RecallMyCar

BMW 535I Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 12 safety recalls and 492 owner complaints across 19 model years of the BMW 535I (1986–2017). The most-complained-about year is 2011.

12
safety recalls, all years
492
owner complaints, all years
2011
year with most recalls
2011
year with most complaints

Pick your BMW 535I model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2017 BMW 535I10
2016 BMW 535I212
2015 BMW 535I023
2014 BMW 535I230
2013 BMW 535I138
2012 BMW 535I154
2011 BMW 535I4112
2010 BMW 535I158
2009 BMW 535I171
2008 BMW 535I174
1995 BMW 535I10
1994 BMW 535I12
1993 BMW 535I10
1992 BMW 535I33
1991 BMW 535I35
1990 BMW 535I22
1989 BMW 535I16
1988 BMW 535I01
1986 BMW 535I01

What BMW 535I owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 492 complaints with NHTSA. The 2011 model year has the most, with 112.

All BMW 535I recalls (12)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a BMW 535I, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 24V527000 Reported 1,145 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe…

    Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    Model years: 2014

  2. Constant velocity joint (power train)

    NHTSA 17V067000 Reported 8,752 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service…

    Model years: 2011

  3. Air bags

    NHTSA 16V914000 Reported 3,506 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    Model years: 2016, 2017

  4. Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive

    NHTSA 16V832000 Reported 91 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the SCU, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    Model years: 2011

  5. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 16V746000 Reported 136,188 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo,…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    Model years: 2011, 2012

  6. Child seat and mid/rear assembly (seats)

    NHTSA 15V718000 Reported 7,162 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the inboard lower anchor on the left rear seat, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service…

    Model years: 2016

  7. Exterior lighting

    NHTSA 15V188000 Reported 13,443 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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,…

    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.

    Model years: 2013, 2014

  8. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 14V176000 Reported 156,137 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles…

    Model years: 2011

  9. Tail lights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 13V407000 Reported 134,100 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

    Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010

  10. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V178000 Reported 340,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by the driver, it is possible that damage to,…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new design radiator cap to control pressure and provide greater coolant overflow in the event of overheating.

    Model years: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

  11. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 96V111000 Reported 180,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    The brake light switch can fail allowing the switch to remain in the "brake lights off" position or in the "brake lights on" position.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing brake light switch with a newly designed switch.

    Model years: 1990, 1991, 1992

  12. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 96V110000 Reported 75,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    The air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the locking tab with one of a different design.

    Model years: 1991, 1992

Other BMW models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.