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2013 BMW 535I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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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

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

What owners actually said

38 reports
12,000 miles · Aug 28, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING DOWN A HILL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING DOWN A HILL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10629238

10,000 miles · Apr 26, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobilityCrashInjury

DRIVING NEW 2013 535I (HEAVILY EQUIPPED) ABOUT 50 MPH IN 55 MPH ZONE ON A CLEAR EVENING W/LOW TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BMW COLLIDED INTO REAR-END OF ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLE LACKING ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR FLARES. BMW RAMMED ADVERSE PARKED VEHICLE APPROX. 16' BEFORE PULL APART. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON STEERING WHEEL A…

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DRIVING NEW 2013 535I (HEAVILY EQUIPPED) ABOUT 50 MPH IN 55 MPH ZONE ON A CLEAR EVENING W/LOW TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BMW COLLIDED INTO REAR-END OF ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLE LACKING ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR FLARES. BMW RAMMED ADVERSE PARKED VEHICLE APPROX. 16' BEFORE PULL APART. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO LEFT ARM ETC.. BOTH LEGS IN SIMILAR TRAUMA POST-CRASH AT KNEE TO FOOT EQUALLY. FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED INWARDS (NOT OUTWARD) ABOVE STEERING WHEEL. FORCE OF IMPACT TO RT. FOOT/HEEL TO PEDAL/FLOOR CAUSED MULTIPLE FRACTURES REQ. 10 SCREWS WITH PLATE AND OTHER INJURIES. TEMPORARY TOTAL DISABILITY AND PARTIAL PERMANENT DISABILITY. OUT OF POCKET MEDICAL COSTS, AND OTHER SPECIALS EXCEED $100,000.00 EXCLUDING VALUE OF VEHICLE. (DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ESTIMATED TO EXCEED $42,000.00) BMW STALLED AND ROLLED TO A REST IN LEFT LANE. BMW ASSIST COULD NOT SPEAK TO ME, BUT COULD HEAR FROM WITHIN VEHICLE. BMW ADMITTED ITS BMW ASSIST SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND MAY NOT HAVE PROPERLY AND/OR TIMELY NOTIFIED 911. PERSONAL INJURIES FROM AIRBAG DESPITE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL FULLY RETRACTED. BMW PROMISED, BUT FAILED TO PROVIDE AUDIOTAPE AND TRANSCRIPT, DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS. MOREOVER, BMW WON'T PROVIDE COMMON COURTESY OF A RESPONSE TO SAID FAILURE EVEN THOUGH PROOF OF SERVICE EXISTS. UNUSUAL PARTICULARLY SINCE NO THREAT OF LITIGATION HAS BEEN OR WILL BE MADE. AIR BAGS DO NOT SHOW AS BEING DISCONNECTED FROM CRASH ON THIS SITE. PERSONAL INJURIES E.G. MEDICAL BILLS, PAIN AND SUFFERING ETC. INTO SIX FIGURES. BMW HAS ALSO REFUSED TO INSPECT VEHICLE TO REBUT ANY QUERIES AS TO VEHICLES' PERFORMANCE AT MOMENT OF IMPACT. BMW NOR SELLING DEALER NEVER INFORMED ASSIST PACKAGE FOR ABOUT $1,300 WOULD HAVE PREVENTED OR SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE OUTCOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10585071

10,000 miles · Mar 29, 2014
Electrical System

AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST TUNE UP WOULD BE DUE AT 10,000 MILES. THEREFORE I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE, HOVER WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN THE FIRST TIME AT 10,000 MILES I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO NEED FOR TUNE UP THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD DISPLAY A MESSAGE TELLING ME WHEN TO SERVICE IT. ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS…

