2013 BMW 535i

Defect. 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."

Risk. 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.

My 2013 BMW 535i (VIN [XXX] ) caught fire spontaneously while parked, turned off, and unoccupied on 11/18/2025 in Westbury, NY. A passerby saw smoke and called 911. Nassau County Police and the Westbury Fire Department responded. Firefighters informed me at the scene that the fire was mechanical in origin. The vehicle was completely off and had been parked for about 20 minutes. I was not in or near the car. The fire originated under the hood. This matches known fire patterns in BMW 5-series models from this generation involving electrical/engine components, even though my VIN shows no open recalls. The previous owner did not register the car, so any recall notices may not have reached them. The vehicle is a total loss. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Heard a clicking noise behind the steering wheel for a few days then I’ll the sudden the horn stopped working and all the controls on the steering wheel stopped working. I’m a mechanic so I took apart the clock spring stealing wheel compartment to find all of the wire broken and very very brittle. Cause for concern due to airbag malfunction and is no longer connected properly!!!I’ve been hearing a clicking noise behind the steering wheel for a few days. Then, suddenly, the horn stopped working, and all the controls on the steering wheel stopped working as well. Since I’m a mechanic, I disassembled the clock spring and the steering wheel compartment to find that all the wires were broken and extremely brittle. This is concerning because it could cause an airbag malfunction, and the wires are no longer connected properly.

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine was overheating. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal burning odor while driving, with smoke coming from underneath the hood while at a complete stop. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

After the replacement of all 02 sensors and fuses, the fault code returns and was traced back to the integrated supply module/IVm

Headlight Assembly has issues with the seal and condensation can/does enter the headlight assembly rendering the functionality of the headlight as suspect. Without proper lighting and condensation in front of the headlight which greatly impacts/effects the clarity and visibility of objects in the front of the car creating a safety issue. The cost to replace/repair these assemblies is excessive and is a widespread problem across multiple BMW models/years.

Back passenger door handle started smoking.

Front drive shaft detached and went into oil pan causing oils to splash out everywhere.

Water pump failure with @32,900 miles on odometer. Cost to replace $2,800

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Soon after hearing the noise, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the passenger’s side CV joint was replaced out of pocket. Recently, the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer for routine maintenance and the contact was informed that the driver’s side CV joint was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

The headlight housing on my model year is leaking water into it and causing electrical issues , Iv noticed majority of other models I see on the road have the same issue with one of the headlight housings having water in them, this has caused numerous codes to appear on the dash. “ Vertical headlight malfunction “ …”turn signal malfunction “ …”daytime running light malfunction “ ect… this is a safety issue because it stops my signal from working and my headlight works when it wants to. Normally I would think maybe I rock chipped the housing but since I see it on majority of 535’s I see I figure it must have been an issue from factory.

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated that the driver’s side headlamp had condensation inside the headlamp housing. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who replaced the headlamp housing. The contact stated that the failure recurred with the passenger’s side headlamp housing and the driver’s side replacement headlamp housing. The failure had caused the turn signals to malfunction. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Driver side rear air spring failure.

Seat belt my driver restraint light has come on on my car there is a known safety recall on BMW takeda airbags second issue my horn has suddenly stopped working is this related to my airbag as they are in the same area of components basically I don't know if my airbag will work in a collision and I am no longer able to honk my horn

Moonroof glass exploded while on highway at 60mph No other cars in around at time Moonroof blew outwards Nothing hit roof at all

2011-2013 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE SUBJECT TO LEAKING AND THUS SOON FAIL. THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE FAILURE AS IT IMPACTS THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY (ROUGHLY A $2,000 PART) AND OF COURSE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFELY PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE SEEN MANY POSTS ON BMW FORUMS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HEARD IT AT MY REPAIR SHOP AS WELL. I RECOMMEND A SAFETY RECALL BASED ON THIS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND VERY EXPENSIVE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE START WITH CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLAMPS AND THEN RESULTS IN AN ELECTRIC CONTROL MODEL FAILURE FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LIGHT TO WORK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE PARKING LIGHT MALFUNCTION AND ADAPTIVE HEAD LIGHT MALFUNCTION WERE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER BMW OF MACON LOCATED AT 4785 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*BF CONSUMER STATED FOLLOWING HAD MALFUNCTIONS HEAD LAMP VERTICAL AIM CONTROL, BATTERY DISCHARGING WHILE STOPPING, ELECTRICAL DEVICES SWITCHED OFF TEMPORARILY, AND AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING.*JB

MALFUNCTION OF DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION WAS TOLD THAT THE REASON THE MODULES FOR CONTROLLING DAYTIME BURNING LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL WERE CAUSED WATER GETTING ON THE MODULES THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE'S NO TURN SIGNALS NO WAY FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SERIES OF BMW CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED SINCE PURCHASE AS CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE 45 MONTHS AGO

WATER AND MOISTURE IS ACCUMULATING IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHEN IT RAINS CAUSING THEM NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I'VE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE ACTION AS THE VEHICLES IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE TWO OTHER CARS THAT MUCH OLDER AND NEVER HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

DRIVE SHAFT IS HITTING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TIRE SENSORS KEEP POPPING UP AND SWEAT BELT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THESE THINGS OCCURRED.

THE BMW HAD RUN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES A COLD MORNING WITH THE DRIVER CAR SEAT HEATER ON. IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SMOKE UNTIL THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. THE GREY LEATHER SEAT NOW HAS A BURN MARK, AND WE DO NOT TURN ON THE CAR SEAT HEATER UNTIL THIS IS EVALUATED.