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2009 BMW 535I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

61 reports with mileage · 10 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.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
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40 miles · Jan 23, 2020
EngineSuspensionUnknown Or Other

BMW 2009 535 XI OWNER. OUT OF ALL OF THE TIMES TAKING THE CAR FOR SERVICE FOR VARIOUS REASONS, I DECIDED TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION REGARDING MY LATEST ISSUE. TWIN TURBO. I WAS TOLD THE REAR TURBO WAS BAD AND IT IS RECOMMENDED TO DO BOTH. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED IN OCTOBER, THEY TOLD ME THE OIL SMELL WAS DUE TO THE SPRING FROM OIL C…

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BMW 2009 535 XI OWNER. OUT OF ALL OF THE TIMES TAKING THE CAR FOR SERVICE FOR VARIOUS REASONS, I DECIDED TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION REGARDING MY LATEST ISSUE. TWIN TURBO. I WAS TOLD THE REAR TURBO WAS BAD AND IT IS RECOMMENDED TO DO BOTH. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED IN OCTOBER, THEY TOLD ME THE OIL SMELL WAS DUE TO THE SPRING FROM OIL CAP MISSING. BEFORE OCT 2019 I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE OIL SMELL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A LEAK FROM A HOSE (I NEVER SAW ANY FLUIDS ON GROUND) THIS LAST INCIDENT, I WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN I EXITED THE HIGHWAY I GOT AN ENGINE WARNING TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. OIL WAS LOW. I TOOK IT BACK TO BMW AND I WAS TOLD THE REAR TURBO WAS BAD. THEY NOW WANT $6,900. I READ IN A FEW POSTS THAT THE TWIN TURBO ISSUE WAS EXT. TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS FIRST PURCHASE IN MAY 2009. I AM ASSUMING I AM OUT OF TIME. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT COME UP WITH ANY RECALLS, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME AS OTHER 2009 BMW OWNERS. MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE 120,000 MILES YET. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW FOR VANOS SOLENOIDS IN OCT 2019. AND ANOTHER TIME IN OCT BECAUSE THE CAR OVER HEATED SUDDENLY IN LESS THAN HALF A MILE. IT WAS THE FAN. RECENTLY I LEARNED THAT SOME OF THE 2009 BMW 535 HAD A RECALL BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING. I QUESTIONED THE DEALER BUT HE SAID HE HAD NOTHING ON FILE. FURTHER READING I FOUND OUT THAT THE COMPANY I BELIEVED CALLED VANOS WAS DOING THE RECALLS. IN OCTOBER 2019 I SPENT ABOUT $3,000 IN REPAIRS. I NOW BELIEVE I COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY A RECALL OR EXT. WARRANTY. OVERALL ON DIFFERENT ISSUES I THINK I HAVE SPENT OVER $13,000 IN REPAIRS (INCLUDING TRANSFER CASE AND DIFFERENTIAL THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT PAY BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT HAVE SPECIFIED 17' TIRES: BUT I BOUGHT WITH STAGGERED 18' TIRES). I STILL OWE APPROXIMATELY $7,500 TO THE BANK. I TAKE IT TO BE SERVICED ALL THE TIME, SO I'M BAFFLED.

NHTSA ODI #11301285

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2017
Unknown Or Other

THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKS UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION, AS WELL AS WHILE CRUISING. THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED DURING WARMER WEATHER, BUT NOW IT SEEMS TO OCCUR ALL YEAR ROUND. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11013369

Official recalls

1

13V407000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.