2011 BMW 535Xi

Routine

Owners filed 35 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the tires. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
19,000 milesMedian miles at failure

29 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires9
000
Wheels5
000
Power Train5
000
Fuel/Propulsion System5
000
Engine4
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Seats2
002
Steering1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Air Bags1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Sep 29, 20183 milesCA

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

Engine
Filed Sep 4, 201890,000 milesNY

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!!!

Seats1 injured
Filed Feb 22, 201880,000 milesWI

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.

Engine
Filed Feb 1, 201885,000 milesMI

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.

Engine
Filed Jan 13, 201882,000 milesMI

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.

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 8, 2018NC

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

Power Train
Filed Oct 21, 201755,000 milesCT

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 21, 201755,000 milesCT

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.

Power Train
Filed Oct 21, 201773,000 milesNJ

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 18, 201785,140 milesOR

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 22, 2017VA

I HAVE AN OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN WITH MY VEHICLE'S IN TANK FUEL PUMP. IT IS BEEN A NINE MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL WAS INITIAL IDENTIFIED AND MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BY BMW. I CALLED THEM UP AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT HAVE TO BRING BACK THE VEHICLE UN-REPAIR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT AND WITH EXCUSE OF PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN I CALL THE BMW CUSTOMER RELATION DEPARTMENT LAST WEEK JUNE 14, THEY SAID THE SAME THING AGAIN "WAIT, AND CALL US BACK BUT NO DEFINITE SOLUTION". WE NEED A REAL ENFORCEMENT CAR MANUFACTURE ON THE TIMELINE THE RECALL MUST BE REMEDIATE WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIALLY IDENTIFIED, OTHERWISE CONSUMER WITH RECALL VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A PEACE OF MIND WHEN DRIVING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 13, 201761,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

Seats1 injured
Filed Nov 30, 201680,000 milesWI

THE MEMORY POWER SEAT IN MY CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND WENT BACK WITHOUT STOPPING CAUSING A FRACTURE TO MY 2 1/2 YEAR OLD SON'S LEG WHO WAS SITTING IN THE CAR SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 24, 201668,000 milesNY

MY CAR IS A 2011 BMW 535 I X DRIVE, HAS 68,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT NEW ON 10/19/2011 ON FRIDAY 10/21/2016 MY CAR STALLED AND WOULDN'T START WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAIN HIGH TRAFFIC BUSY ROAD IN RUSH HOUR. LUCKILY, I DIDN'T HAVE A CRASH AND I CALLED BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY SAID "THIS SERVICE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE" TO ME. I CALLED MY INSURANCE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOWED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALER (WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM). THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. SAID THAT THE CAR WAS ON EMPTY (NO GAS) EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL SENSOR LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON AND IT SHOWED 70 MILES LEFT TO EMPTY. AFTER RESEARCHING BMW RECALLS I FOUND THIS PROBLEM WAS RECALLED FOR 2010 AND 2011 5 SERIES. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. DEALER SERVICE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME FIRST AND SAID THAT I DROVE IT ON EMPTY AND JUST NEEDED GAS AND WANTED ME TO PICK IT UP AFTER THEY PUT IN 3 GALLONS OF GAS. I INSISTED THAT THAT WHAT HAPPENED, THE SENSOR LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON AND IT SHOWED 70 MILES LEFT. THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OR THE RECALL. THE CAR IS STILL THERE AND THEY GAVE ME A SMALL CHEAP LOANER CAR WHICH I HAVE NOW. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, NOT JUST ADD GAS AND GO. THANKS, REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUL 22, 2010 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V331000 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER MAKES/MODELS/MODEL YEARS: BMW/5-SERIES/2010-2011 BMW/5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO/2010-2011 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V-331 MFG'S REPORT DATE: JULY 21, 2010 COMPONENTS: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:

Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2016PA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE TURNED ON, THE ENGINE BELT IDLER PULLEY BOLT FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION AND THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V550000 (ENGINE, STEERING) WAS PERFORMED IN DECEMBER OF 2012. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MAY 12, 2014 AND WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FEBRUARY 15, 2016. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Wheels
Filed Jan 3, 2016MA

I PURCHASED A 2011 BMW IN SEPTEMBER 2014. I HAVE HAD 4 GOOD YEAR RUN FLAT TIRES WITH BUBBLES. I REPLACED TWO AND WHEN THE NEXT TWO FORMED BUBBLES I DECIDED TO REPLACE THEM WITH ANOTHER BRAND. I HAD FIRESTONE GIVE ME THE LAST TWO BUBBLE TIRES SO I WOULD HAVE EVIDENCE OF THE FAILURE. THE COST TO ME AT THIS TIME IS $ 1837.65

