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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.

About this comparison →
54Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
71
200958
2010112
201154
201238
201330
201423
2015
Compare all 535I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel/propulsion System
12Engine
11Power Train
10Electrical System
9Air Bags
6
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
4Steering
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Seat Belts
3Seats
3Tires
3Wheels
3Service Brakes
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility/wiper
1

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
400 miles · Sep 3, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

NHTSA ODI #10541692

6,000 miles · Jul 31, 2013
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2012 BMW 535XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SAT IN HIS GARAGE FOR 3-4 WEEKS DURING THE WINTER. APPARENTLY, THE CRITICAL BRAKE COMPONENTS, CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE BMW FELT REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED, AT A COST OF $2,000. BMW REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER…

Read full complaint

2012 BMW 535XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SAT IN HIS GARAGE FOR 3-4 WEEKS DURING THE WINTER. APPARENTLY, THE CRITICAL BRAKE COMPONENTS, CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE BMW FELT REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED, AT A COST OF $2,000. BMW REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, UNLESS HE SIGNED A LIABILITY RELEASE.

NHTSA ODI #10532515

5,000 miles · May 6, 2013
Power Train

MY CAR HAVE ABOUT 1/2 SECOND DELAY FROM THE TIME YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR RESPONDS, SO YOU PUSH HARDER, BECAUSE (I GUESS) IS TURBO THE KICK IN IS VERY STRONG, ALMOST HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT LEAST TWICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510846

7 miles · Jul 8, 2012
SteeringSuspension

THE CAR WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT. IT KEEPS PULLING TO THE RIGHT SIDE, MY 2012 535I HAS BEEN ALIGNED TWICE BY BMW AND CAN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED ME THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE TO THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464642

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.