BMW 535xi Complaints (2008)

71 consumer complaints on file.

#10703806April 5, 2015
ENGINE
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, 2015
ENGINE, 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, 2015
FUEL/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, 2014
ENGINE, 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
#10664889December 17, 2014
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE IS STATION WAGON VARIANT OF 535. THE STATION WAGON HAS A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF (STANDARD EQUIPMENT) IS GUTTER PRONE TO CLOGGING, AND WATER WHICH ENTERS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ACCUMULATES IN AN ELECTRONICS WELL UNDER THE CARGO FLOOR UNKNOWN TO THE DRIVER. THIS WATER CORRODES CONNECTIONS TO A NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC MODULES AND DAMAGES THE MODULES THEMSELVES WHEN SUBMERGED. THERE ARE MANY AFFECTED FUNCTIONS WHICH CAN BE DISRUPTED, BUT CRITICALLY SENSORS WHICH AFFECT WHETHER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. AN INCORRECT DETERMINATION OF PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY COULD EITHER CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WITH AN UNDERWEIGHT PASSENGER OR CAUSE THE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT. MY VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD THESE MODULES SUBMERGED AND IT APPEARS TO NOT BE AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM - PARTICULARLY FOR THE STATION WAGON VARIANT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650579October 28, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT REAR HATCHBACK RUNNING LIGHT SHUTS OFF WHEN HATCH SHUTS OR IS FULLY OPEN, BUT COMES ON WHEN IN BETWEEN FULLY OPEN AND COMPLETELY CLOSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638643September 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INSULATION OF THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS CRUMBLING AND POSES A FIRE HAZARD AS THE WIRES HAVE LOST THEIR INSULATION AND CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619117August 5, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
COLD START IN THE MORNING FOR DRIVE TO WORK, CAR SUFFERED SLOW START AND ROUGH IDLE. THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION ON IDRIVE WITH HIGH COOLANT FAN RPM. SHUT DOWN CAR FOR 30 MINUTES, RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUE INDICATED IN IDRIVE BUT YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. DROVE TO DEALER FOR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT ON SAFETY RECALL FOR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY (13V-407). WHILE AT 40 MPH AND APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM DEALER, ENGINE SURGED THEN REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION AND CHECK ENGINE ON IDRIVE. RADIATOR FAN WENT TO HIGH RPM AND CAR SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH RAPIDLY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON A TWO LANE ROAD. VEHICLE MADE IT TO THE DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALER INDICATES IT IS FAILURE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OF THE PUMP. LAST ONE OCCURRED WITHIN 27 MONTHS AND 16K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617252July 29, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE ENGINE FAILED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616677July 27, 2014
SEATS, SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
I RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE "RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION!" FOR NO REASON AND IT SAYS "PASS, RESTRAINT SYSTEM - FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER" ETC. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614846July 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON IS THERE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597949June 12, 2014
POWER TRAIN, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
I WAS DRIVING MY FANTASTIC (EXPENSIVE) 535XI AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I WOULD IMPLEMENT ANY PRESSURE ON THE THROTTLE I EXPERIENCED A JERKING/STUTTERING SENSATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597035June 9, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
ON JANUARY 5, 2014 DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APPROX. 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S DISPLAYED ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION DROPPED MY RATE OF SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH (SAFETY MODE) ALMOST SUSTAINED A REAR END COLLISION I THEN PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER I TURNED THE CAR OFF WAITED 10 MINUTES AND TURNED IT ON WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW OF TENAFLY, NJ THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND SAID THE CAR WAS GOOD TO DRIVE ON THE WAY HOME TRAVELING APPROX. 45 MPH THE CAR AGAIN DISPLAYED ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION DROPPED MY RATE OF SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH (SAFETY MODE) I PULLED OVER I TURNED THE CAR OFF WAITED 10 MINUTES AND TURNED IT ON THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO BMW OF TENAFLY, NJ THEY CHANGED THE CONTROL MODULE AND SOME OTHER COMPONENT IN THE ENGINE. ON JUNE 10, 2014 DRIVING ON I95 TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CAR ONBOARD DISPLAY SHOWED A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION AND DROPPED MY RATE OF SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH (SAFETY MODE), I PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER I TURNED THE CAR OFF WAITED 10 MINUTES AND TURNED IT ON WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. TRAFFIC CONDITIONS WERE LIGHT, BUT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS ISSUE (ACCIDENT OR FATALITY) DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. ON JUNE 9, 2014 I FILED A REPORT WITH BMW USA AND I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BMW OF TENAFLY, NJ. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561234January 23, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
