2009 Bmw 535I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,434 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 71 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 34 | 47.9% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 21.1% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 9.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 8.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 5.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 24 |
| Engine | 21 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 13 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 24; Engine: 21; Fuel System, Gasoline: 13; Power Train: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Air Bags: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 4; Electrical System: 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 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 6; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 6; 2015: 7; 2016: 5; 2017: 13; 2018: 9; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 34 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10284470 · 2009-09-18 (September 18, 2009)
2009 BMW 535I: WHILE ACCELERATING, A SUDDEN NEAR-STALL/LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER INTO AN INTERSECTION, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. A WARNING WAS ALERTED THROUGH THE IDRIVE SYSTEM ("ENGINE MALFUNCTION - REDUCED POWER"). THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE, BUT EXTREMELY SLUGGISH AND SLOW TO ACCELERATE. BMW SERVICE CENTER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS TO FIND THAT A HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAD FAILED. THEY REPLACED IT, WHICH HAS SINCE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR UPDATED 09/29/09.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,263 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294079 · 2009-11-30 (November 30, 2009)
PURCHASED 2009 BMW 335CI IN MARCH OF 2009. IN SEP THE CAR STALLED, BMW REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP OR HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP). TODAY WE STARTED THE CAR AND MOVED IT IN OUR DRIVEWAY. 1.5 HOURS LATER WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN TO GO TO WORK AND IT STALLED. WE TRIED TWICE TO RESTART IT WOULDN'T. AT THAT TIME WE NOTICED A FUEL SMELL AND STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE INTO A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10598165 · 2014-06-13 (June 13, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ALSO, THE CONTACT ADDED THAT THE BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNCIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TENSION AND ISLE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BA…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10978784 · 2017-04-17 (April 17, 2017)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAYS, AMIDST OTHER VEHICLES WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I DID NOT CREATE AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT ITSELF OFF WHILE GOING 60!! I LOST POWER STEERING BUT MANAGED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN NOT START AND ON THE IDRIVE IT GAVE ME A FUEL PUMP WARNING . ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AFTER CALLING FOR ASSISTANCE, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS AS IF NOTHING HAD OCCURED. THE WARNING DISSAPPEARING AND IT DROVE NORMALLY. IT HAS SINCE THEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10978784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679789 · 2015-01-29 (January 29, 2015)
PURCHASED A 2009 BMW 535I XDRIVE (VIN# [XXX]) IN MARCH 2013. IN JUNE OF 2013 I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. THEY INDICATED THE INJECTORS WERE UNDER RECALL HOWEVER MY CAR HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED. UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT CAME TO LIGHT THAT ONLY THREE OF THE SIX INJECTORS WERE REPLACED UNDER THE PRIOR RECALL WORK. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BAD INJECTOR UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT ONE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10679789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10721768 · 2015-05-27 (May 27, 2015)
VEHICLE SHUTTERS AND MISFIRES WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT CRUISING SPEEDS. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND HAS REDUCED POWER UNTIL VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,887 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10764570 · 2015-09-17 (September 17, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING "ENGINE FAILURE, REDUCE POWER" LIGHT CAME ON, POWER ON ENGINE REDUCED BUT DRIVABLE. WHEN CAR SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED LIGHT GOES OFF BUT IF STEPPING ON THE GAS HARD THE LIGHT COMES BACK WITH ENGINE HAVING REDUCED POWER. THIS WAS REPAIRED TWICE, LAST BY BMW ON 7/29/13, THEY REPLACED VANS SOLENOIDS (INTAKE AND EXHAUST) AND REPROGRAMED THE TRANSMISSION. AT THAT TIME THEY TOLD ME IF THE PROBLEM RETURNS THE TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. READING THROUGH FORUMS AND THE WEB I CAME UPON MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,892 miles reported. Look up ODI 10764570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155472 · 2018-12-02 (December 2, 2018)
WITHIN 15 MIN OF ARRIVING HOME IN SAID VEHICLE, WIFE STARTED CAR IN DRIVEWAY TO GO SHOPPING. IMMEDIATELY, DENSE BLACK SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM UNDER THE DASH. SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT LEFT KEY FOB IN COLUMN. SHE SUMMONED ME FROM INSIDE OUR HOUSE AND WHEN I ARRIVED THE SMOKE WAS STILL POURING OUT FROM UNDER CENTER TO DRIVER SIDE OF DASH. I REMOVED THE KEY FOB FROM COLUMN AND APPROX. 1 TO 2 MIN LATER THE SMOKE STOPPED - WAS GOING TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, BUT SMOKE STOPPED BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO OPEN GARAGE AND GATHER TOOLS. NO FLAMES WERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,826 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11231717 · 2019-07-14 (July 14, 2019)
DRIVING ON FREEWAY 65 MPH AND VEHICLE LOOSES POWER COMPLETELY POWER STEERING POWER BRAKES LOST. ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF ERRORS APPEAR SUCH AS P142E OR MALFUNCTION HOWEVER WHEN RESTARTING VEHICLE 5+MIN LATER NO ERRORS AND CODES APPEAR RESULTING IN NO FAILURES NO POSSIBILTY TO DIAGNOSE FOUND 4 INCIDENTS OCCURED 2 NEAR FATAL COLLISIONS NOTE: BMW CODE LIST HAS NO RECOMMENDATION FOR RESOLVING ONLY THAT P142E IS SHUTDOWN OF ENGINE THIS CODING OF ECU ALLOWED BY BMW IS DANGEROUS TO HUMAN LIVES
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231717 at NHTSA ↗