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2011 BMW 535XI

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

29 reports with mileage · 6 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.

  • Tires. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 7 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 reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

35 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

I HAVE AN OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN WITH MY VEHICLE'S IN TANK FUEL PUMP. IT IS BEEN A NINE MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL WAS INITIAL IDENTIFIED AND MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BY BMW. I CALLED THEM UP AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT HAVE TO BRING BACK THE VEHICLE UN-REPAIR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT AND …

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I HAVE AN OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN WITH MY VEHICLE'S IN TANK FUEL PUMP. IT IS BEEN A NINE MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL WAS INITIAL IDENTIFIED AND MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BY BMW. I CALLED THEM UP AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT HAVE TO BRING BACK THE VEHICLE UN-REPAIR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT AND WITH EXCUSE OF PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN I CALL THE BMW CUSTOMER RELATION DEPARTMENT LAST WEEK JUNE 14, THEY SAID THE SAME THING AGAIN "WAIT, AND CALL US BACK BUT NO DEFINITE SOLUTION". WE NEED A REAL ENFORCEMENT CAR MANUFACTURE ON THE TIMELINE THE RECALL MUST BE REMEDIATE WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIALLY IDENTIFIED, OTHERWISE CONSUMER WITH RECALL VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A PEACE OF MIND WHEN DRIVING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11000701

61,000 miles · Mar 13, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10960288

80,000 miles · Nov 30, 2016
SeatsInjury

THE MEMORY POWER SEAT IN MY CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND WENT BACK WITHOUT STOPPING CAUSING A FRACTURE TO MY 2 1/2 YEAR OLD SON'S LEG WHO WAS SITTING IN THE CAR SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928894

68,000 miles · Oct 24, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

MY CAR IS A 2011 BMW 535 I X DRIVE, HAS 68,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT NEW ON 10/19/2011 ON FRIDAY 10/21/2016 MY CAR STALLED AND WOULDN'T START WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAIN HIGH TRAFFIC BUSY ROAD IN RUSH HOUR. LUCKILY, I DIDN'T HAVE A CRASH AND I CALLED BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY SAID "THIS SERVICE IS NO LONGER AVAILAB…

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MY CAR IS A 2011 BMW 535 I X DRIVE, HAS 68,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT NEW ON 10/19/2011 ON FRIDAY 10/21/2016 MY CAR STALLED AND WOULDN'T START WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAIN HIGH TRAFFIC BUSY ROAD IN RUSH HOUR. LUCKILY, I DIDN'T HAVE A CRASH AND I CALLED BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY SAID "THIS SERVICE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE" TO ME. I CALLED MY INSURANCE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOWED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALER (WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM). THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. SAID THAT THE CAR WAS ON EMPTY (NO GAS) EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL SENSOR LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON AND IT SHOWED 70 MILES LEFT TO EMPTY. AFTER RESEARCHING BMW RECALLS I FOUND THIS PROBLEM WAS RECALLED FOR 2010 AND 2011 5 SERIES. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. DEALER SERVICE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME FIRST AND SAID THAT I DROVE IT ON EMPTY AND JUST NEEDED GAS AND WANTED ME TO PICK IT UP AFTER THEY PUT IN 3 GALLONS OF GAS. I INSISTED THAT THAT WHAT HAPPENED, THE SENSOR LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON AND IT SHOWED 70 MILES LEFT. THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OR THE RECALL. THE CAR IS STILL THERE AND THEY GAVE ME A SMALL CHEAP LOANER CAR WHICH I HAVE NOW. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, NOT JUST ADD GAS AND GO. THANKS, REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUL 22, 2010 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V331000 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER MAKES/MODELS/MODEL YEARS: BMW/5-SERIES/2010-2011 BMW/5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO/2010-2011 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V-331 MFG'S REPORT DATE: JULY 21, 2010 COMPONENTS: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 6,080 SUMMARY: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2010 AND 2011 5-SERIES AND 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 12 THROUGH JULY 1, 2010. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WITHIN THE FUEL TANK CAN BECOME WEDGED AGAINST THE TANK.

NHTSA ODI #10918658

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE TURNED ON, THE ENGINE BELT IDLER PULLEY BOLT FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION AND THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY FOR N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE TURNED ON, THE ENGINE BELT IDLER PULLEY BOLT FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION AND THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V550000 (ENGINE, STEERING) WAS PERFORMED IN DECEMBER OF 2012. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MAY 12, 2014 AND WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FEBRUARY 15, 2016. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10837195

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2016
Wheels

I PURCHASED A 2011 BMW IN SEPTEMBER 2014. I HAVE HAD 4 GOOD YEAR RUN FLAT TIRES WITH BUBBLES. I REPLACED TWO AND WHEN THE NEXT TWO FORMED BUBBLES I DECIDED TO REPLACE THEM WITH ANOTHER BRAND. I HAD FIRESTONE GIVE ME THE LAST TWO BUBBLE TIRES SO I WOULD HAVE EVIDENCE OF THE FAILURE. THE COST TO ME AT THIS TIME IS $ 1837.65

