There are no safety recalls for the 2011 BMW 535xi, but owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA.
2011 BMW 535xi problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Tires | 9 | |
| Wheels | 7 | |
| Power Train | 7 | |
| Engine | 5 | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 | |
| Seats | 3 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | |
| Steering | 1 | |
| Suspension | 1 | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | |
| Air Bags | 1 | |
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 19,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2011 BMW 535xi complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Power Train · at 3 miles · reported Sep 29, 2018
After bringing my car to bmw of buena park to take care of a couple of recalls, a couple of miles after I get on the freeway at about 60 MPH the car lost power and I heard the emergency sound on my dashboard, the emergency light came on and a message on my screen saying ' drive moderately, maximum drive train output not available' the car did not stop but lost lots of power
Engine · at 90,000 miles · reported Sep 4, 2018
I was driving 60 MPH when the engine seized. The rpms fell to 0 and the steering wheel became very stiff. I pulled on the side of the road tried to start the car, nothing happened and I had to call the tow truck. None of the lights came on. Everything looked fine and very misterious. After the mechanics disassembled the engine they said that apparently cylinder number six seized. At the time when this happened, the oil was at he max level, as well as antifreeze, the temperature was normal. My mechanic assumes that it seized because of loss of pressure, which is weird because as I was told…
Seats · at 80,000 miles · reported Feb 22, 2018
My 2 year-old son's leg was fractured when the driver's side power seat malfunctioned while adjusting the seat. The seat went back into the farthest position without stopping fracturing my son's left leg who was in a forward facing car seat in back. The vehicle was parked at the time of the incident. The power seat has an excessive amount of force/power and it should be reduced. A safety sensor to detect resistance should be equipped in the vehicle to prevent this from happening in the future. This could cause a fracture even if the seat hadn't malfunctioned and parents should be made aware of…
Engine · at 82,000 miles · reported Jan 13, 2018
Malfunction or failure of thermostat and water pump, resulted in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. Indicating a critical overheating condition and my car stopped in the middle of the road and I almost got in a rear end crash. I had to be towed to a shop and they replaced the failed components resulting in a $2,200 bill.
Service Brakes · reported Jan 8, 2018
Car was stolen from state of north carolina from my resident. Car is registered to the state of south carolina with south carolina plates. The car is now in new york area, stratford, ct area and norwalk, ct area- driver took car out my possession and jump states with my spare key that was inside my home. Never gave the driver possession or permission to drive my car
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2011 BMW 535xi have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2011 BMW 535xi as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 BMW 535xi?
Owners report tires problems most often (9 reports), followed by wheels (7). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 19,000 miles.
Are BMW recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.