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2011 BMW 535XI

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

29 reports with mileage · 6 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 7 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 reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

35 reports
3 miles · Sep 29, 2018
Power Train

AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO BMW OF BUENA PARK TO TAKE CARE OF A COUPLE OF RECALLS, A COUPLE OF MILES AFTER I GET ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE CAR LOST POWER AND I HEARD THE EMERGENCY SOUND ON MY DASHBOARD, THE EMERGENCY LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE ON MY SCREEN SAYING ' DRIVE MODERATELY, MAXIMUM DRIVE TRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILAB…

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AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO BMW OF BUENA PARK TO TAKE CARE OF A COUPLE OF RECALLS, A COUPLE OF MILES AFTER I GET ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE CAR LOST POWER AND I HEARD THE EMERGENCY SOUND ON MY DASHBOARD, THE EMERGENCY LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE ON MY SCREEN SAYING ' DRIVE MODERATELY, MAXIMUM DRIVE TRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE' THE CAR DID NOT STOP BUT LOST LOTS OF POWER

NHTSA ODI #11132255

90,000 miles · Sep 4, 2018
Engine

I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE RPMS FELL TO 0 AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. I PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TRIED TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED AND I HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK. NONE OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON. EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE AND VERY MISTERIOUS. AFTER THE MECHANICS DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE T…

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I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE RPMS FELL TO 0 AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. I PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TRIED TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED AND I HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK. NONE OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON. EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE AND VERY MISTERIOUS. AFTER THE MECHANICS DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE THEY SAID THAT APPARENTLY CYLINDER NUMBER SIX SEIZED. AT THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE OIL WAS AT HE MAX LEVEL, AS WELL AS ANTIFREEZE, THE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. MY MECHANIC ASSUMES THAT IT SEIZED BECAUSE OF LOSS OF PRESSURE, WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE AS I WAS TOLD THERE ARE 2 PRESSURE SENSORS IN THIS TYPE OF ENGINE (N55). THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND PRICEY REPAIR, WHICH RAN OVER $7,000. MY CAR HAS 90K MILES AND I'VE BEEN TAKING VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO EMPLOYEES OF BMW AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON DEFECT, WHICH IS VERY UPSETTING FOR THIS TYPE OF LUXURIOUS SEDAN. SHAME ON YOU BMW!!!

NHTSA ODI #11124363

80,000 miles · Feb 22, 2018
SeatsInjury

MY 2 YEAR-OLD SON'S LEG WAS FRACTURED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED WHILE ADJUSTING THE SEAT. THE SEAT WENT BACK INTO THE FARTHEST POSITION WITHOUT STOPPING FRACTURING MY SON'S LEFT LEG WHO WAS IN A FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT IN BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE POWER SEAT HAS AN EXCESS…

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MY 2 YEAR-OLD SON'S LEG WAS FRACTURED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED WHILE ADJUSTING THE SEAT. THE SEAT WENT BACK INTO THE FARTHEST POSITION WITHOUT STOPPING FRACTURING MY SON'S LEFT LEG WHO WAS IN A FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT IN BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE POWER SEAT HAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FORCE/POWER AND IT SHOULD BE REDUCED. A SAFETY SENSOR TO DETECT RESISTANCE SHOULD BE EQUIPPED IN THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. THIS COULD CAUSE A FRACTURE EVEN IF THE SEAT HADN'T MALFUNCTIONED AND PARENTS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE DANGER.

NHTSA ODI #11074337

85,000 miles · Feb 1, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR THREE WEEKS, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ERHARD BMW BLOOMFIELD, 1845 S TELEGRAPH RD, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302, (248) 834-7788) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VANOSE HOUSING BOLT FRACTURED INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER IND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR THREE WEEKS, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ERHARD BMW BLOOMFIELD, 1845 S TELEGRAPH RD, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302, (248) 834-7788) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VANOSE HOUSING BOLT FRACTURED INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED IN 2016 BY BMW OF ANN ARBOR (501 AUTO MALL DR, ANN ARBOR, MI 48103, (734) 663-3309) AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN ADVISING THAT THE PART BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #11066435

82,000 miles · Jan 13, 2018
Engine

MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. INDICATING A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION AND MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I ALMOST GOT IN A REAR END CRASH. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE FAILED COMPONENTS RESU…

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MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. INDICATING A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION AND MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I ALMOST GOT IN A REAR END CRASH. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE FAILED COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A $2,200 BILL.

