THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILED, MEANING THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DOES NOT KNOW IF SOMEONE IS SITTING THE IN PASSENGER SEAT. APPARENTLY, THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE FOR 2006 BMWS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER FAILS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NEWER ONES LIKE THOSE IN 2010. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.
2010 BMW 535Xi
Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electrical System | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Power Train | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsBLOWER MOTOR SHORTED AND CAUSED WIDESPREAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING HEADLIGHTS AND THEIR CONTROL. A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE BLEW OUT OF THE VENTS AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING MOVED FROM THE GARAGE TO THE PARKING LOT AT A 3RD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER.
2010 BMW 535XI, CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN MAINTAINED AT BMW DEALERSHIP, AND CURRENT ON ALL INSPECTIONS, REPAIRS, AND MAINTENANCE. FIRE OCCURRED IN DUNCAN DOUGHNUTS DRIVE THROUGH, SLIGHT SMELL OF SMOKE WHILE AT DRIVE THROUGH LINE. WHILE RECEIVING FOOD AT WINDOW LESS THAN A MINUTE OR TWO LATER, AND WHILE IN PARK. FLAMES SHOT THROUGH HOOD AT MIDDLE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT BY WINDSHIELD AND REAR 1/3 OF THE MIDDLE OF THE HOOD WITH INTENSE SMOKE. IMMEDIATEL REACTION WAS TO PUT IN DRIVE AND MOVED FOREWORD TO GET AWAY FROM BUILDING TO GET OUT OF DOOR AS ENGINE DIED, WE SCRAMBLED OUT OF VEHICLE. 2 EMPLOYEES IMMEDIATELY ASSISTED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, BUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT QUICKLY ENGULFED 1ST IN THE MIDDLE HOOD THEN LEFT HOOD AND EVENTUALLY THROUGH THE WHEELWELL. I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS, AND HAVE HAD ALL REQUIRED REPAIRS, RECALLS AND MAINTENANCE PERFORMED EXCLUSIVELY AT BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT JUST CATCH FIRE AND BURN FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT AND WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS. CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE HERE THAT REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION. I'M REALLY LUCKY THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THAT THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND NOT IN MY GARAGE, OR GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY FROM THE BUILDING FAR ENOUGH TO PREVENT IT FROM CATCHING ON FIRE ALSO AND CAUSING ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS 2010 BMW 535XI HAS ADMITTEDLY BEEN A FREQUENT FLIER AT THE BMW DEALE
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING BMW 535 XI 2010 MODEL AND VIN NUMBER IS [XXX] ON HIGHWAY SUDDENLY "BATTERY MALFUNCTION" SHOWED; SHE WANT TO TAKES CAR ON SHOULDER BUT STEERING STOPPED WORKING. FINALLY SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN ONE OF REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR SHOP TOLD THE BELT TIED WITH STEERING WAS JAMMED AND IN BROKEN CONDITION. IT WAS LIFE THREAT AND THERE IS NO SIGNAL ON THIS. BOUGHT THIS KIND OF EXPENSIVE CAR AND THERE IS NO SAFETY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE TRAVELING IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC ON BUSY ROADWAY THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED OPERATING(ON-BOARD COMPUTER DISPLAY). I RECEIVED A MESSAGE INDICATING THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE BUT SHOULD BE CHECKED. I MANAGED TO STEER THE VEHICLE FROM THE MAIN ROADWAY BEFORE THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO OPERATE. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT IN WHICH THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE OCCURRED. A PREVIOUS REPOST WAS MADE TO THE NHTSA #(10938620). A SAFETY RECALL WAS ACTIVATED FOR SEVERAL VEHICLE WITH THE SAME HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THE DATABASE. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND FOR THE LIVES OF OTHERS THAT COULD BE LINKED TO THE POTENTIAL TRAGEDY THAT MAY OCCUR. TODAY MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW SERVICE CENTER FOR ASSESSMENT. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I AM WAITING FOR AN OUTCOME AND FEEL VULNERABLE. I FEAR THAT I WILL BE STUCK WITH THE EXCESSIVE EXPENSE OF RESOLVING THE ISSUE OR THE RISK OF LOSING MY LIFE. *TR
TWO TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE DAYS MY 2010 BMW 535XI HAS SHUT DOWN. EACH TIME IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED(12/24/16 AND 12/29/16), THE AUTOMATIC DOWNSHIFT ACTIVATED). ONCE WHILE TRAVELING UP A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR AND ONCE WHILE TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 55 MILES PER HOUR ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOLLED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVING THE TOW OPERATOR STARTED THE VEHICLE. IT STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION A SECOND TIME. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE REPAIR SHOP AND PICKED IT UP FOUR DAYS LATER. IT HAS STARTED AND OPERATED AS BEFORE UNTIL DAY FIVE WHEN I WAS TRAVELING UPHILL AND IT INITIATED A DOWNSHIFT AND STOPPED OPERATING. EACH TIME THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE INDICATOR CAME ON. IT IS A SCARY FEELING, ESPECIALLY SINCE EACH TIME I WAS IN THE MIDST OF OTHER VEHICLES. *TR
2010 BMW 535 XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AGREEMENT TO COVER COST OF SPARK PLUGS REPLACEMENT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT DENIES COVERAGE FOR FAULTY LOW PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR. *SMD
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED AT 51000 MILES CASUING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. TECHNICIAN STATES I NEED ALL SIX INJECTORS REPLACED.
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAD THESE PROBLEMS.
HAD 3 IGNITION COILS REPLACED AT 49000 MILES. WAS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. HAD 3 MORE IGNITION COILS REPLACED AT 67000 MILES. WAS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. HAD FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED IN CYLINDER 3. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT WITH AN ENGINE LOSS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE CAM SHAFT IN THE ENGINE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
INJECTORS FAIL AT JUST 59000; REQUIRE ALL SIX INJECTORS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
AFTER HITTING A BUMP WHEN ENTERING A DRIVEWAY, WATER SPILLED IN THE REAR CARGO AREA OF THE STATION WAGON, WATER DRAINED INTO SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL WHERE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES RESIDE SHORTING OUT MOST MAJOR CONTROLS-ANTI LOCK BRAKES, LOAD LEVELING, TRANSMISSION, TRACTION CONTROL, ETC. IT IS THE LOWEST POINT OF THE CAR'S INTERIOR. *TR
EXPERIENCING HARD BUMP WHEN BRAKING, HARD SHIFTS IN SPORT MODE, SLOW TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE AND HUNTING FOR THE RIGHT GEAR WHEN COASTING. THIS DELAYED AND JERKY RESPONSE PRESENTS A SEVERE DRIVING RISK AND DANGER AS THE VEHICLE BEHAVIOR IS UNPREDICTABLE AND INCONSISTENT. THESE ARE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF A KNOWN MECHATRONICS FAILURE, HOWEVER BMW REFUSES TO FIX THIS UNTIL A CODE IT THROWN. UNFORTUNATELY THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A CODE!!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000. ...UPDATED 10/17/12 *BF
15 of 15 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.