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Electrical systemPart report

2015 BMW 535I Electrical system Problems

Complaints
7about this part
Share
30%of 23 total for the year
Median mileage
70,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the electrical system of the 2015 BMW 535I, 30% of the 23 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 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 2015 Bmw 535I xdrive with less than 50k miles had the door lock actuator stop working. If you tried to open the door (once the car was in park, or turned off) and the lock button would come up and go back down but would not unlock. The only way to get the door to unlock was to push the unlock button on the center console. I have read online that this has been an issue on multiple versions of Bmw's and over quite a few years and has never been corrected. This could be a deadly issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11210462, filed 2019-05, 50,000 miles

“The plastic covering over that is connected to the battery in the trunk started to slowly corrode and melt. It burned through the trunk cover and also burned into a bag and coat I had sitting in the trunk. I was on a long-distance road trip and I kept smelling something odd, but no warning lights came on. When I opened the trunk and removed my luggage, there was some smoke and then I saw the place that had burned through. There was nothing wrong with the battery itself.”

NHTSA complaint #11472079, filed 2022-07

“The contact owns a 2015 BMW 535I. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the engine overheated. The engine temperature gauge was between 250 and 300 degrees. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with a water pump connector failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11686396, filed 2025-09, 70,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2015 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds or while the vehicle was parked, the message “Engine Coolant Level Low and Top off Soon as Possible - See Owner’s Manual” were displayed. Additionally, the message “Possible Engine Damages - Attention Scudding Hazard was displayed. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the engine. The contact stated that coolant was added approximately every two days. …”

NHTSA complaint #11637293, filed 2025-01, 121,397 miles

“Myself along with thousands of other owners are having moisture build up issues inside the headlight that eventually create puddles of water that short out the headlights which is $5000 for each headlight replacement.”

NHTSA complaint #11510725, filed 2023-03

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2015730%
2014827%
20131333%
2012917%
20111715%
2010712%
200923%
20081520%
1991120%

Other parts of the 2015 BMW 535I

Engine cooling
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsForward collision avoidance
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2015 BMW 535I

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