2013 BMW 535I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

38Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2013 BMW 535I

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 38 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Electrical System: 13 reports
Engine: 9 reports
Exterior Lighting: 8 reports
Air Bags: 5 reports
Fuel/propulsion System: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

15V188000 — Exterior Lighting

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all 535I years →

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

What owners reported most

5 Fuel/propulsion System

All reported categories

2 Engine And Engine Cooling

1 Equipment Adaptive/mobility

1 Seat Belts

1 Seats

1 Steering

1 Vehicle Speed Control

1 Visibility

1 Visibility/wiper

1 Wheels

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

22 reports with mileage · 16 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.

Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Suspension complaints

3 reports

Clear category filter

165,000 miles · Apr 3, 2023

Suspension

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Soon after hearing the noise, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the passenger’s side CV joint was replaced out of pocket. Recently, the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer for routine maintenance and the contact was informed that the driver’s side CV joint was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

NHTSA ODI #11515120

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2022

Suspension

Driver side rear air spring failure.

NHTSA ODI #11465264

40,500 miles · May 11, 2018

Suspension

Read full complaint

AIR SUSPENSION. CAR LEANED LEFT AFTER SITTING, BUT THE AIR SPRING PUMPED UP ON VEHICLE START-UP. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO IDENTIFIED A LEAKING LEFT REAR AIR SUSPENSION SPRING. IDENTIFIED TECHNICAL BULLETIN (SI B37 01 15) NOTING FAULTY INSTALLATION DURING ASSEMBLY. THE BULLETING RECOMMENDS REPLACING LEFT AIR SPRING (BMW TO SUPPLY LABOR AND PARTS) ON CARS MANUFACTURED THROUGH FEB 2, 2013. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED FEB 17, 2013 AND THE BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT SINCE IT IS OUTSIDE THE BULLETIN DATES. CAR HAS 40,500 MILES AND THE FAILURE WAS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN. HENCE, THIS IS EVIDENCE THAT THE VEHICLE DEFECT EXCEEDS THE ASSEMBLY DATES AND THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE EXTENDED. FURTHER, THE AIR SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT A WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WAS INFLATED DURING THE VEHICLE START UP PROCESS. THIS MAY HAVE LED TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A DEFECTIVE AIR SHOCK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, AND IS THEREFORE A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #11093385

Recall campaigns

15V188000 · Exterior Lighting

Mar 31, 2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 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 ↗

Defect investigations

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.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.