2011 Bmw 535I

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw 535I has 156 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: cpsc:i1320310a. 2011 bmw 535i. consumer stated on two separate occasions, while driving, the engine suddenly stopped. *ln the first time the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, they informed him, the problem was minor and supposedly fixed it. the second time, the incident occurred, the dealer . ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 5 crash reports 8 injuries

156

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

41 complaints

26%

• CPSC:I1320310A. 2011 BMW 535I. CONSUMER STATED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. *LN THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED HIM, THE PROBLEM WAS MINOR AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. THE SECOND TIME, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE DEALER
• I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW IN JUNE 2014 RE A POTENTIAL BOLT FAILURE. THE LETTER STATED I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE IN AND WHEN REPAIRS CAN BE DONE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (ELMHURST BMW AND BMW NORTH AMERICA) ON JULY 10, THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE P
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“CPSC:I1320310A. 2011 BMW 535I. CONSUMER STATED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. *LN THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED HIM, THE PROBLEM WAS MINOR AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. THE SECOND TIME, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE DEALER ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

35 complaints

22%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED FOR THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEA
• FUEL FLOATER IS BROKEN, THEREFORE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK.
• FUEL SYSTEM. LATLEY I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ME 2011 BMWS 535I AND HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME SCARY PROBLEMS WITH IT. LAST WEEK I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE POWER OF CAR WAS TURNING ON AND OFF. (HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, CAR POWER EVERYTHING) IT THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON THE FREEWAY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED FOR THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

11%

• I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND MY CAR JUST DIED ON THE STREET AND CHASSIS STABILIZATION LIGHT CAME ON.. HAD TO RESTART CAR 7-8 TIMES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INSIDE PARKING LOT. *TR
• BMW HAS DISABLED THE SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES OF THE MODEL YEAR 2013 AND OLDER. MY VEHICLE NO LONGER HAS AN ACTIVE SOS BUTTON. AMONG OTHER FEATURES, THE COLLISION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND STOLEN VEHICLE RECOVERY SYSTEM ARE NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. BMW HAS CHANGED SOFTWARE FROM 2G TO 3G WHICH MAK
• WHEN TRYING TO EXIT THE CAR AND PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK, THE LOCK STAYS IN A LOCKED POSITION EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE PULLES. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE MANUA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND MY CAR JUST DIED ON THE STREET AND CHASSIS STABILIZATION LIGHT CAME ON.. HAD TO RESTART CAR 7-8 TIMES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INSIDE PARKING LOT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

17 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURE
• DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON FROM TIME TO TIME. MESSAGE: "DIRVETRAIN MALFUNCTION; MAXIMUM OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE." LOSS OF POWER. TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT (OTTO'S BMW) TO STOP CAR AND TURN IT ON AGAIN. IT RUNS JUST FINE AFTER THIS IS DONE. BUT INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVIN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V067000 (POWER TRAIN) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• THIS COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH BMW MODEL 535I AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLES WITH A PRODUCTION DATE PRIOR TO 2013. THE AC CONDENSER IS KNOWN FOR PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION, AS IDENTIFIED IN BMW SERVICE BULLETIN SI B64 10 15 (ATTACHED). I CONTACTED BMW ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA, PASSPORT BMW MARYLAN
• WITH TIME, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE MATERIAL (ON DRIVER AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE ON FRONT AND REAR) MELTS / DISINTEGRATES AND IT SEEMS TO BE HARMFUL FOR KIDS TO BE TOUCHING IT AND MAYBE EVEN PLAYING WITH IT WITH A RISK TO BE INGESTING SUCH STICKY SUBSTANCE WHICH KEEPS PEELING. IT IS POTENTIALLY ALS
• MY WIFE WENT TO GET A HAIRCUT, PARKED HER 2011 BMW 535XI AWD AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 P.M. MST (THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CAR WAS LOCKED) IN THE RETAIL CENTER PARKING LOT. AT APPROXIMATELY 2:45 P.M. MST SOMEONE ENTERED THE SALON AND SAID A CAR WAS ON FIRE (HER CAR). THE FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE B

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THIS COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH BMW MODEL 535I AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLES WITH A PRODUCTION DATE PRIOR TO 2013. THE AC CONDENSER IS KNOWN FOR PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION, AS IDENTIFIED IN BMW SERVICE BULLETIN SI B64 10 15 (ATTACHED). I CONTACTED BMW ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA, PASSPORT BMW MARYLAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 156 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: CPSC:I1320310A. 2011 BMW 535I. CONSUMER STATED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. *LN THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED HIM, THE PROBLEM WAS MINOR AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. THE SECOND TIME, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE DEALER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED FOR THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND MY CAR JUST DIED ON THE STREET AND CHASSIS STABILIZATION LIGHT CAME ON.. HAD TO RESTART CAR 7-8 TIMES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INSIDE PARKING LOT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)