2011 BMW 535I US Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 8%of 36 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 38,008miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 BMW 535I US, 8% of the 36 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 38,008 miles.
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 Bmw has about 75k miles on it. I was driving it one day after work and all of a sudden the car stalled on the highway. Car did not shut down or anything but loss of power, it's like my vehicle went into neutral gear, I stepped on the gas and the car will not move. This almost resulted in a fatal crash. 'drivetran malfunction' came on the dashboard. This is very weird for a car that only has 75k miles on it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11061260, filed 2018-01, 76,000 miles“Upon acceleration from a standstill, there is a 1 second delay from when the accelerator is pressed to when the car actually moves forward. The hesitation is present when moving, but not nearly as pronounced as from a stop. The acceleration delay is both dangerous and frustrating. Living in a high traffic urban area with lots of hills(san francisco), the delay has caused me and my family to come close to many traffic accidents. I am unable to accelerate immediately for left turns and am nearly t-boned with my wife fearing for her life. The problem is consistent and happens every time. …”
NHTSA complaint #10451079, filed 2012-03, 15 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10174009Apr 1, 2020TICKING NOISE WHILE CORNERING WITHOUT THE BRAKES APPLIED: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 3) replaces SI B34 05 17 dated September 2017. Ticking noise coming from…
- 10135032Feb 1, 2018TICKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT AXLE WHEN CORNERING: The customer may complain of a metallic ticking noise from the front axle when cornering, maneuvering, parking or pulling away…
- 10135021Feb 1, 2018N63, N63TU, S63 and S63TU Engines: Oil Leak from the Rear: Customer complains that engine oil is leaking from the center of the vehicle. When verified, the engine oil residue can…
- 10142929Jan 1, 2018CRACKING NOISES FROM THE FRONT AXLE AREA WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS, WHEN STATIONARY OR PARKING: Cracking noises are heard from the front axle area while maneuvering at low speeds…
- 10146821Sep 1, 2016CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT AXLE This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI 31 01 12 dated June 2015. Clicking noises are heard from the front axle area while maneuvering at…
- 10151302May 1, 2016N63, N63TU, S63 and S63TU Engines: Oil Leak from the Rear of the Engine and Transmission Bell Housing. Customer complains that engine oil is leaking from the center of the…
- 10147241Sep 1, 2015Shudder from the Driveline on Vehicles with xDrive. There is a shudder or vibration from the driveline when taking off from a stop, or when accelerating at highway speeds. CAUSE…
- 10151404Aug 1, 2015Vibration or Shudder from Driveline when Accelerating from a Stop. Chassis stabilization warning is displayed. Vehicle may exhibit a shudder or vibration when taking off from a…
- 10147198Jul 1, 2015Cracking in Rear Differential Mount Bushing. During inspection, the rear differential mount in the rear axle support shows signs of cracking.
- 10147084Feb 1, 2015Check Control Messages Related to Battery Charge During Cold Ambient Temperatures. On cold days with an outside ambient temperature of less than 15°F, customers may notice a…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2011 BMW 535I US
18 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsWheels
4 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 BMW 535I US
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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