Air Bags
Filed Oct 22, 201444,586 milesMA

I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 20 MPH WITH A FRIEND OF MINE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEATS AND THE CAR SYSTEM TELLS ME "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUE TO WEAR SEAT BELT." I CHECKED ONLINE AND ITS BECAUSE SENSORS FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN ALL BMWS SINCE 2006. I READ ONLINE THAT IT REOCCURS FREQUENTLY AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST $1200 TO REPAIR IT IF I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I WILL HAVE TO PAY ATLEAST $150 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I STRONGLY FEEL I SHOULD NOT BE THE ONE PAYING FOR BMWS MISTAKE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. BMW HAS RECALLED AROUND 200,000 CARS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PROGRAM FOR 10 YEARS FOR THE AFFECTED CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIABILITY ISSUE. INCASE I AM IN AN ACCIDENT TOMORROW AND THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT DEPLOYED, IT COULD LEAD TO THE LOSS OF ONE'S LIFE. I URGE BMW TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, NEVER IN FLOODS AND NEITHER IN FIRE. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INCIDENTS WITH THE CAR. I HAVE A RECALL FOR THE VANOS BOLTS THAT AFFECTS THE ENGINE AS WELL AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM BMW. INCASE THE BOLTS GO OFF THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE POWER AND IT COULD LEAD TO A UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE. THESE BOTH ISSUES ARE LIFE THREATENING AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED RIGHT AWAY. I REQUEST YOU TO URGENTLY LOOK INTO THE MATTER. *TR

Tires
Filed Jan 20, 201419,000 milesNY

I PURCHASED A 2011 BMW 535I XDRIVE VEHICLE WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS RUNFLATS 245/40 R19. THE CAR HAS ONLY 19,000 MILES AND FROM THE DAY THAT I PURCHASED IT (IN FEB 2011), I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES 8 TIMES AND RECENTLY THE REAR TIRES 2 TIMES. A TOTAL OF 10 TIRE REPLACEMENTS. SOME REPLACEMENTS WERE DUE TO BUBBLES ON SIDEWALLS. THE OTHERS WERE DUE WHAT APPEARED TO BE CUTS ON THE INSIDE/OUTSIDE SIDEWALLS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY BMW OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLE AND EVERYONE IS RUNNING INTO THE SAME PROBLEM. GOODYEAR INITIALLY WAS REPLACING MY TIRES AT NO CHARGE BECASUE THEY TIRE DAMAGE ALWAYS WAS WITHIN TIRE WARRANTY WINDOW UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN THEY CHANGED THEIR ROAD HAZZARD WARRANTY POLICY AND NO LONGER COVER THE EXPENSE. THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TIRES. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE TIRES..... *TR

Power Train
Filed Jun 10, 201344,000 milesKS

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE THROTTLE RESPONSE LAG OF OVER 1 SECOND BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING . IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS BEHAVIOR WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF INTERSECTIONS. IT IS AS IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR TO USE AND TRIES TO START OUT IN SECOND GEAR, THEN WHEN THE CAR DOESN'T START MOVING THE DRIVER PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR DOWN FURTHER UNTIL FINALLY THE SOFTWARE IN THE COMPUTER DECIDES TO DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AND THEN THE CAR TAKES OFF LIKE A ROCKET, WHICH IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT. *TR

Wheels
Filed Apr 17, 20132,500 milesNJ

WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAD TWO BUMPS IN THE SIDEWALL OF MY TIRES (GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 LOW PROFILE RUN FLAT). OVER THE LAST 20 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 12 TIRES. I PURCHASED THIS 5-SERIES BECAUSE I HAD SUCH A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH MY PRIOR 5-SERIES VEHICLE WHICH WAS THE PRIOR DESIGN 2008 WITHOUT THESE TIRES. I DID NOT REPLACE A SINGLE TIRE OVER THE COURSE OF A THREE YEAR LEASE WITH MY PRIOR VEHICLE. THESE TIRES MUST BE DEFECTIVE IN THEIR DESIGN BECAUSE THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE FIT FOR USE ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

20 of 35 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2008
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20140100Routine
20134100Routine
201218000Routine
2011 — this page35000Routine
201015020Routine
200871040Routine
20071000Routine

Compare every 535Xi year →

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.