2011 Bmw 535I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
112 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 112 complaints (33.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 20 | 17.9% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 37 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 34 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Wheels | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
Engine: 37; Fuel/Propulsion System: 34; Electrical System: 17; Power Train: 17; Unknown Or Other: 8; Wheels: 7; Air Bags: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 47 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2013: 3; 2014: 8; 2015: 3; 2016: 10; 2017: 19; 2018: 14; 2019: 12; 2020: 11; 2021: 10; 2022: 2; 2023: 6; 2024: 6; 2025: 6; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 20 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 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 10748081 · 2015-08-12 (August 12, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED FOR THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP UNTIL A FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10839702 · 2016-03-03 (March 3, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER MISFIRED. IN ADDITION, THE SPARK PLUGS, THE IGNITION COILS, THE FUEL PUMP, AND THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10628509 · 2014-08-26 (August 26, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME BOLT WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING).HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,431.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,431 miles reported. Look up ODI 10628509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10764681 · 2015-09-17 (September 17, 2015)
DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON FROM TIME TO TIME. MESSAGE: "DIRVETRAIN MALFUNCTION; MAXIMUM OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE." LOSS OF POWER. TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT (OTTO'S BMW) TO STOP CAR AND TURN IT ON AGAIN. IT RUNS JUST FINE AFTER THIS IS DONE. BUT INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS. I CALLED THE STATE TROOPER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED (IN 2012 WHEN THE CAR WAS PRACTICALLY NEW, HAVING LESS THAN 20,000 MILES) TO PROVIDE COVER.
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10764681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896109 · 2016-08-15 (August 15, 2016)
WHILE FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS, ENGINE OFF, FUEL STARTED POURING OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD A HOLE IN IT AND THAT PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE, EXPLOSION, INJURY OR WORST. I HAVE THE REPAIR ORDER IF NEEDED.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,277 miles reported. Look up ODI 10896109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10908118 · 2016-09-20 (September 20, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND COULD NOT BE OPERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FIRST. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11331741 · 2020-06-30 (June 30, 2020)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SENT AN OVERHEATING MESSAGE AND INSTANTLY THE POWER TO THE MOTOR WAS CUT OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY SLOW DOWN WITH NO BRAKE SIGNAL SO THE REAR CAR ALMOST REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SIGNAL CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE DURING THE OVERHEAT MESSAGE, ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP IT WAS FINE? I CHECKED THE COOLANT AFTER I GOT HOME AND IT WAS AT THE LEVEL REQUIRED, AFTER I WAS ABLE TO THE READ THE CODES IT SHOWED WATERPUMP ? I RECENTLY SAW RECALLS FOR 2011 BMW 5 SERIES ON WATER PUMP ISS…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399867 · 2021-03-09 (March 9, 2021)
I HAVE A 2011 BMW 535I THAT HAS FRONT AND REAR CAMERAS AND I HAVE RECORDINGS OF THE LIVE FOOTAGE OF MY INCIDENCE. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO MY HOUSE. I APPROACHED THE GATE ENTRANCE FOR MY COMPLEX AND STOPPED ON THE RIGHT LANE OF THE ROAD TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE TO APPROACH THE GATE ENTRANCE. WHEN THERE WAS NO ONGOING TRAFFIC, I ACCELERATED TO CROSS THE LANE AND ONCE I HAD CROSS THE OPPOSING LANE AND ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY TO THE MY RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX'S GATE ENTRANCE, I PUSHED…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11307581 · 2020-02-06 (February 6, 2020)
SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CHECKED THE OBD2 SYSTEM FOR A CODE. P-2763 IS PRESENT. TROUBLESHOOTING FOR THE ISSUE REVEALED THE ORANGE TCC PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID IS MALFUNCTIONING. ZF WILL NOT SELL THE SOLENOID INDIVIDUALLY. THEY REQUIRE THE CONSUMER TO PURCHASE A MECHATRONIC UNIT. THE ORANGE SOLENOID IS A SCARCE PART TO FIND LOCALLY IN THE U.S. ONLINE PRICES ARE AROUND $90. ON THE GLOBAL MARKET. THESE ARE NOT NEW SOLENOIDS. THE MECHATRONIC UNIT, OVERHAULED IS $1600 PLUS A CORE CHARGE. PLUS LABOR. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT ZF WILL NOT SUPPORT THE 8HP TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11574402 · 2024-02-28 (February 28, 2024)
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated while jump-starting another vehicle in the driveway, he reversed to park the vehicle by the side of the other vehicle; however, the vehicle surged and accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle sped into the garage, hit equipment, and hit the contact's wife. The contact stated that he then shifted into drive (D) to drive out of the garage; however, the failure recurred.…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11574402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11682140 · 2025-08-21 (August 21, 2025)
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated that when pressing the accelerator pedal to drive from being idle at a red light, the driver's side air bag deployed out of the steering wheel without impact. The contact sustained burns to the left arm, right cheek, and chest area. The contact had suffered stomach issues due to inhaling the dust and fumes from the air bag. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed by AAA to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the horn module needed to be replaced; however, the pa…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11682140 at NHTSA ↗