2013 BMW 535I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2013 BMW 535I, and owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2013 BMW 535I
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Exterior lighting
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.
38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2013 BMW 535I have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 51,495 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 Westbu”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 19, 2025 · Engine
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 22, 2025 · Air bags
Compare BMW 535I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 535I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 BMW 535I | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 BMW 535I | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 BMW 535I | 1 | 6 |
| 1990 BMW 535I | 2 | 2 |
| 1991 BMW 535I | 3 | 5 |
| 1992 BMW 535I | 3 | 3 |
| 1993 BMW 535I | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 BMW 535I | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 BMW 535I | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 BMW 535I | 1 | 74 |
| 2009 BMW 535I | 1 | 71 |
| 2010 BMW 535I | 1 | 58 |
| 2011 BMW 535I | 4 | 112 |
| 2012 BMW 535I | 1 | 54 |
| 2013 BMW 535I | 1 | 38 |
| 2014 BMW 535I | 2 | 30 |
| 2015 BMW 535I | 0 | 23 |
| 2016 BMW 535I | 2 | 12 |
| 2017 BMW 535I | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2013 BMW 535I
How do I know if my 2013 BMW 535I has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2013 BMW 535I; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 15V188000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
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.