9 NHTSA safety recalls cover the BMW 535I, across model years 2008–2017. Every recall repair is free at any BMW dealer.
Is yours affected? Check your 535I by VIN — or pick your model year below for every recall, complaint and fix.
Recalls and owner complaints by model year
The 2011 BMW 535I has the most recalls (4) and the most owner complaints (150).
Recalls: NHTSA campaigns covering each BMW 535I model year on this page. Complaints: owner reports filed with NHTSA for that model year, including trims and variants sold under the model name (e.g. an F-150 page counts F-150 Raptor). Separate scales: compare the shape, not the heights across panels.
| Model year | Recalls | Owner complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | no data |
| 2009 | 1 | no data |
| 2010 | 2 | 61 |
| 2011 | 4 | 150 |
| 2012 | 2 | 56 |
| 2013 | 1 | 38 |
| 2014 | 2 | 30 |
| 2015 | 0 | 23 |
| 2016 | 2 | 12 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 |
What these recalls fix, grouped by the vehicle system NHTSA files them under:
BMW is recalling certain 2014-2015 models due to a risk of driver air bag inflator explosion causing injury or death. Owners must have the air bag replaced free of charge.
BMW recalls 2011-2012 models with potential CV joint breakage causing loss of propulsion and crash risk. Affected vehicles may need free rear driveshaft replacement.
BMW is recalling 2017 M4 vehicles with seat-mounted air bags that may fail to deploy in crashes, increasing injury risk. Owners must contact BMW for free replacement of air bag modules.
BMW recalls 2011 528i models with potential air bag failure in crashes. Owners must get SCU replaced free by December 16, 2016.
BMW is recalling certain 2012 528i models with potentially loose fuel pump wiring that could cause fuel leaks or engine stalls, increasing crash risk. Owners must contact BMW for free fuel pump replacement.
When the BMW 535I recalls were issued, by year — a cluster usually means one defect recalled in stages or across a platform.
Owners have filed 370 complaints with NHTSA about the BMW 535I; the most reported area is engine. These are reports, not recalls: they are how NHTSA spots defects.
We have 9 NHTSA safety recalls on record for the BMW 535I, covering model years 2008–2017. The most recent was issued Nov 7, 2024 (Air Bags).
The 2011 BMW 535I has the most, with 4 recalls on record. Every model year with a recall is listed on this page with links to each one.
By system: Air Bags (3), Exterior Lighting (2), Power Train (1), Fuel System, Gasoline (1).
None of these recalls carries an NHTSA do-not-drive or park-outside warning, but each fixes a safety defect, so book the free repair promptly.
Run a VIN recall check: enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact year, then confirm at NHTSA.gov which are still unrepaired on your vehicle. Any BMW dealer can also look it up.
Yes. Federal law requires BMW to fix safety recalls free of charge at any authorized BMW dealer, regardless of the vehicle’s age or how many owners it has had.