NHTSA ODI #10817481

44,586 miles · Oct 22, 2014
Air BagsSeats

I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 20 MPH WITH A FRIEND OF MINE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEATS AND THE CAR SYSTEM TELLS ME "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUE TO WEAR SEAT BELT." I CHECKED ONLINE AND ITS BECAUSE SENSORS FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN ALL BMWS SINCE 2006. I READ ONLINE TH…

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I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 20 MPH WITH A FRIEND OF MINE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEATS AND THE CAR SYSTEM TELLS ME "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUE TO WEAR SEAT BELT." I CHECKED ONLINE AND ITS BECAUSE SENSORS FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN ALL BMWS SINCE 2006. I READ ONLINE THAT IT REOCCURS FREQUENTLY AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST $1200 TO REPAIR IT IF I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I WILL HAVE TO PAY ATLEAST $150 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I STRONGLY FEEL I SHOULD NOT BE THE ONE PAYING FOR BMWS MISTAKE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. BMW HAS RECALLED AROUND 200,000 CARS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PROGRAM FOR 10 YEARS FOR THE AFFECTED CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIABILITY ISSUE. INCASE I AM IN AN ACCIDENT TOMORROW AND THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT DEPLOYED, IT COULD LEAD TO THE LOSS OF ONE'S LIFE. I URGE BMW TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, NEVER IN FLOODS AND NEITHER IN FIRE. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INCIDENTS WITH THE CAR. I HAVE A RECALL FOR THE VANOS BOLTS THAT AFFECTS THE ENGINE AS WELL AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM BMW. INCASE THE BOLTS GO OFF THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE POWER AND IT COULD LEAD TO A UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE. THESE BOTH ISSUES ARE LIFE THREATENING AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED RIGHT AWAY. I REQUEST YOU TO URGENTLY LOOK INTO THE MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649338

19,000 miles · Jan 20, 2014
Tires

I PURCHASED A 2011 BMW 535I XDRIVE VEHICLE WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS RUNFLATS 245/40 R19. THE CAR HAS ONLY 19,000 MILES AND FROM THE DAY THAT I PURCHASED IT (IN FEB 2011), I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES 8 TIMES AND RECENTLY THE REAR TIRES 2 TIMES. A TOTAL OF 10 TIRE REPLACEMENTS. SOME REPLACEMENTS WERE DUE TO BUBBLES ON SID…

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I PURCHASED A 2011 BMW 535I XDRIVE VEHICLE WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS RUNFLATS 245/40 R19. THE CAR HAS ONLY 19,000 MILES AND FROM THE DAY THAT I PURCHASED IT (IN FEB 2011), I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES 8 TIMES AND RECENTLY THE REAR TIRES 2 TIMES. A TOTAL OF 10 TIRE REPLACEMENTS. SOME REPLACEMENTS WERE DUE TO BUBBLES ON SIDEWALLS. THE OTHERS WERE DUE WHAT APPEARED TO BE CUTS ON THE INSIDE/OUTSIDE SIDEWALLS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY BMW OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLE AND EVERYONE IS RUNNING INTO THE SAME PROBLEM. GOODYEAR INITIALLY WAS REPLACING MY TIRES AT NO CHARGE BECASUE THEY TIRE DAMAGE ALWAYS WAS WITHIN TIRE WARRANTY WINDOW UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN THEY CHANGED THEIR ROAD HAZZARD WARRANTY POLICY AND NO LONGER COVER THE EXPENSE. THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TIRES. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE TIRES..... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560665

44,000 miles · Jun 10, 2013
EngineEquipment Adaptive/mobilityPower Train

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE THROTTLE RESPONSE LAG OF OVER 1 SECOND BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING . IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS BEHAVIOR WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF INTERSECTIONS. IT IS AS IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR TO USE AND TRI…

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WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE THROTTLE RESPONSE LAG OF OVER 1 SECOND BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING . IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS BEHAVIOR WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF INTERSECTIONS. IT IS AS IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR TO USE AND TRIES TO START OUT IN SECOND GEAR, THEN WHEN THE CAR DOESN'T START MOVING THE DRIVER PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR DOWN FURTHER UNTIL FINALLY THE SOFTWARE IN THE COMPUTER DECIDES TO DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AND THEN THE CAR TAKES OFF LIKE A ROCKET, WHICH IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10516068

2,500 miles · Apr 17, 2013
Wheels

WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAD TWO BUMPS IN THE SIDEWALL OF MY TIRES (GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 LOW PROFILE RUN FLAT). OVER THE LAST 20 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 12 TIRES. I PURCHASED THIS 5-SERIES BECAUSE I HAD SUCH A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH MY PRIOR 5-SERIES VEHICLE WHICH WAS THE PRIO…

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WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAD TWO BUMPS IN THE SIDEWALL OF MY TIRES (GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 LOW PROFILE RUN FLAT). OVER THE LAST 20 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 12 TIRES. I PURCHASED THIS 5-SERIES BECAUSE I HAD SUCH A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH MY PRIOR 5-SERIES VEHICLE WHICH WAS THE PRIOR DESIGN 2008 WITHOUT THESE TIRES. I DID NOT REPLACE A SINGLE TIRE OVER THE COURSE OF A THREE YEAR LEASE WITH MY PRIOR VEHICLE. THESE TIRES MUST BE DEFECTIVE IN THEIR DESIGN BECAUSE THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE FIT FOR USE ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508517

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.