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BMW 535I USModel year report

2011 BMW 535I US Problems

Complaints
36filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
7,308miles, 32 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 BMW 535I US (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2011 BMW 535I US. The part named most often is tires, with 18 complaints (50% of the total), followed by engine (6) and wheels (4). 32 of the complaints include a mileage, and 81% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 7,308 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 350 technical service bulletins for this model year. Tires complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 66 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Tires: “I have a 2011 Bmw 535i with 16,300 miles which developed a bubble on the outside sidewall of the 19 goodyear excellence run flat tire. There was no pothole impact or other incident that I am aware of. The replacement cost at the Bmw dealer was over $500. I have since learned that there are many instances of problems with these tires. Why haven't they been recalled?”

NHTSA complaint #10467693, filed 2012-07, 16,300 miles

Engine: “I have had several problems. 1. Both head lights became filled with condensation/water. I took it to a Bmw dealership. They performed a Bmw diagnosis. I was told that the most likely case was the cold air. They checked for excess air leaks in both head lights but did not find excess air leaks. (see attached statement) they also replaced a gasket, oil filter housing. The oil filter housing was allowing oil to leak out from the engine 5.8. They performed removal and replacement of the oil filter housing gasket and washed down the engine of the oil residue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11210575, filed 2019-05, 74,943 miles

Wheels: “I have a 2011 Bmw 535i with run flat tires. After hitting a small pot hole I noticed bubbles on the outside of both front tires. There was also a small slash in the right front tire. I took my car to Bmw today and at first was told that that this is a normal occurence if you hit a pothole. I told them that never in the history of driving had I ever experienced a tire being damaged in this way due to a small pot hole. I am now waiting to see what their response to this problem will be. …”

NHTSA complaint #10442084, filed 2012-01

Electrical system: “The contact owns a 2011 Bmw 535i. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was confirmed that the remote control key failed, which caused a discharge in the battery. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The dealer then replaced the remote key however, the failure recurred approximately two months later. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure where the remote key battery was recharged several times, as well as replaced. The failure recurred and the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it remained. …”

NHTSA complaint #10479875, filed 2012-10, 3,100 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

81% of the 32 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,805 and 24,000 miles.

53%0–1022%10–256%25–503%50–756%75–1009%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (32 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 7,308 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2011132012201320152016201720182019
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2011 BMW 535I US in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 350 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 350 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 535I US

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2011367,3080——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable

All BMW 535I US model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 BMW 535I US have?

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2011 BMW 535I US as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 BMW 535I US is reported most often?

Tires is named most often, in 18 complaints (50% of the total), followed by engine with 6.

Has the 2011 BMW 535I US been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 BMW 535I US reported?

Among the 32 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 7,308 miles and the middle half falls between 1,805 and 24,000 miles; 81% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.