Model line

BMW 535I

Every BMW 535I model year on file, 1985 to 2017. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years49242 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years211985 to 2017
Recall campaigns12Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins2,341Summed across model years
By model year

The 2011 model year drew the most complaints, 112, 23% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

030609012019851987198919911993199520092011112201320152017
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Engine and cooling leads the BMW 535I complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Engine and cooling
164
Fuel system
146
Electrical system
79
Airbags
47
Powertrain
45
Lighting
43
Speed control
21
Seat belts
20
Tires
16
Visibility and wipers
15
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each BMW 535I model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

BMW 535I by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2017Not decoded0NoneNone11123
2016Sedan120.08622220
2015Sedan234.314402268
2014Sedan3016.715022366
2013Sedan387.911511399
2012Sedan543.718011367
2011Sedan11210.756040354
2010Sedan588.62761091
2009Sedan715.62541070
2008Sedan746.82061066
1995Not decoded0NoneNone101
1994Sedan250.013101
1993Not decoded0NoneNone101
1992Sedan333.317303
1991Not decoded50.0500303
1990Sedan2100.020203
1989Sedan616.760101
1988Sedan10.010001
1987Not decoded0NoneNone011
1986Sedan10.014011
1985Not decoded0NoneNone011
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the BMW 535I

  • 24V-527 Jul 11, 2024
    Driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect
    Airbags · 1,145 vehicles
  • 17V-067 Feb 2, 2017
    Rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break
    Powertrain · 8,752 vehicles
  • 16V-914 Dec 20, 2016
    Affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash
    Airbags · 3,506 vehicles
  • 16V-832 Nov 17, 2016
    Affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit
    Airbags · 91 vehicles
  • 16V-746 Oct 17, 2016
    Affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts
    Fuel system · 136k vehicles
  • 15V-718 Oct 30, 2015
    Affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child…
    Child seats · 7,162 vehicles
  • 15V-188 Mar 31, 2015
    Rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light
    Lighting · 13k vehicles
  • 14V-176 Apr 10, 2014
    In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may…
    Engine and cooling · 156k vehicles
  • 13V-407 Sep 11, 2013
    Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector…
    Lighting · 134k vehicles
  • 98V-178 Aug 4, 1998
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles
    Engine and cooling · 340k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.