BMW 535i Complaints (2009)

71 consumer complaints on file.

#10780037October 6, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE IT WAS TURNED OFF AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764570September 17, 2015
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING "ENGINE FAILURE, REDUCE POWER" LIGHT CAME ON, POWER ON ENGINE REDUCED BUT DRIVABLE. WHEN CAR SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED LIGHT GOES OFF BUT IF STEPPING ON THE GAS HARD THE LIGHT COMES BACK WITH ENGINE HAVING REDUCED POWER. THIS WAS REPAIRED TWICE, LAST BY BMW ON 7/29/13, THEY REPLACED VANS SOLENOIDS (INTAKE AND EXHAUST) AND REPROGRAMED THE TRANSMISSION. AT THAT TIME THEY TOLD ME IF THE PROBLEM RETURNS THE TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. READING THROUGH FORUMS AND THE WEB I CAME UPON MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN WHICH DEALERS STATED DIFFERENT ROOT CAUSES, MANY SOLUTIONS PROPOSED BUT OFTEN PROBLEM RETURNS. I BELIEVE THIS IS DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744057July 27, 2015
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE NORTHBOUND ON THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY (I-90) BETWEEN MONTROSE AND LAWRENCE EXIT HERE IN CHICAGO WHEN MY CAR STALLED THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT WITH REDUCED POWER THAT ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDERS BUT IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE NONETHELESS WITH HIGH SPEED CARS AND TRUCKS PASSING BY YOU. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A FUEL PUMP ISSUE RELATING TO AN EXISTING RECALL/CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. ANYWAY, THE CAR WAS NEVER FULLY FIXED; I MEAN I HAD AT SEVERAL INSTANCES OF CAR STALLING AGAIN AND AGAIN. I REPEATEDLY COMPLAINT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CAR DEALER LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I FEEL THERES A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT FOR REPAIRS IT WAS A DIFFERENT REASON WHY THE ENGINE FAILURE KEEPS LIGHTING UP AND THE CAR STALLING. IN THE BEGINNING THEY WERE COVERING THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY BUT AS SOON AS THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED I WAS ON THE HOOK FOR HUNDREDS SOMETIMES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. I COMPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THIS VEHICLE AND PART OF THE SETTLEMENT WAS TO EXTEND THE ENGINE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS BUT THEY NEVER COVERED IT UNDER THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY SIMPLY BY STATING THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT RELATED TO WHATS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. IVE FINALLY GIVEN UP DISPUTING WITH THEM AND SOLD THE CAR THIS MONTH AND IVE DISPUTED WITH MY CREDIT CARD THE REPAIR COSTS SINCE THE ISSUE WAS NEVER FIXED. BMW IS COVERING UP THAT THERES AN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF THEIR CAR AND HAVE BEEN DODGING WARRANTY CLAIMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721768May 27, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE SHUTTERS AND MISFIRES WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT CRUISING SPEEDS. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND HAS REDUCED POWER UNTIL VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712247April 22, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I TRIED TO SWITCH LANES, THE CAR JUST MADE A BIG FUMBLE AND ALMOST STALLED. THE TRAFFIC BEHIND NEARLY BECAME FATAL AS THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE AND I WAS VERY LUCK TO HAVE PULLED BACK WITH THE PASSING CAR BARELY HITTING MY MIRROR. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE CHANGED OUT ALL THE INJECTORS AND STILL THE CAR IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALER THEY KEEP CHANGING THE FUEL INJECTORS OR RECALIBRATING THEM. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS REPORTED BEFORE THE END OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY AND STILL ONGOING, THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIRS. THIS IS ABSURD AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AS MY FAMILY AND MY LIFE IS IN DANGER EVERY TIME WE TAKE TO ANY ROAD WITH THIS CAR. WE ARE NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO AFFORD REPAIRS AS IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE FORCED TO TAKE A RISK EVERY TIME WE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO. MY PREGNANT WIFE AND MY SELF HAS MISSED ALMOST 20 TIMES WHERE ANOTHER CAR COULD HAVE HIT US. I FEAR ONE OF THESE DAYS WE WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY . PLEASE HELP. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679789January 29, 2015
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PURCHASED A 2009 BMW 535I XDRIVE (VIN# [XXX]) IN MARCH 2013. IN JUNE OF 2013 I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. THEY INDICATED THE INJECTORS WERE UNDER RECALL HOWEVER MY CAR HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED. UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT CAME TO LIGHT THAT ONLY THREE OF THE SIX INJECTORS WERE REPLACED UNDER THE PRIOR RECALL WORK. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BAD INJECTOR UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT ONE OF THE ONES REPLACED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WORK. THEY INDICATED THEY CONTACTED BMWNA AND THAT THEY REFUSED TO APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INJECTOR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT DEALT WITH UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL WORK.I ENDED UP HAVING MY LOCAL BMW MECHANIC REPLACE THIS INJECTOR. THIS NOVEMBER 2014 I BEGAN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH ANOTHER OF THE RECALLED INJECTORS THAT HAD YET TO BE REPLACED. THIS INJECTOR WHILE DRIVING BECAME LOOSE AND BROKE A FUEL LINE DAMAGING THE CYLINDER HEAD OF THE ENGINE WHERE THE INJECTOR IS LOCATED. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE HEAD, THE INJECTOR LOCATED IN CYLINDER 5 CONTINUES TO LOOSE THE O-RING. THIS RENDERS THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THIS IS MY THIRD BMW AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD THESE KINDS OF PROBLEM. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, ONE FUEL INJECTOR, WATER PUMP AND CRANK SEAL. IN ADDITION THE TRUNK LEAKS CREATING ISSUES WITH MY BATTERY AND SOS SYSTEM. I HAVE LEARNED THOUGH MUCH RESEARCH THAT THIS CAR MODEL HAS MANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, INJECTORS, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, ETC. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THIS AND HOW THE CURRENT ISSUE WITH THE INJECTOR AND NOW HEAD CAN BE RESOLVED SINCE THIS INJECTOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WORK LONG BEFORE THE HEAD WAS DAMAGED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10641483October 5, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
