BMW 535xi Complaints
144 consumer complaints on file.
- #10493501January 19, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE GROUND CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN THE RIGHT REAR LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL NOT OPERATING. THE CONNECTOR TO THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND THE TAB ON THE LAMP SOCKET HOUSING (WHERE THE CONNECTOR PLUGS IN) WAS DAMAGED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10485817November 23, 2012TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
THERE IS A BUBBLE THAT HAS FORMED ON MY TIRES VERY OFTEN AND HAS FORCED ME TO REPLACE 4 TIRES IN 10 MONTHS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10476548September 20, 2012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000. ...UPDATED 10/17/12 *BF
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10475829September 18, 2012TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535XI EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 TIRES, SIZE 245/40R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE BUBBLES IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER TIRES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10472662August 27, 2012STEERING, SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN
2011 BMW 535 X-DRIVE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AFTER GOING STRAIGHT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, VERY SIMILAR TO ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2011 5-SERIES BMW. ALSO JERKING FORWARD AFTER CRUISING AT A LOW SPEED WITH A SLIGHT ACCELERATION PEDAL MOVEMENT. 2 BMW DEALERSHIPS I VISITED ARE CLUELESS HOW TO FIX IT. ALTHOUGH SOME OWNERS (ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSIONS) WERE LUCKY TO FIX IT WITH A SPECIAL S/B PROCEDURE ISSUED BY BMW. BUT BMW DOES NOT INFORM ALL THEIR AUTHORIZED CENTERS PROPERLY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AND IF YOU ARE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET INTO ONE OF THOSE UNINFORMED DEALERSHIPS YOU WILL GET A "NORMAL" EXCUSE ETC., MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO ALIGN THE CAR, REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM- ANYTHING BUT FIXING THE CAR PROPERLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10472497August 26, 2012ENGINE
I OWN A 2008 BMW 535XI. ONLY MONTHS AFTER THE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. A CAR IS RENDERED INOPERABLE WITHOUT THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY, WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS IN THE CAR, UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST EXIST. THE WATER PUMP FAILED IMMEDIATELY AND COMPLETELY WITH LITTLE-TO-NO WARNING. I WAS EXTREMELY SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT THE ORIGINAL BMW WATER PUMP COULD NOT EVEN LAST FOR 50,000 MILES. HOW COULD THIS BE? WHAT TYPE OF BMW QUALITY CHECKS WAS THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT SUBJECTED TO? I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT THIS FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR MY MODEL VEHICLE. IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. WOW! MOST OTHER VEHICLES HAVE WATER PUMPS LASTING OVER 100,000 MILES AND WELL BEYOND. GIVEN THE CRITICALLY OF THIS POTENTIAL PREMATURE COMPONENT FAILURE, WHY HASN'T BMW ISSUED A RECALL? AFTER BEING LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND OUT MORE THAN $1,200 FOR THE REPAIR (PLUS TOWING), I AM LEFT WITH A MUCH LOWER OPINION OF BMW QUALITY AND SAFETY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10472117August 23, 2012TIRES, WHEELS
THE AUTOMOBILE HAS THE STOCK WHEELS/TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE M535 XI (GOODYEAR EAGLE LS RUNFLATS 245/40 R19). AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM BMW SERVICE, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE (INFLATED TO 35 PSI) HAS A BULGE ON THE EXTERIOR SIDEWALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464305July 5, 2012ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A COOLER LEAKED IN THE TRUNK OF MY WAGON AND UNDER THE FLOOR THERE LIES EXPOSED UNPROTECTED HIGHLY VALUABLE ELECTRONICS, WHICH SHORTED OUT MY CAR AND CREATED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SHOCKS AMONGST OTHER IMPORTANT SYSYTEMS, MY DEALER SAYS HE HAS SEEN "MANY OF THESE" AND CLEARLY THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ON THE WEB THAT HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, THE NEXT YEAR ACCORDING TO BMW THIS EXTREMELY DUMB DESIGN WAS CHANGED. CLEARLY THE TRUNK SHOULD BE A PLACE TO PUT ITEMS THAT MAY BE WET [FISHING TACKLE, SCUBA, SNOW BOOTS, SKIIS, COOLERS, MILK AND GROCERIES....] AND ONE SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED A $1700 DOLLAR BILL EVERYTIME SOMETHING SPILLS. MY DEALER REPLACED THE MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONICS THEN COVERED THE ELECTRONICS IN PLASTIC BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A JURY-RIGGED FIX. PLEASE HELP! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460202May 31, 2012WHEELS