E61 WAGON, REAR HATCH: 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
#10561137January 23, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE IN 05/2011 DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN UNDER A RECALL THROUGH BMW. THE SAME INJECTORS HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AGAIN LESS THAN 3 YEARS SINCE THEY WERE REPLACED. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE PUTTING ME AT RISK. BMW FAILS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY SAYING WARRANTY ON PARTS HAS EXPIRED ON PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED WITH KNOWN ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560707January 20, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE 2008 BMW 535XI, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. A MESSAGE APPEARED "CAR OVERHEATED" AND THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE WATER PUMP FAILED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. THE ACCELERATION WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY INOPERABLE. IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION WITH VEHICLES APPROACHING ME FROM BEHIND ESPECIALLY WITH NO SHOULDER SPACE AVAILABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER. I MANAGED TO TURN ONT HE HAZARD LIGHTS AND BARELY MANAGED TO ESCAPE THIS SITUATION WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP HAD FAILED AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT, THE COST OF WHICH WOULD BE AT LEAST $1,200. WHEN I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE SEEN MANY INDIVIDUALS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WATER PUMP IN LESS THAN AS LITTLE AS 30,000 MILES. I ALSO STUMBLED ONTO A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN (NO. 11V-521: "ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP") ON CERTAIN 2008 BMW 5-SERIES. I WAS SHOCKED TO KNOW THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN NUMBER. WHAT TYPE OF QUALITY CHECKS ARE THESE PUMPS SUBJECTED TO? I HAVE HEARD OF MANY SUCH INSTANCES WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. MOST OTHER VEHICLES HAVE WATER PUMPS LASTING OVER 100,000 MILES AND WELL BEYOND. WHY HASN'T BMW ISSUED A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560129January 15, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR HAS BEEN REPLACED A PUMP SENSORS 40 DAYS AGO BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION ,AND TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE STARTED IN COLD WEATHER, IT WAS SHAKING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE DEALER CHECKED AND SAID THAT IT IS THE INJECTOR PROBLEM AND RECOMMEND TO CHANG ALL 6 INJECTORS. BUT THE INJECTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AT THE MILEAGE OF 27,000 IN 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557118December 23, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
I DISCOVERED MULTIPLE SEVERED 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 REAR WIPER AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING. AS I INVESTIGATED I FOUND THE BROKEN WIRES, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS WITH BROKEN INSULATION, SOME WITH BROKEN COPPER STRANDS." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546418October 1, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHT STOPPED FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT, THE RUNNING LIGHT, THE REVERSE LIGHT, AND THE BLINKER STOPPED WORKING. THIS CREATED MANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS AS ONCOMING DRIVERS COULD NOT PROPERLY SEE ME REVERSING OR TURNING RIGHT. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE ISSUE AND BMW IS REPLACING THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FOR VIN'S THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE HAS THE ISSUE. BMW REFUSED TO REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT THAT HAS PERMANENT LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY. I WAS FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FUNDS FOR THE ITEM THAT HAS A RECALL AND BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. I SPOKE TO [XXX] AT BMW NORTH AMERICA, HE IS A CUSTOMER RELATIONS SUPERVISOR, AND HIS CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN THE BMW CASE FILE WITH ID LAST 7 DIGITS OF MY VIN. HE INDICATED THAT BMW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT FORCES THEM TO BY PROVIDING THE VIN NUMBER TO THEM AS AN EFFECTED VEHICLE. 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
#10519949June 15, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GOING ON (WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON). BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. GAUGES ALL WENT TO ZERO INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. SUNROOF WOULDN'T CLOSE. DROVE TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED AS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS SUBMERGED IN REAR OF CAR DUE TO BLOCKED SUNROOF DRAIN. THE SAME ISSUE WAS REPAIRED A YEAR PRIOR. THIS TIME TO LIABILITY ASSUMED BY MANUFACTURER OR DEALER BECAUSE OF "OUTSIDE FORCE" (RAIN). $9,500 REPAIR ESTIMATE. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM/ FLAW WITH THE MODEL. DEALER DID NOT APPEAR TO DO A CHECK OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM WHILE CAR WAS IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE A MONTH BEFORE THE INCIDENT. NO LOSS OF STEERING OR ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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