2009 Bmw 535I: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10292352 · 2009-11-16 (November 16, 2009)
THIS IS AN ENFORCEMENT COMPLIANCE REQUEST ON A WEEKLY CONTINUUM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC ON THE FOLLOWING : TIRES: GOODYEAR AND MICHELIN , ALL TYPES, TREADS, SIZES, HEIGHTS, WIDTHS. AUTOS: MERCEDES BENZ, BMW, CADILLAC, FERRARI, BUGATTI, ALFA ROMERO, ROLLS ROYCE, BENTLY, LAMBROGHINI, LINCOLN. PLEASE ASSIST WITH ALL PARTS INSPECTIONS, ANALYSIS FOR INTEGRITY, SAFETY, MAINTENANCE - UPKEEP. PLEASE ASSIST TO NOTIFY THE PROPER AUTHORITIES ON THESE FINDING, IF APPLICABLE. PLEASE BEGIN INSPECTIONS FROM ALL 1990 MODELS, MAKES, TO THE PRESENT 20…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10292352 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 10296014 · 2009-12-15 (December 15, 2009)
MY BMW 535XI SPORT WAGON HAD A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AFTER 12500 MI. THE ENGINE LOST MOST OF ITS POWER AND I NEEDED TO QUICKLY EXIT HWY.IN ORDER NOT TO POSE A THREAT TO OTHERS. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM I NOTICED THE ENGINE TOOK LONGER TO START, AND ONE TIME THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SPUTTER AND TEMPORARILY BECOME UN DRIVABLE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE DEALER SAID THEY HAD TO FIX A PROBLEM IN THE CARS COMPUTER. THE SECOND TIME , THE DEALER SAID THE PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,447 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296937 · 2009-12-25 (December 25, 2009)
MY FAMILY AND I WAS DRIVING TO SAN FRANCISCO AND READY TO CROSS THE BAY BRIDGE. I WAS IN MY 2010 BMW 535I (THE CAR WAS THREE MONTHS OLD WITH ABOUT 5500 MILES ON IT. WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT GOES ON AND I GET A MESSAGE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES, THE ENGINE DIES AND THE CAR IS STALLED. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, VERY DANGEROUS, NO WHERE TO EXIT. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AND EVERYTIME I TRIED TO DRIVE, THE ENGINE DIES. WE WERE BLOCKING TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE CHP ARRIVED TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297102 · 2009-12-28 (December 28, 2009)
2009 BMW 335IX WITH 10,400 MILES. SUDDEN HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, CAUSING IMMEDIATE DECREASE IN POWER, ROUGH IDLE, AND POOR HANDLING. ENGINE SERVICE ICONS ILLUMINATED. CAR TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER FIXED PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AS..."BMW IS AWARE OF THESE FUEL PUMP FAILURES. THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW." THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE TO DISCLOSE THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND DEAL WITH I…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10308910 · 2010-02-12 (February 12, 2010)
2009 BMW 535I ENGINE DIED ON THE FREEWAY 5 GOING 70MPH WITH MY FAMILY AND WAS VERY LUCK TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. BMW SAID IT WAS THE BRAIN AND HAD THE CAR FOR 7 DAYS TO PROGRAM IT. I FOUND OUT THAT ABOUT 5% OF ALL 335I AND 535I HAS THE SAME ISSUE, IT IS THE NEW TWIN TURBO ENGINE 3.0 IS HAVING ISSUES IN BOTH CARS. PLEASE CHECK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10311456 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ENTERING HIGHWAY. DEALER CONFIRMED FAILURE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP 2009 BMW 535I WITH 10K MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311456 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V407000 · Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
Reported: 2013-09-11 (September 11, 2013)
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).
Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