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Electrical systemPart report

2014 BMW 535D Electrical system Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
7%of 58 total for the year
Median mileage
40,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the electrical system of the 2014 BMW 535D, 7% of the 58 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My 2014 certified pre-own Bmw 535D caught on fire while I was driving home from work last week, fortunately a driver next to me alerted me that my car was on fire. I pulled over within 30 seconds, got out and within another 30 seconds my entire car was engulfed in flames.”

NHTSA complaint #11098118, filed 2018-05, 57,000 miles

“On 12/03/2016, my 2014 Bmw 535D abruptly stalled in the middle of the road, blocking traffic. It had spontaneously locked itself into 'park' without warning. The engine would not start, and there was no way to overcome the electronic lock on the transmission and put the transmission into 'neutral' to push the car out of traffic. It had to be towed. Fortunately this happened on a slow moving road. On a fast highway, this event would have posed a mortal hazard. I am concerned about the safety of a vehicle that becomes dysfunctional in that way. …”

NHTSA complaint #10930000, filed 2016-12, 6,600 miles

“The driver's door lock cannot be opened manually due a known problem with the electrical door actuator failure. This is a design flaw in a critical component where the driver should be able to open the door in case of an electrical failure or in an emergency when its critical that the driver is able to manually open the door even if there is an electrical failure, battery dies, the car is involved in an accident or the car falls into a body of water - in any of these cases the driver should be able to unlock and open the door manually. …”

NHTSA complaint #11175900, filed 2019-02, 40,000 miles

“My car keeps indicating that my battery is low because it is discharging after car is turned off. I kept smelling a burning smell and finally discovered that my battery was burning a hole in my trunk lining. The battery has melted the plastic covering the positive terminal on the left side. And it was smoking on fire when I opened my trunk.”

NHTSA complaint #11627396, filed 2024-11

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201447%

Other parts of the 2014 BMW 535D

Fuel system
29 complaintsEngine
28 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2014 BMW 535D

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology