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CarsLore / Makes / BMW / 535i

BMW 535i

Model years 1985–2017 in the US safety record. Years that drew the most complaints: 2011. Fewest complaints: 1990, 1992, 1994.

493owner complaints
12recall campaigns
2,341service bulletins
21model years on record

Complaints by model year

Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2011. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.

’90’92’94’08’10’11’12’14’16112’90’93’08’11’14’17112

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026

Year by year

Model yearComplaintsRecallsBulletinsCrashes · fires
2017 535i011230 · 0
2016 535i1222200 · 0
2015 535i2302681 · 0
2014 535i3023665 · 0
2013 535i3913991 · 2
2012 535i5413670 · 2
2011 535iMost complaints11243545 · 6
2010 535i581913 · 3
2009 535i711702 · 2
2008 535i741660 · 4
19950110 · 0
19942111 · 0
19930110 · 0
19923331 · 0
1991 535i5330 · 0
19902232 · 0
19896110 · 1
19881010 · 0
19870010 · 0
19861010 · 0
19850010 · 0

A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections

Most common problems

  • Engine129
  • Fuel/propulsion system107
  • Electrical system79
  • Air bags46
  • Power train45
  • Exterior lighting43
  • Fuel system, gasoline37
  • Engine and engine cooling36

NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years

Fatal crashes in the US

From 2020 to 2023, 98 535i vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 42 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.

Model yearVehicles in fatal crashesDeaths in the vehicleRolled over
2017111
2016721
2015631
20141790
20131853
2012861
201120112
2010611
2009520
2008810
1991100
1989110

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count

Crash-test ratings by year

NHTSA 5-star results for 5 model-year variants; 5 of 5 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

YearVariantOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
20152015 BMW 535 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %
20142014 BMW 535 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %
20132013 BMW 535 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %
20122012 BMW 535 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %
20112011 BMW 535 I 4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain

Fuel consumption by year

Official Canadian test results for 9 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.6–11.8 L/100 km.

YearVariantEngineTransmissionCityHighwayCombinedCO₂ g/km
2016535i xDrive · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.AS811.98.110.2238
2015535i xDrive Sedan · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.AS812.18.110.3237
2014535i xDrive · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.A811.98.010.1232
2013535i xDrive · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.A811.27.99.7223
2012535i xDrive · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.A811.17.99.6221
2011535i · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.A811.57.89.8225
2010535i xDrive · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.M613.69.411.7269
2009535i xDrive Sedan · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.A613.79.411.8271
2008535i · Mid-size · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.A613.49.011.4262

Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

12 campaigns cover the 535i.

24V527000 · Air bags11 Jul 2024 · 2014

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

17V067000 · Power train2 Feb 2017 · 2011

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.

16V914000 · Air bags20 Dec 2016 · 2016, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

16V832000 · Air bags17 Nov 2016 · 2011

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been incorrectly programmed and, as a result, the SCU may not accurately determine if activation and deployment of the air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and head restraints is necessary in the event of a crash.

16V746000 · Fuel system, gasoline17 Oct 2016 · 2011, 2012

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.

15V718000 · Child seat30 Oct 2015 · 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

15V188000 · Exterior lighting31 Mar 2015 · 2013, 2014

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."

14V176000 · Engine and engine cooling10 Apr 2014 · 2011

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

13V407000 · Exterior lighting11 Sept 2013 · 2008, 2009, 2010

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).

98V178000 · Engine and engine cooling4 Aug 1998 · 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.

96V111000 · Exterior lighting1 Jul 1996 · 1990, 1991, 1992

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.

96V110000 · Air bags1 Jul 1996 · 1991, 1992

THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA recalls