Recalls
Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.
No recalls on record for this model
No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.
Owner complaints by system
Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.
Engine & powertrain
98
Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11732394 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Electrical & infotainment
13
Most reports here involve electrical shorts. Of these, 1 mention an injury.
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The contact owned a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was unoccupied and parked in a parking lot, it was brought to the attention of the contact that the vehicle caught on fire. The local fire department arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire. The contact stated that it was unknown if a fire report was filed. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact stated that the fire damaged one other parked and unoccupied vehicle that was nearby. The vehicle was towed by the insurance and was deemed a total loss. The vehicle remained in the possession of the insurance provider for further investigation. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11641786 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Brakes
2
Most reports here involve unintended acceleration. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.
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From very low speed (less than 5 MPH), car would not stop with full brakes applied. Front brakes were fully locked as evidenced by skid marks, but car kept pushing forward until stopped by solid object.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11636479 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Steering, suspension & tires
44
Most reports here involve premature wear.
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Product Safety Alert: Jan 30, 2025 Stop using the following item because of a potential safety issue. Visit the public recall notice for more guidance. 245/45R18 100Y XL RFT PIR CINTURA P7 (M0E)(BMW/RR) 245/45R18 100Y XL RFT PIR CINTURA P7 (M0E)(BMW/RR)
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11639756 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Airbags & seat belts
6
Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 4 mention an injury.
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The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated that when pressing the accelerator pedal to drive from being idle at a red light, the driver's side air bag deployed out of the steering wheel without impact. The contact sustained burns to the left arm, right cheek, and chest area. The contact had suffered stomach issues due to inhaling the dust and fumes from the air bag. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed by AAA to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the horn module needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, where the vehicle remained for a month, and Liberty Mutual was to retrieve the vehicle and investigate the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not investigated to her knowledge, and the vehicle was returned without being repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11682140 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Structure & body
7
Most reports here involve premature wear.
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Passenger side door lock actuator has failed. Door lock actuators should not be failing on cars that are less than 10m years old. This causes a major safety issue when you are unable to open/unlock the door from the inside or outside because the lock can not be actuated (manually or with button). Given the vast amount of actuators failing, this should be addressed with BMW. This has become a common issue with BMW vehicles.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11436252 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Other systems
13
Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 3 mention an injury.
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The contact owned a 2011 BMW 535I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal became stuck. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated into oncoming traffic. The contact's vehicle was crashed into by two oncoming vehicles. No warning light. The contact was taken to the local medical center, where the contact received multiple X-rays. In addition, the contact sustained bruises and pain to the left and right knees and to the middle of the chest. The contact stated that the pain in the chest was severe because of a pre-existing illness of male breast cancer. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. In addition, the vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. In addition, the contact was unsure of any injuries to the other drivers. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11721737 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov