BMW 535xi Complaints
144 consumer complaints on file.
- #10837195February 19, 2016ENGINE
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10818784January 7, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
I PURCHASED A 2008 BMW 5 SERIES WAGON 9/1/2015 ON CALIFORNIA HAD ITS FIRST RAIN STORM CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE BMW RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS 12/16/115. THE DRAIN LINES ARE A WELL DOCUMENTED AND A BMW SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO DEALERSHIPS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I EXPERIENCED WIDESPREAD SYSTEM FAILURE, TIRE WARNINGS, TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNINGS AND THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND THE CAR DROPPED ABOUT 6 INCHES. THE BMW DEALERSHIP GAVE US $24,188.17 REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND WIRING WHICH IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10817481January 3, 2016WHEELS
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10810099December 14, 2015AIR BAGS
RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHTS ON DASH AND WARNING ON THE NAV SCREEN GOES ON WHENEVER SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10809874December 13, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10788160November 3, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAD THESE PROBLEMS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10785551October 23, 2015UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BMW HAS AN ISSUE WITH RUN FLAT TIRE ON CERTAIN MODELS AND CONTINUES TO REPLACE THESE TIRES, KNOWING THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 TIRES. HAVING RECENTLY REPLACED 5 TIRES RECENTLY AND A 6TH TIRE TWO YEARS AGO THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. BMW CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS THESE ARE THE TIRES FOR THESES MODEL CARS. OUT OF SIX TIRES BMW DID AGREE TO REPLACE TWO LAST DECEMBER. THEY NOW SAY THIS IS THE TIRE FOR THIS CAR...LUCKILY, NO ONE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES WITH THESE HIGHWAY BLOWOUTS OCCURRED. NO MORE BMW"S FOR ME UNTIL THE COMPANY ADMITS THEY HAVE A "PROBLEM" THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AND A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE MONTHS AGO.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10783727October 20, 2015UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR HAS HAD 3 BLOW OUTS OF RUN FLAT GOODYEAR LS2 TIRES ON HIGHWAY AND 3 TIRES WITH SIDEWALL BUBBLES THAT WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. 5 TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN LESS THAN 10 MONTHS AND LESS THAN 5,000 MILE ON A TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS 35,000 MILES IN 37 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10749098August 17, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND TOUCHING THE HANDLE TO LOCK THE DOORS VIA THE KEYLESS ENTRY FEATURE, THE CONTACT FAILED TO REALIZE THAT THE PASSENGER HAD NOT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND REMAINED TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES UNTIL THE DRIVER CAME BACK TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT WHAT THE CONTACT PERCEIVED AS A FAILURE WAS A SECURITY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10732893July 9, 2015SUSPENSION
A BUBBLE APPEAR ON THE SIDE WALL FROM AN APPARENT ROAD DIVOT. SINCE THAT INCIDENT I HAVE 4 MORE TIRES WITH A BUBBLE IN THEM ALL THE SAME TIRE BRAND. I AM TO ACCEPT THIS BECAUSE BUYER BEWARE APPLIES HERE. THE POSSIBLE TRAFFIC DANGERS THIS MAY CAUSE SHOULD IT BE BUYER BEWARE OR NHTSA GET INVOLVED AND MANDATE TIRE MANUFACTURERS PROVIDE A WARNING TO THE BUYER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10723102June 3, 2015AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
APRIL 2013, BMW DEALER #1 (SELLER) WAS TOLD BY SELLING DEALER THAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT JUST CAME ON HOURS BEFORE DELIVERY.. WAS TOLD TO BRING CAR TO A DEALER IN MY STATE AND THEY WILL FIX IT, NO CHARGE SINCE CAR IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER EXTENDED WARRANTY; MAY 23, 2013 BMW DEALER #2 (SERVICE) RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGH IS ON.. DEALER #2 ADVISED THAT BST CABLE WAS SLICED, HENCE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIR, WHICH WAS $1,000.00. JUNE 12, 2013 BMW DEALER #3 (SERVICE) WENT TO DEALER #3 FOR SECOND OPINION, SURPRISED WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS AND FIXED FOR $117.00.. BELOW IS THE ACTUAL DEALER FINDINGS AND FIXED; , , , , 93398 SPORADIC FAULT RAN, SHORT TEST, CONNECTED CHARGER 12.31V , , , , FAULTS ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAIN FIRING CIRCUIT, FAULT OCCURENCE 1, FAULT , , , , CURRENTLY NOT PRESENT INSPECTED CONNECTIONS AND LINES, CHECKED , , , , MEASURED RESISTANCE AS SEEN BY MODUAL, WITHIN SPEC. CLEARED , , , , FAULT MEMORY SEPTEMBER 2014 BMW DEALER #3 (SERVICE) RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGH IS ON IS BACK.!! TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER #3.. THIS TIME DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE BST CABLE IS CORRODED DUE TO WATER IN THE REAR VENT IN THE BATTERY AREA.. BST CABLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND COST $919.98. SUMMARY: APRIL 2013 DEALER #1 STATES, RESTRAINT SYSTEM DEALER FIX, NO CHARGE. MAY 2015, DEALER #2 STATES BST CABLE GOT SLICED, $1,000.00 REPAIR JUNE 2013 DEALER #3 STATES HEAD RESTRAINT FIRING CIRCUIT, FIXED IT FOR $117.00 SEPT 2014 DEALER #3 NOW STATES BST CABLE GOT CORRODED, $919.98 TO REPAIR WHY ARE THEIR FINDINGS OF THE PROBLEM ARE SO INCONSISTENT??
