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2013 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 →
38Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
58
2010112
201154
201238
201330
201423
201512
2016
Compare all 535I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
13Engine
9Exterior Lighting
8Air Bags
5Fuel/propulsion System
3
All reported categories
Suspension
3Unknown Or Other
3Power Train
2Structure
2Tires
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Steering
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

22 reports with mileage · 16 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Structure complaints

2 reports
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56,000 miles · Mar 20, 2017
Structure

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE UNLESS CENTRAL DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON IS PUSHED OR KEYFOB UNLOCK BUTTON IS PUSHED. PLUNGER MOVES UP AND DOWN WITH DOOR HANDLE BUT DOES NOT OPEN DOOR. BECAUSE THIS CAR DISCONNECTS THE BATTERY IN AN ACCIDENT I AM AFRAID THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. R…

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DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE UNLESS CENTRAL DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON IS PUSHED OR KEYFOB UNLOCK BUTTON IS PUSHED. PLUNGER MOVES UP AND DOWN WITH DOOR HANDLE BUT DOES NOT OPEN DOOR. BECAUSE THIS CAR DISCONNECTS THE BATTERY IN AN ACCIDENT I AM AFRAID THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10967340

20,000 miles · Nov 15, 2014
StructureVisibility

BMW 535I SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD. BROKEN GLASS (THOUSANDS OF SHARDS) CAUSED MULTIPLE SCRATCHES IN PAINT AND DIFFICULTY WITH TRUNK LID. REPAIRS COST $6000. BMW DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY UNDER WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THEY DID ADMIT THAT THE GLASS SUNROOF WAS A WARRANTABLE ITEM. UNEXPLAINED BMW SUNROOF EXPLOSIONS ARE NO…

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BMW 535I SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD. BROKEN GLASS (THOUSANDS OF SHARDS) CAUSED MULTIPLE SCRATCHES IN PAINT AND DIFFICULTY WITH TRUNK LID. REPAIRS COST $6000. BMW DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY UNDER WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THEY DID ADMIT THAT THE GLASS SUNROOF WAS A WARRANTABLE ITEM. UNEXPLAINED BMW SUNROOF EXPLOSIONS ARE NOT UNCOMMON (SEE INTERNET), INDICATING AN OBVIOUS FACTORY DEFECT FOR WHICH BMW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655229

Official recalls

1

15V188000 · Exterior Lighting

Mar 31, 2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.