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BMW · NHTSA safety record

2010 BMW 535I

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

58

Complaints

3

Crashes

3

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2010 BMW 535I have filed 58 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2010 and February 2025. The most complained-about system is the fuel and propulsion system, named in 19 of them (33%). The typical failure was reported at 58,000 miles, the median across the 49 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

13V407000 · September 11, 2013

The defect
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).
The risk
Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 134,100 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 58.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 19 33%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 14 24%
ENGINE 11 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 12%
AIR BAGS 5 9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5 9%
SEAT BELTS 3 5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 3%
POWER TRAIN 2 3%
CHILD SEAT 1 2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 2%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2010 at 16.

2010 2025
2010 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 injured · fire · crash · 27,271 miles

WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR, I EXPERIENCED A SERIES OF FAULTS IN THE SYSTEM WHERE THE CAR FROZE UP AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ELECTRONIC WARNING SYSTEM. ON 5/22/12, UPON LEAVING MY RESIDENCE, I LOST MOMENTARY CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR STOPPED, JERKED AND THEN I HIT A CURB AND WHEN I RIGHTED THE CAR, I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CAR ACCELLERATED TO A HIGH SPEED. I TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 100' TO WHERE THERE WERE THREE CARS AND ONE MOTORCYCLE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND HIT THE DRIVER OF THE MOTOR CYCLE AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CAR

NHTSA complaint 10474681, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRES FOR THE BRAKES LIGHTS AND REAR TURN SIGNALS BURNED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA complaint 10497897. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

fire · 50,100 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE FOG LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE HOUSING FOR THE LIGHT HAD BECOME MELTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEFECT WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,100.

NHTSA complaint 10553087. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

crash · towed · 71,835 miles

I was told by BMW that the high pressure fuel pump for these vehicles are under warranty for 100,000 miles or 10 years. I just purchased the vehicle to not only drive from new jersey to New York and shut down. Since then it caused an accident and the used dealer is just ignoring everything. I was also told there’s an electric water pump class action suit and also something with the trunk leaking. Now I do know that a vehicle is not supposed to be sold without recalls being stated and fixed. I’m already paid 10k for the car and then 1k for a starter . The vehicle is in the body shop having body repair due to the engine shutting down. If the engine shuts down it displays fuel pump malfunction

NHTSA complaint 11469497, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Consistent fuel pump error code 2AAF

NHTSA complaint 11645545. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

towed · 120,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED AND MANUALLY STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO RALLYE BMW (1 BRUSH HOLLOW RD, WESTBURY, NY 11590, (516) 226-7947) WHO HAD REPLACED AN UNKNOWN PART HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE SAME WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint 11413933. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

128,000 miles

SEVERAL TIMES I WAS PLACED IN PERIL WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED THEN THE CAR STALLS ON US HIGHWAY 95. THERE WERE ALSO TIMES WHEN THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35MPH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE NO REAL CONTROL TO STEER THE WHEEL, NO PRIOR WARNING OR ISSUES WITH THE CAR TO INDICATE IT WOULD STALL. IT IS EXTREMELY TRAUMATIZING. TRAUMATIZING! MESSAGE OF "FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION. MODERATE DRIVING POSSIBLE". CAR STALLS WHILE IN MOTION WHETHER IT IS 20MPH OR 65MPH. INITIAL MALFUNCTION IN JULY WAS AFTER 1HR OF DRIVING THEN SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT PERIODICALLY AS THE CAR ISN'T DRIVEN OFTEN DUE TO STAY AT HOME RESTRICTIONS. THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AT TWO AUTO MECHANIC

NHTSA complaint 11387031, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

150,000 miles

RECEIVING P0087 LOW PRESSURE FUEL, CAR GOES INTO DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. FIX IS REPLACING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP.

NHTSA complaint 11375976. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 70,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BATTERY DISCHARGING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVE BELTS, BATTERY, INTELLIGENT BATTERY SENSOR (IBS) SYSTEM, BOLTS, HOSE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint 11337163, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the BMW 535I

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2016 12 2 —
2015 23 0 —
2014 30 2 —
2013 38 1 —
2012 54 1 —
2011 112 4 —

Other 2010 BMW models

328I 153 X5 123 528I 65 335I 41 X3 32 3 Series 30 750LI 30 X3 SAV 23

Every BMW on this site — 249 vehicles, 484 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst