Bmw 535I US problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
7,309 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 36 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 18 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Tires: 18; Engine: 6; Power Train: 3; Wheels: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2011: 13; 2012: 9; 2013: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 6; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10462286 · 2012-06-19 (June 19, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, LIQUID SPILLED ON THE ENGINE COMPUTER THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO SHORT CIRCUIT. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM 70 MPH TO 3 MPH ALMOST INSTANTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE COMPUTER WAS LEFT UNPROTECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10479875 · 2012-10-12 (October 12, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REMOTE CONTROL KEY FAILED, WHICH CAUSED A DISCHARGE IN THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE REMOTE KEY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE REMOTE KEY BATTERY WAS RECHARGED SEVERAL TIMES, AS WELL AS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10495090 · 2013-01-29 (January 29, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVE TRAIN WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,945 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 4/1/13 *CN…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,945 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495090 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11061260 · 2018-01-08 (January 8, 2018)
MY BMW HAS ABOUT 75K MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING IT ONE DAY AFTER WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR DID NOT SHUT DOWN OR ANYTHING BUT LOSS OF POWER, IT'S LIKE MY VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH. 'DRIVETRAN MALFUNCTION' CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY WEIRD FOR A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 75K MILES ON IT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS, CAR COMPLETELY STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, I THANK GOD I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EXITING OFF T…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11061260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11010870 · 2017-07-26 (July 26, 2017)
GAS SMELL IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE, SERVICE NOTED THAT THERE IS GAS LEAK. THERE IS A KNOWN RECALL BUT WHEN WE CALL BMW AND THEY SAY THEY ARE PREPARED TO DO NOTHING AT THIS TIME AND WE NEED TO WAIT. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 9 MONTHS NOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451079 · 2012-03-10 (March 10, 2012)
UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC URBAN AREA WITH LOTS OF HILLS(SAN FRANCISCO), THE DELAY HAS CAUSED ME AND MY FAMILY TO COME CLOSE TO MANY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY FOR LEFT TURNS AND AM NEARLY T-BONED WITH MY WIFE FEARING FOR HER LIFE. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015366 · 2017-08-15 (August 15, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I US. WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BRING THE SPEED DOWN TO 30 MPH, BUT THE SHAKING BECAME AGGRESSIVE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE SHAKING CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE IF IT WAS THE FRONT OR REAR WHEELS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,712 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015366 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 |
2011: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 36 | 0 | Not available |