NHTSA ODI #11062578

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2018
Service Brakes

CAR WAS STOLEN FROM STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FROM MY RESIDENT. CAR IS REGISTERED TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA WITH SOUTH CAROLINA PLATES. THE CAR IS NOW IN NEW YORK AREA, STRATFORD, CT AREA AND NORWALK, CT AREA- DRIVER TOOK CAR OUT MY POSSESSION AND JUMP STATES WITH MY SPARE KEY THAT WAS INSIDE MY HOME. NEVER GAVE THE DRIVER PO…

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CAR WAS STOLEN FROM STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FROM MY RESIDENT. CAR IS REGISTERED TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA WITH SOUTH CAROLINA PLATES. THE CAR IS NOW IN NEW YORK AREA, STRATFORD, CT AREA AND NORWALK, CT AREA- DRIVER TOOK CAR OUT MY POSSESSION AND JUMP STATES WITH MY SPARE KEY THAT WAS INSIDE MY HOME. NEVER GAVE THE DRIVER POSSESSION OR PERMISSION TO DRIVE MY CAR

NHTSA ODI #11061154

73,000 miles · Oct 21, 2017
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING DRIVE TRAIN LIGHT COMES ON, MADE APPOINTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT CV JOINT BOOT WAS TORN AND LEAKING. HAD IT FIXED ON OCTOBER 2016, PAID OVER $1700. IN SEPTEMBER 2017 DRIVE TRAIN LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT CV JOINT BOOTS WERE TORN/LEAKING HAD IT REPAIRED AND THIS TIME I…

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WHILE DRIVING DRIVE TRAIN LIGHT COMES ON, MADE APPOINTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT CV JOINT BOOT WAS TORN AND LEAKING. HAD IT FIXED ON OCTOBER 2016, PAID OVER $1700. IN SEPTEMBER 2017 DRIVE TRAIN LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT CV JOINT BOOTS WERE TORN/LEAKING HAD IT REPAIRED AND THIS TIME IT COST $4094. NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE REAR CV JOINT AND WANT TO KNOW IF THE FRONT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11035448

55,000 miles · Oct 21, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

IT HAS ACCELERATION ISSUES ALL OF THE TIME. DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD, INSTEAD IT JERKS. WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT AND LOOKING TO ACCELERATE IT WOULD JERK MAKING IT UNSAFE. I HAVE ALMOST HIT MULTIPLE VEHICLE ECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11035341

55,000 miles · Oct 21, 2017
Power Train

DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION, ENGINE OVER HEATS AND DOES NOT FUNCTION THE SAME. THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN, SPUTTERS AND DOES NOT HAVE POWER. IT HAS DIED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING 65MPH AND HAD TO PULL OVER SUDDENLY THROUGH 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #11035340

85,140 miles · Oct 18, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 535 XI ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN CARS GAVE A MESSAGE OF "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: CONTACT YOUR SERVICE CENTRE". AFTER THAT CAR'S POWER REDUCED. AFTER THAT WHENEVER I APPLY BRAKE, THE CAR IGNITION STOPPED AND CAR PUTS ITSELF IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO START THE CAR AROUND 8 TIMES TO REACH HOME SAFELY. …

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I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 535 XI ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN CARS GAVE A MESSAGE OF "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: CONTACT YOUR SERVICE CENTRE". AFTER THAT CAR'S POWER REDUCED. AFTER THAT WHENEVER I APPLY BRAKE, THE CAR IGNITION STOPPED AND CAR PUTS ITSELF IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO START THE CAR AROUND 8 TIMES TO REACH HOME SAFELY. AFTER THAT I TOWED THE CAR TO NEARBY BMW SERVICE. BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY CAR'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS NOT WORKING. THIS IS TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE AS I WAS ON INTERSTATE AND SUDDEN STALLING ON INTERSTATE COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL FOR ME AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER.

NHTSA ODI #11034369

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.