I JUST ORDERED MY 3RD REPLACEMENT TIRE DUE TO A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL OF MY FRONT TIRE. I ENCOUNTERED A POTHOLE ON I-90 (MASS PIKE) AT APPROX. 70MPH BETWEEN EXITS 3 AND 2, FELT THE BUMP, AND THEN AND FELT THE FAMILIAR WOBBLING THAT I EXPERIENCED THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED. I KNEW BEFORE I EVEN STOPPED AT THE REST AREA THAT I HAD ANOTHER BUBBLE INCIDENT. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A FRONT TIRE DUE TO A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE A TOYOTA SIENNA AWD WITH ROF TIRES AND THIS CAR ENCOUNTERS POTHOLES WITHOUT INCIDENT -- THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE GOODYEARS TO BE PRONE TO THIS SORT OF PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10455169April 12, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS UNRESOLVED FIRE SAFETY ISSUES WITH A 2008 BMW 535XI *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON FEB 14, 2012, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, SIX DAYS LATER, A SPARK OF FIRE AND BALL OF SMOKE OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ALTERNATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INSPECTION ALSO REVEALED AN OIL LEAK. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AND EXPLODED, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT HOOD AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE MELTED AND DESTROYED, AS WELL AS THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AREAS WERE AFFECTED BY THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER AND HIS PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN DECEMBER 2013, AND JANUARY 2014 AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HE COMPLAINED OF LOW COOLANT, THE TRUNK RANDOMLY OPENING, THE KEY NOT STARTING THE VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY, AND THE CLOCK SUDDENLY SHOWING A THE WRONG TIME. BOTH TIMES, THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. UPDATED 03/10/14
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10455154April 2, 2012TIRES
AT 6000 MILES CAR DISPLAYED THREE TIRES WITH "SIDEWALL BUBBLES" IN THEM. DEALER REPLACED THREE TIRES AT COST TO ME. AT <12,000 MILES LATER ONE OF THOSE REPLACED HAD A "SIDEWALL BUBBLE" WHICH AGAIN WAS REPLACED AT MY COST. I FEAR THERE IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THIS CAR USING THESE TIRES (GOODYEAR RFT) WAITING TO HAPPEN THAT WILL EFFECT LIFE OR HEALTH AND REQUEST ACTION BE TAKEN BEFORE THERE IS A TRAGEDY. EVERYONE IS ACTING AS IF THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10452640March 22, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE RIGHT REAR LIGHTS BURNED AND MELTED OUT FOR NO REASON. THE FUSE DID NOT PROTECT THE WIRES CONNECTOR FROM BURNING. ALL THE REAR RIGHTS ARE NON OPERATIONAL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10451677March 14, 2012VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPED WITH ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL TO MAINTAIN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. WHEN PASSING TO THE LEFT OF A LARGE TRUCK (THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED WHEN PASSING SMALLER VEHICLES) AND WHEN THERE IS NOTHING IN THE LANE IN FRONT OF THE BMW, IT ERRONEOUSLY SENSES SOMETHING VERY CLOSE IN FRONT AND MOMENTARILY APPLIES THE BRAKES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW 2 - 4 MPH. IT QUICKLY SENSES THAT INDEED THERE IS NOTHING IN FRONT OF IT AND RESUMES THE SET SPEED. THIS HAS ONLY BEEN NOTED DURING DAY TIME DRIVING ON DRY ROADS. IS VERY SPOADIC BUT HAS OCCURRED PERHAPS TWO DOZEN TIMES IN 7,000 MILES. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT BMW HAS WITNESSED THE PROBLEM BUT IS BAFFLED AS TO THE CAUSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10449143February 23, 2012TIRES