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AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST TUNE UP WOULD BE DUE AT 10,000 MILES. THEREFORE I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE, HOVER WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN THE FIRST TIME AT 10,000 MILES I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO NEED FOR TUNE UP THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD DISPLAY A MESSAGE TELLING ME WHEN TO SERVICE IT. ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS DISPLAYING THAT IT NEEDED OIL, SO I BROUGHT IT IN. ONE QUART OF OIL WAS ADDED ON THE SPOT. AFTER 11,000 IT WAS TELLING ME TO SERVICE THE CAR IN 1200 MILES SO AT 12200 I BROUGHT IT IN. ONCE AGING I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT TIME. NOW IT IS ONCE AGAIN DISPLAYING A MESSAGE THAT OIL LEVEL IS LOW BUT I STILL DON'T HAVE THE MESSAGE FOR SERVICE NEEDED. THE CAR NOW HAS 14000 MILES. I JUST DO NOT WANT THE ENGINE TO BLOW OUT AND THE DEALER BLAME IT ON ME FOR NOT BRINGING IN ON TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575561

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2013
Tires

GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 ROF TIRES. ONLY 4700 MILES ON MY 2013 BMW 535 ACTIVEHYBRID. BUBBLE ON RF TIRE, I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. NO POTHOLES EVER HIT OR CURBS RUBBED INTO. I AM IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY. CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF IMPACT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE OR THE WHEEL. NO DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE EITHER. OBVI…

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GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 ROF TIRES. ONLY 4700 MILES ON MY 2013 BMW 535 ACTIVEHYBRID. BUBBLE ON RF TIRE, I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. NO POTHOLES EVER HIT OR CURBS RUBBED INTO. I AM IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY. CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF IMPACT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE OR THE WHEEL. NO DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE EITHER. OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE TIRE. LOOKING AT THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TIRE ONLINE THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE KILLS THEMSELVES WITH A BLOWOUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532440

3,900 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH THROUGH TWO INCHES OF WATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD HYDRO-LOCKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT ENGI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH THROUGH TWO INCHES OF WATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD HYDRO-LOCKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,900.

NHTSA ODI #10525178

3,000 miles · Mar 20, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

ONCE AGAIN NEARLY A MONTH AFTER MY 2013 535I HAD ITS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY BMW. THE CAR DECIDES TO LOSE ALL POWER AND NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AT AL…

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ONCE AGAIN NEARLY A MONTH AFTER MY 2013 535I HAD ITS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY BMW. THE CAR DECIDES TO LOSE ALL POWER AND NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. THE SERVICE ADVISOR IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND KIND OF BLEW IT OFF BY JOKING ABOUT HOW HE THOUGHT BMW CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM FOR ALL OF THEIR 135, 335, AND 535, WHICH IS DISTURBING TO NOW BMW HAS THIS PROBLEM AND IS STILL SELLING THESE VEHICLES. ALL IT TAKES IS FOR ONE TIME TO HAVE THE WRONG PERSON TRAVELING BEHIND YOU AND WHO KNOWS IF I WOULD BE HERE TO EVEN MAKE A COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503756

1,800 miles · Feb 19, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10499268

3,200 miles · Feb 8, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY MY BRAND NEW 535I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE LOSING POWER AND SLOWING DOWN ALL WHILE SHAKING. PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. WHEN I CALLED BMW THEY SAID TO STOP AT THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID. AFTER EXITING THE CAR WOULD NO…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY MY BRAND NEW 535I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE LOSING POWER AND SLOWING DOWN ALL WHILE SHAKING. PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. WHEN I CALLED BMW THEY SAID TO STOP AT THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID. AFTER EXITING THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND REFUSED TO GO FASTER THAN 20 MILES AN HOUR SHAKING THE WHOLE WAY TO THE DEALER. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK BEFORE SAYING THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THEN RUN MORE TESTS AND THAT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD PUT SOMEONE BACK IN THAT CAR IS DISTURBING AS THOUGH THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS OR FAMILIES OR EVEN THE OTHER DRIVERS AROUND US AS I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496937

Official recalls

1

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 ↗

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.