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10722670June 1, 2015AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, SEATS
I HAD THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ERROR SHOW UP ON MY VEHICLE'S DASH IN 2013. AT THAT TIME, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED SOME MODULE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST. NOT SURE WHY WOULD THEY HAVE A REPLACE A MODULE IN "DRIVER SIDE" WHEN THE ERROR IS IN "PASSENGER SIDE." BUT I DIDN'T ARGUE AND LET THEM REPLACE IT AND PAID $400 FOR THE PRIVILEGE. NOW AGAIN IN APRIL 2015, SAME ERROR IS HAPPENING. FIRST THE DEALER (BMW OF CLEVELAND, SOLON, OH) COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM FOR 2 DAYS. BUT WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE, THEY SAY THAT NOW THE WHOLE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST IS A WHOPPING $700. THE CAR SHOWS PROBLEM IN PASSENGER SIDE, AND DEALER SAYS DRIVER SIDE HEADREST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS! LOOKS LIKE THE DEALER IS TRYING TO SCAM ME ON THIS. IS THERE ANY RECALL ON THIS?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10717391May 19, 2015ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP AND THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED. SOME BMW 5-SERIES WATER PUMPS HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10715851May 12, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS EXITING THE THE FREEWAY AND WHEN I WAS ON A BANKED ONRAMP THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE ABILITY TO RELEASE THE BRAKE. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE UNEXPECTED LOSS IN POWER STEERING CAUSED ME TO LOOSE GRIP ON THE WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE (WHICH STRUGGLED TO START) THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON TELLTALE" ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE ENTERED "REDUCE ENGINE POWER MODE". AFTER SCANNING THE DTC (P3090) I LEARNED THE VEHICLE'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. I NOTICED BMW HAS A RECALL ON THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY THEIR RECALL ONLY COVERS THE FUEL PUMP TO 120,000 MILES AND MY VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 9,500 MILES ABOVE THE COVERED THRESHOLD. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND READING ONLINE I FEEL THE PUMP HAS SOME SORT OF DESIGN FLAW THAT BMW HAS FAILED TO PROPERLY ADDRESS. I WISH BMW WOULD HOLD UP TO THEIR INTEGRITY AND CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10715386May 8, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I DISCOVERED FAILURES OF MULTIPLE WIRES IN THE TAILGATE/REAR WINDOW WIRING HARNESSES. THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS - SEARCH FOR BMW E61 TAILGATE WIRING PROBLEMS. THE FAILURES ARE CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE WIRES ENTERING THE HINGE GUIDES (4) FOR THE GLASS AND TAILGATE ARE REPEATEDLY FLEXED AT A SHARP ANGLE UNTIL THE INSULATION, THEN THE COPPER WIRE BREAKS. SAFETY ISSUES - POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT LEADING TO FIRES (HIGHEST LOAD IS FOR REAR DEFROSTER); LIGHTING FAILURES (REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LAMPS AND OTHERS); REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO LOSS OF WIPER/WASHER/DEFROSTER; REAR GLASS LATCH OPENING WHILE UNDERWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CARGO OR INGRESS OF EXHAUST FUMES. THIS IS NOT AN EASILY REPAIRED PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT A SKILLED MECHANIC WITH PROPER TOOLS. I DISCOVERED IT WHEN THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOBS FAILED. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND THE BROKEN WIRE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10706690April 20, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH NOT CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND WITH NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN "EXPLOSION" ABOVE MY HEAD. IT WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SHOT. BEFORE I HAD TIME TO PULL OVER, THE SHATTERED GLASS OF THE SUNROOF BLEW OFF THE ROOF ONTO THE ROAD BEHIND ME. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING COME OFF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND I WAS NOT GOING UNDER A BRIDGE OF ANY KIND. IT WAS AS IF THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. HAD THE SUNROOF CURTAIN NOT BEEN CLOSED, ALL THAT GLASS WOULD HAVE COME INTO THE CAR AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INJURY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10703806April 5, 2015ENGINE
CAR OVER HEATED AND I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMPS GO OUT ON THEM AT AROUND 100,000 MILES. HE TOLD ME HOW TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE ISSUE AND IT IS THE PUMP. WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS... *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10701538March 25, 2015ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I STARTED MY CAR AND UPON STARTING IT BEGAN RATTLING AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE MESSAGE THAT APPEARED ON THE DASH SAYING. ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCED POWER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10670481January 6, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UPON START UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWO FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NEW DESIGN FUEL INJECTORS MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10669296December 31, 2014ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING DUE TO MISFIRING FUEL INJECTORS AND HAD ERRATIC ENGINE OPERATION. NOTE: BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL IN DECEMBER 2010. BMW NOTED IN THE RECALL THAT THIS REPAIR IS TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. IN MY EXPERIENCE, BMW IS NOT HONORING THE VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0