I BOUGHT THIS 2011 MODEL BMW 535IX IN MARCH 2011, AND IT CAME WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS/2 ROF TIRES. THE FRONT TIRE STARTED TO DEVELOP A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL AND LOSE AIR PRESSURE. A FEW DAYS LATER A CRACK WAS FOUND ON THE REAR TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 6,000 MILES WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED. THE WORSE THING YET IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES ARE UNDER ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY, ALL TIRES THAT COME WITH THIS CAR ARE IN NATIONAL BACKORDER WHICH MEANS CONSUMER HAS NO WAY TO GET THE SAME OEM TIRE. THIS TIRE/WHEEL SET SHALL BE RECALLED BY BMW AS IT APPEARS TO BE DESIGN FLAW ON BMW'S SIDE ACCORDING NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND BMW FORUMS. THE SAME TIRE IS USED BY MANY OTHER DIFFERENT CAR MAKERS AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443884January 15, 2012TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
HAVE A 2011 BMW 535XI WITH 5,000 MILES ON IT. BUMPED A SMALL POT HOLE AND MY FRONT GOODYEAR 245/40/19 EAGLE LS2 RUN FLAT SIDEWALL BUSTED UP AND BALLOONED. FOR THE VERY HIGH COST THESE TIRES ARE MADE LIKE CRAP...THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LISTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. PLEASE RECALL TO SAVE THE CONSUMERS THE COSTLY FACTOR OF CONSTANT REPLACEMENTS AND OUR OVERALL SAFETY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438203December 3, 2011TIRES, WHEELS
MY 2011 BMW 550IX HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE LS 2 RUN FLATS, 245/40. I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE CAR IN JULY 2011 AND HAD BUBBLES ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE IN LESS THAN A MONTH PERIOD. I JUST NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH SUCH PROBLEM AND WANT TO TAKE MY PART IN REPORTING THIS BUBBLE PROBLEM WITH THIS RUN FLAT TIRES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10434964November 9, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP BEFORE POWER IS DELIVERED TO THE WHEELS. THIS HAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE NEED FOR POWER DELIVERY IS IMMEDIATE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10434372November 6, 2011EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:INTEGRATED JACK/LEVELER/STABILIZER, WHEELS
I WAS CHANGING A FLAT TIRE AND THE JACK JUST FAILED ON ME LAST NIGHT AND ALMOST BUT MY ARM OFF. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE JACK WAS BEING USED. IT WAS A FLAT ROAD AND IT WASN'T WINDY. THE CAR WAS ON A STABLE SURFACE WITH NO STONES OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE CAR ALMOST LANDED ON MY HANDS AND BENT THE ROTOR BACK PLATE !!!! I THEN NOTED THAT THE JACK WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND MAYBE A LITTLE BENT. I GOT HELP FROM A TRUCK WHO STOPPED BY. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER TODAY TO SEE IF THEY CAN REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY (3 YRS OLD BASICALLY) BUT THEY JUST SAID NO. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432636October 24, 2011TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
MY 2011 BMW 535XI TIRE (245/40R-19 GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 RUNONFLAT BMW RUNFLAT X) NEEDED TO BE CHANGED TWICE IN ONE YEAR DUE TO BUBBLE ON TIRE WALL. I DO NOT REMEMBER GOING OVER ANY POTHOLES OR BUMPS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432198October 20, 2011POWER TRAIN
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 10/7/2011 AND WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK I REPORTED A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING STATING THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A LAG ON TAKE OFF FROM A STOP. SALESMAN STATED HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH ON A HIGHWAY, A WARNING STATEMENT WAS DISPLAYED 'MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN NOT AVAILABLE' AND CAR IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED TO 30MPH...VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. AFTER TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THREE DAYS LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM NOW GOING 60MPH. BACK INTO THE DEALER I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CONTINUAL LAG IN ACCELERATION AFTER STOPS AND THEN LURCHING FORWARD. JUST RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT THEY WERE REPLACING THE MASTER AIR FLOW SENSOR. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND I WANT IT RETURNED TO DEALER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0