BMW 535I recalls and safety
12 recalls · crash ratings 2011-2015 · 493 owner complaints
12
recalls
12
recalls
The BMW 535I has 12 recalls covering 1.06 million vehicles as reported; model year 2011 is covered by the most (4). The 2015 BMW 535I earned 5 of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Owners filed 8 safety complaints in the 12 months to Sep 2026; engine is named most over all years.
Updated Oct 11, 2026 · recalls to Oct 6, 2026
Recalls
12
Most for 2011: 4
Units affected
1.06M
As reported
Overall stars
5 of 5
Model year 2015
Complaints, 12 mo
8
-63.6% vs 12 months before
Do-not-drive
0
None
By model year
Which model years are covered by the most recalls, and which get the most complaints
Recalls by model year
How many recalls cover each model year. Hover a year for the count.
Crash test star ratings
6 rated versions, model years 2011 to 2015
Overall stars by model year
The best and lowest overall rating of the versions tested each year (5 is best).
| Year | Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4 DR · RWD | 9.3% risk | |||
| 2014 | 4 DR · RWD | 9.3% risk | |||
| 2013 | 4 DR · RWD | 9.3% risk | |||
| 2012 | 4 DR · RWD | 9.3% risk | |||
| 2011 | 4 DR · AWD | 9.3% risk | |||
| 2011 | 4 DR · RWD | 9.3% risk |
5 stars is the best. Ratings before model year 2011 used older tests.
Owner complaints
Safety complaints about the BMW 535I, by the month they were received
Complaints per month
8 in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Components named most
- Engine128
- Fuel/propulsion system107
- Electrical system79
- Air bags47
- Power train45
- Exterior lighting43
- Fuel system, gasoline37
- Complaints
- 493
- Crashes reported
- 21
- Fires reported
- 20
- People injured
- 17
Counts only, as reported by owners and not verified.
Parts recalled
Recalls of the BMW 535I by component
- Air bags4 · 80K units
- Exterior lighting3 · 328K units
- Engine and engine cooling2 · 496K units
- Fuel system, gasoline1 · 136K units
- Power train1 · 8,752 units
- Seats1 · 7,162 units
BMW 535I recalls
Newest first
Related pages
Questions and answers
Is the 2017 BMW 535I recalled?
Yes: 1 recall covers the 2017 BMW 535I. Check the recall pages below for what is wrong and the free fix; a dealer can tell if a single vehicle still needs the repair.
How many recalls does the BMW 535I have?
12 recalls cover the BMW 535I, for 1.06 million vehicles as reported. The most common problem is air bags (4 recalls).
What is the safety rating of the 2015 BMW 535I?
5 of 5 stars overall (4 DR): frontal crash 4, side crash 5 and rollover 5 stars, with a 9.3% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
What do owners complain about most on the BMW 535I?
Engine: named in 128 of the 493 safety complaints about the BMW 535I, then fuel/propulsion system (107). One complaint can name several components.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data, updated daily. Models are written as published, so a few versions of one model can be listed under slightly different names.