IN THE 4 1/2 YEARS THAT MY 535XI HAS BEEN IN SERVICE, THE FUEL INJECTORS HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES (SEPT 2011, JAN 2013, AND SEPT 2014). THE PROBLEMS HAVE MANIFESTED THEMSELVES WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND THE VEHICLE LOSES MOST POWER AND BEGINS SHAKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE GASES LIGHT COMES ON. THE MOST RECENT TIME OCCURRED WHILE ON AN INTERSTATE TOLLWAY BETWEEN EXITS 15 MILES APART MAKING FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I LOST SPEED AND ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. EFFORTS TO HAVE BMW COVER THE REPAIRS (ESTIMATED AT $2,200 INCLUDING NEW PLUGS), WERE BOTH UNSUCCESSFUL AND FRUSTRATING. THE DEALER PROVIDED ZERO ASSISTANCE. I CONTACTED BMW NA AND STATED THAT HAVING TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS 3 TIMES IN 4 1/2 YEARS INDICATES A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND RESULTS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE AND INFORM ME WHETHER THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME WITHIN 3-5 BUSINESS DAYS ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD TRY TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS SINCE I WAS WITHOUT A CAR. AT THE END OF THE 5TH BUSINESS DAY, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE SO I CALLED AND THE PERSON I NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH WAS IN A MEETING AND WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME BACK. AFTER ANOTHER FULL BUSINESS DAY AND NO CALL, I CALLED A AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO COVERAGE BUT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY RATIONALE. THIS HAS BEEN A REPETITIVE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622263August 14, 2014
ENGINE
IN PASSING ON 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC A WARNING OF REDUCED ENGINE POWER OCCURRED WITH CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER WITH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED MARGIN OF SAFETY WITH RESPECT TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS HAPPENING MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR ONCE. RELIABILITY IS UNPREDICTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615135July 21, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED BECAUSE IT FAILED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EXPRESS WAY WITH FAST MOVING CARS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS POSE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO THE PASSENGERS BECAUSE THEY COULD GET RUN OVER BY OTHER CARS. THE CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING IT JUST STOPS. I'VE COMPLAINED TO BMW ABOUT THIS AND THEY PRETEND THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE FIRST FUEL PUMP THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE SAME PART AGAIN. THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY ITS FAILING IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598165June 13, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ALSO, THE CONTACT ADDED THAT THE BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNCIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TENSION AND ISLE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BELT AND SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,325.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579430April 13, 2014
ENGINE
CAR STARTS NORMALLY. UPON REACHING CRUISING SPEED CAR ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR IMMEDIATELY REDUCES ENGINE POWER. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, AND HAS HAPPENED ON SIDE ROADS AND FREEWAYS. I HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND SHUT OFF CAR, WAIT, AND RE-START CAR. LATER, AND RANDOMLY SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN. SCARY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559223January 9, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON AN EARLY COLD MORNING, I CRANK MY CAR AND AFTER IT STARTED I NOTICED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; IT STALLED OUT AND I HAD TO RESTART IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP (BMW) WITHIN THE LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES. THE MAJOR REASON WAS FUEL PROBLEMS. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON IT AND THE BMW REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT I NEEDED ALL INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS AND A FUEL INLET VALVE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST ABOUT 2200. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT BMW PUBLISHED THIS INFORMATION TO CORRECT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 535I TWIN TURBO FUEL SYSTEM; HOWEVER AT THE CONSUMERS' EXPENSE. I SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR IN CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP AND SHE STATED THAT BMW WAS NOT RESPONSE FOR OR REPAIRING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549497October 25, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V407000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546199September 30, 2013
ENGINE
FAN RAN TOO FAST, ENGINE HOT MESSAGE, REDUCE SPEED MESSAGE, CAR LIMPED TO A STOP. OVER HEATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508026April 16, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2009 BMW 535I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED, WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL SERVICE HISTORY. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AS A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR STALLING PROBLEMS, WHICH WAS THE SAME ISSUE THAT OCCURRED ON THE DAY OF THE FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490133December 26, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I GOT A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER RESTRAINT PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN A RED AIRBAG LIGHT AND RED PASSENGER BELT TO COME ON THE DASH AND IDRIVE. THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND BELT TENSIONER IS SAID TO BE BAD . THIS TIME WITH A RED AIRBAG LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, AND THE SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED LIGHT ON AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475737September 17, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON I-185. MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND BEGAN SPUTTERING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY BUT MIRACULOUSLY I WAS ABLE TO MERGE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE. BMW DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS IT AS A FAILED IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR. IT WAS REPAIRED AND I PAID 1254.00. UNFORTUNATELY, A WEEK LATER, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS TIME BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAD TO UPGRADE SOFTWARE AND CHANGE OUT SOME INJECTORS AND THAT SHOULD SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR TO DRIVE IT AND NOT SEND IT BACK AND FORTH TO THE REPAIR SHOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415418July 27, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE HAD LOSS OF POWER, SHAKY AT START UP. VEHICLE HAD A LOSS POWER TO ONLY GO ABOUT 5MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396103April 16, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BMW REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER BUT SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES (AT 8,000MILES, 13,000 MILES AND 18,000 MILES). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352639August 29, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT AND REDUCED POWER WARNING FOR BMW 535I. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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