Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
225–50K
150–75K
275–100K
3100–150K
0150K+
32 reports with mileage · 4 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Tires. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Wheels. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
36 reports
74,943 miles · May 29, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS. 1. BOTH HEAD LIGHTS BECAME FILLED WITH CONDENSATION/WATER. I TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THEY PERFORMED A BMW DIAGNOSIS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MOST LIKELY CASE WAS THE COLD AIR. THEY CHECKED FOR EXCESS AIR LEAKS IN BOTH HEAD LIGHTS BUT DID NOT FIND EXCESS AIR LEAKS. (SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT) THEY ALSO …
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I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS. 1. BOTH HEAD LIGHTS BECAME FILLED WITH CONDENSATION/WATER. I TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THEY PERFORMED A BMW DIAGNOSIS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MOST LIKELY CASE WAS THE COLD AIR. THEY CHECKED FOR EXCESS AIR LEAKS IN BOTH HEAD LIGHTS BUT DID NOT FIND EXCESS AIR LEAKS. (SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT) THEY ALSO REPLACED A GASKET, OIL FILTER HOUSING. THE OIL FILTER HOUSING WAS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK OUT FROM THE ENGINE 5.8. THEY PERFORMED REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET AND WASHED DOWN THE ENGINE OF THE OIL RESIDUE. THE INCIDENTS WERE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACE ACCORDINGLY ON JAN. 24. 2019. JUST RECENTLY, ABOUT 5 DAYS AGO TODAY, MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WEIRD LOUD NOISE LIKE A GARBAGE TRUCK MAKES WHEN IT GOES FROM STOP TO STOP. IT MADE THAT SOUND WHEN DRIVING, AS WELL AS WHEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO OPEN MY TRUCK WITH NEITHER THE INSIDE BUTTON OR MY KEYS. I TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT WAS CLOSE BY. THE OWNER USED TO WORK FOR BMW SERVICE CENTER AS A MECHANIC BEFORE STARTING HIS OWN BUSINESS. STRANGELY, THE CAR DID NOT MAKE THE SOUND IN HIS PRESENCE ALTHOUGH IT WAS LEFT RUNNING. I LEFT HIS SHOP AND WAS HEADING HOME WHEN SUDDENLY I GOT A RED ERROR MESSAGE WARNING ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD OVER HEATED AND THAT I SHOULD DRIVE SLOWLY AND/OR PULL OVER AS OVER HEATING COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE MESSAGE ALSO SAID THE VEHICLE NEEDED COOLANT. I PURCHASE THE COOLANT ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, BUT THE CAR OVERHEATED ONCE AGAIN WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE IT. I ALLOWED IT TO COOL DOWN AND DROVE IT HOME. I POPPED THE HOOD AFTER IT COOL DOWN AGAIN AND NOTICED A GREASY/OILY DARK BROWN SUBSTANCE IN COOLANT/RADIATOR HOLE. FROM WHAT I READ, IT'S A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I ONLY HAVE 74963 MILES ON MY 2011 535I BMW. ALL SERVICES ARE UP TO DATE. MY NEXT SERVICE ISN'T DUE FOR 4000 MILES 03/2020 *AS INVALID VIN *JB
NHTSA ODI #11210575
76,000 miles · Jan 8, 2018
Power Train
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'…
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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 THE HIGHWAY, OTHER WISE I WOULD'VE HAD A VERY FATAL CRASH.
NHTSA ODI #11061260
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2017
Power Train
CAR SHOWS ERROR OF DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE.
NHTSA ODI #11043150
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2017
Engine
THERE ARE WIRES ON THE ENGINE THAT ARE CRACKING AND WAS TOLD BY THE BMW DEALER THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #11043149
94,712 miles · Aug 15, 2017
SuspensionWheels
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…
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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. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,712.
NHTSA ODI #11015366
115,000 miles · Aug 14, 2017
Unknown Or Other
I PURCHASED THIS CAR 2 MONTHS AGO. TODAY MY WIFE WHEN OUT WITH MY 14 AND 4 YEARS OLD DAUGHTERS AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 60 MPH IN THE HIGHWAY. THANKFULLY THEY ARE OK. BUT THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. IT STARTS BUT DIES WITHIN SECONDS NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT I FOUND THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE…
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I PURCHASED THIS CAR 2 MONTHS AGO. TODAY MY WIFE WHEN OUT WITH MY 14 AND 4 YEARS OLD DAUGHTERS AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 60 MPH IN THE HIGHWAY. THANKFULLY THEY ARE OK. BUT THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. IT STARTS BUT DIES WITHIN SECONDS NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT I FOUND THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11015263
134,000 miles · Aug 1, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SCANNED CODE CAME BACK AS P0087 WHICH TRANSLATE TO "LOW FUEL RAIL PRESSURE". ZEIGLER BMW OF 11030 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60467 STATES REMEDY IS UNAVAILABLE HOWEVER THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $167.00 TO DIAGNOSE IT. TOLD ME TO WAIT FOR LETTER STATING REMEDY IS READY. $60K CA…
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DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SCANNED CODE CAME BACK AS P0087 WHICH TRANSLATE TO "LOW FUEL RAIL PRESSURE". ZEIGLER BMW OF 11030 W 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, IL 60467 STATES REMEDY IS UNAVAILABLE HOWEVER THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $167.00 TO DIAGNOSE IT. TOLD ME TO WAIT FOR LETTER STATING REMEDY IS READY. $60K CAR I CANT DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI #11011930
38,000 miles · Jul 26, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
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.
NHTSA ODI #11010870
106,908 miles · Dec 18, 2016
Engine
CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE "FAULTY VANOS BOLTS" THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE FAULTY BOLTS WEEK LATER CAR BROKE DOWN DUE DEFECTIVE VANOS BOLT
NHTSA ODI #10936091
24,000 miles · Aug 18, 2015
EngineUnknown Or Other
STARTED ENGINE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES BEFORE IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. EACH TIME IT WAS RELATED TO FUEL CAP/O2 SENSOR.
NHTSA ODI #10749602
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2011 BMW 535I Us Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year