2011 BMW 535I problems
Owners have filed 156 complaints about the 2011 BMW 535I with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 23.7% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of fuel/propulsion system at 21.8%.
Complaints156
Crashes8
Fires8
Injuries12
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine 23.7% · 37
Fuel/propulsion system 21.8% · 34
Electrical system 10.9% · 17
Power train 10.9% · 17
Unknown or other 5.1% · 8
Wheels 4.5% · 7
Vehicle speed control 3.8% · 6
Exterior lighting 3.2% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 8 describe a crash, 8 describe a fire and 12 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 3 model years of the BMW 535I in this data, 2011 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 22 in the last three years against 28 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 76,521 miles.
In owners' own words
Care was in motion on local street care started stalling, decrease in fuel, smoke out of tail pipe, complete engine failure, unable to start on engine. There are multiple forums on this specific vehicle with issues due to fuel injector. Since I am not the original buyer on vehicle I was not aware and was never notified by the new dealer that there would be an issue. Vehicle was bought at 126k miles in sept 2019. Engine · reported at 132,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535I. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 14v176000 (engine and engine cooling). After the repair, the vehicle experienced engine failure. The vehicle was repaired by an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. Engine · reported at 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535I. The contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 14v176000 (engine); however, the part needed for the repair was unavailable. The dealer did not provide a specific date as to when the part would become available. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Engine
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…