IllustrationI WAS DRIVING HOME STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT , THEN TURNED GREEN WENT TO ACCELERATE CAR TOOK OFF AND LOST ALL POWER WOULD NOT MOVE PRESSING ACCELERATOR AND 2 SEMI TRUCKS COMING REAL FAST FROM CROSS TRAFFIC ALMOST KILLED ME LIGHT TURNED RED FOR ME AND GREEN FOR SEMI TRAILERS WITH NO TIME TO EXIT CAR.
2008 BMW 535I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 535I years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
1125–50K
1850–75K
1175–100K
16100–150K
4150K+
67 reports with mileage · 7 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.
- Engine. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 15 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 reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
Power Train complaints
6 reportsDRIVING FAMILY DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND 65 MPH. I LOOSE ALL POWER IN THE CABIN. THE CAR STARTS THROWING ALL WARNING LIGHTS, ABS, STEERING,SWAY CONTROL, TRANSMITION, ETC. ENGINE STILL RUNNING WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL HAD TO USE E BRAKE TO PULL OVER THEN IT WANTED TO KEEP GOING HAD TO TURN CAR OFF TO STOP IT. CALLED TOW TRUCK S…
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DRIVING FAMILY DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND 65 MPH. I LOOSE ALL POWER IN THE CABIN. THE CAR STARTS THROWING ALL WARNING LIGHTS, ABS, STEERING,SWAY CONTROL, TRANSMITION, ETC. ENGINE STILL RUNNING WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL HAD TO USE E BRAKE TO PULL OVER THEN IT WANTED TO KEEP GOING HAD TO TURN CAR OFF TO STOP IT. CALLED TOW TRUCK SENT FAMILY HOME.
AS SOON AS I HIT THE START BUTTON, A SECOND LATER, - JOLT OR CLUNK - IT'S NOT HAPPENED ALL STARTS. SOME STARTS WITH NOISE SOME DOESN'T. IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS FROM THE GEARBOX BUT WHEN OUTSIDE SOUNDS LIKE ITS FROM THE DIFF AREA. OCCASIONALLY THE CAR EVEN ROCKS. THE INTENSITY OF THE CLUNK VARIES EVERY START. SOME VERY LIGHT, SOME H…
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AS SOON AS I HIT THE START BUTTON, A SECOND LATER, - JOLT OR CLUNK - IT'S NOT HAPPENED ALL STARTS. SOME STARTS WITH NOISE SOME DOESN'T. IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS FROM THE GEARBOX BUT WHEN OUTSIDE SOUNDS LIKE ITS FROM THE DIFF AREA. OCCASIONALLY THE CAR EVEN ROCKS. THE INTENSITY OF THE CLUNK VARIES EVERY START. SOME VERY LIGHT, SOME HEARD VERY LOUD HARD. IT HAPPEN WHEN IT'S IN PARKED. SHIFT GEAR AND DRIVE IS NORMAL NO NOISE OR ANYTHING...
WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL HIGHWAY TO WORK THE CAR SHUTDOWN COMPLETLY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOTIC CHECK. THE CAR NEEDED ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP. I CALLED BMW BECAUSE THERE IS A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP ON MY VEHICLE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP STATED THAT RECALLS ARE VENDOR SPECIFIC. THAT DOES NOT MAKE SIN…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL HIGHWAY TO WORK THE CAR SHUTDOWN COMPLETLY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOTIC CHECK. THE CAR NEEDED ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP. I CALLED BMW BECAUSE THERE IS A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP ON MY VEHICLE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP STATED THAT RECALLS ARE VENDOR SPECIFIC. THAT DOES NOT MAKE SINCE TO ME SINCE CARS ARE MADE ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE.
VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE DROVE PERFECT NO PROBLEMS, THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO BACK TO PARK ON IT'S OWN AND WOULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY AS NORMAL. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO BMW THEY DIAGNOSED AS THE MECHATRONIC SLEEVE NEEDED REP…
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VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE DROVE PERFECT NO PROBLEMS, THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO BACK TO PARK ON IT'S OWN AND WOULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY AS NORMAL. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO BMW THEY DIAGNOSED AS THE MECHATRONIC SLEEVE NEEDED REPLACING THEY CHARGED ME 1300 DOLLARS MY WIFE PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE 50 MILES AND THE CAR STARTED DOING THE SAME PREVIOUS BEHAVIOR I CONTACTED BMW THEY HAD ME TO TOW BACK TO THEIR DEALERSHIP A SECOND TIME BOTH TOWS COST ME 125 DOLLARS EACH THE CAR WAS THEN DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A 9000 TRANSMISSION AND I WAS TOLD THE PREVIOUS REPAIR THAT I PAID FOR WOULD NOT BE CREDITED TOWARD THE NEW TRANSMISSION I'M OUTRAGED. MY SERVICE ADVISOR IS JOHN ARD AT TOM WILLIAMS BMW IN IRONDALE ALABAMA.
PRESSING THE SHIFT (TRANSMISSION) SELECTOR INTO THE REVERSE POSITION, CAUSES THE SHIFTERS ELECTRICAL RIBBON CABLE TO GET PINCHED AND THE LIGHTS IN THE SHIFTER AND SPORT BUTTON FAIL TO WORK ANYMORE. REPOSITIONING OF THIS RIBBON CABLE OR USING A DIFFERENT INSULATION METHOD WOULD SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
113V407000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
Sep 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 & remedy
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.