENGINE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND HAS BEEN SEEN BY BMW RTS ALREADY 4 TIMES. BUT MOST RECENTLY MY HUSBAND WAS WAITING AT THE LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN HIS STEERING WHEEL ALL OF A SUDDEN LOCKED …

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THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS FROM THE MOMENT WE BOUGHT IT. THE CAR STARTED MAKING WHISTLING SOUNDS AND ENGINE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND HAS BEEN SEEN BY BMW RTS ALREADY 4 TIMES. BUT MOST RECENTLY MY HUSBAND WAS WAITING AT THE LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN HIS STEERING WHEEL ALL OF A SUDDEN LOCKED AND HE COULD NOT DRIVE IT. SO WE TOOK IT IN TO GET IT SERVICED AND WAS TOLD TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA . 3 WEEKS LATER I FINALLY RECEIVED MY CAR AND CAUSE OF THIS STEERING ERROR READS: EPS CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY. THE REPLACED THE EPS CONTROL UNIT, BASICALLY THE STEERING RACK, AND THE EPS CONTROL UNIT FAILED AGAIN! THEY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO RESET THE CONTROL MODULES REPROGRAMMED THE EPS CONTROL UNIT, ADJUSTED THE STEERING ANGELS, INITIALIZED ALL WINDOWS AND SUNROOF, PERFORMED ACTIVE 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. BASICALLY THE CARS A DUD AND BMW REFUSES A BUY BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549587

Official recalls

1

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.

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

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.