2013 BMW 535i
1 recall and 38 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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Decode a VIN1 recall and 38 owner complaints on record for this model year.
This page describes the model. To see how one particular car is equipped, and whether its identifier is valid, decode its VIN.
Decode a VINAlmost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
DRIVING NEW 2013 535I (HEAVILY EQUIPPED) ABOUT 50 MPH IN 55 MPH ZONE ON A CLEAR EVENING W/LOW TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BMW COLLIDED INTO REAR-END OF ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLE LACKING ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR FLARES. BMW RAMMED ADVERSE PARKED VEHICLE APPROX. 16' BEFORE PULL APART. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO LEFT ARM ETC.. BOTH LEGS IN SIMILAR TRAUMA POST-CRASH AT KNEE TO FOOT EQUALLY. FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED INWARDS (NOT OUTWARD) ABOVE STEERING WHEEL. FORCE OF IMPACT TO RT. FOOT/HEEL TO PEDAL/FLOOR CAUSED MULTIPLE FRACTURES REQ. 10 SCREWS WITH PLATE AND OTHER INJURIES. TEMPORARY TOTAL DISABILITY AND PARTIAL PERMANENT DISABILITY. OUT OF POCKET MEDICAL COSTS, AND OTHER SPECIALS EXCEED $100,000.00 EXCLUDING VALUE OF VEHICLE. (DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ESTIMATED TO EXCEED $42,000.00) BMW STALLED AND ROLLED TO A REST IN LEFT LANE. BMW ASSIST COULD NOT SPEAK TO ME, BUT COULD HEAR FROM WITHIN VEHICLE. BMW ADMITTED ITS BMW ASSIST SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND MAY NOT HAVE PROPERLY AND/OR TIMELY NOTIFIED 911. PERSONAL INJURIES FROM AIRBAG DESPITE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL FULLY RETRACTED. BMW PROMISED, BUT FAILED TO PROVIDE AUDIOTAPE AND TRANSCRIPT, DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS. MOREOVER, BMW WON'T PROVIDE COMMON COURTESY OF A RESPONSE TO SAID FAILURE EVEN THOUGH PROOF OF SERVICE EXISTS. UNUSUAL PARTICULARLY SINCE NO THREAT OF LITIGATION HAS BEEN OR WILL BE MADE. AIR BAGS DO NOT SHOW AS BEING DISCONNECTED FROM CRASH ON THIS SITE. PERSONAL INJURIES E.G. MEDICAL BILLS, PAIN AND SUFFERING ETC. INTO SIX FIGURES. BMW HAS ALSO REFUSED TO INSPECT VEHICLE TO REBUT ANY QUERIES AS TO VEHICLES' PERFORMANCE AT MOMENT OF IMPACT. BMW NOR SELLING DEALER NEVER INFORMED ASSIST PACKAGE FOR ABOUT $1,300 WOULD HAVE PREVENTED OR SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE OUTCOME. *TR
My 2013 BMW 535i (VIN [XXX] ) caught fire spontaneously while parked, turned off, and unoccupied on 11/18/2025 in Westbury, NY. A passerby saw smoke and called 911. Nassau County Police and the Westbury Fire Department responded. Firefighters informed me at the scene that the fire was mechanical in origin. The vehicle was completely off and had been parked for about 20 minutes. I was not in or near the car. The fire originated under the hood. This matches known fire patterns in BMW 5-series models from this generation involving electrical/engine components, even though my VIN shows no open recalls. The previous owner did not register the car, so any recall notices may not have reached them. The vehicle is a total loss. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Back passenger door handle started smoking.
Heard a clicking noise behind the steering wheel for a few days then I’ll the sudden the horn stopped working and all the controls on the steering wheel stopped working. I’m a mechanic so I took apart the clock spring stealing wheel compartment to find all of the wire broken and very very brittle. Cause for concern due to airbag malfunction and is no longer connected properly!!!I’ve been hearing a clicking noise behind the steering wheel for a few days. Then, suddenly, the horn stopped working, and all the controls on the steering wheel stopped working as well. Since I’m a mechanic, I disassembled the clock spring and the steering wheel compartment to find that all the wires were broken and extremely brittle. This is concerning because it could cause an airbag malfunction, and the wires are no longer connected properly.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine was overheating. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal burning odor while driving, with smoke coming from underneath the hood while at a complete stop. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
After the replacement of all 02 sensors and fuses, the fault code returns and was traced back to the integrated supply module/IVm
Headlight Assembly has issues with the seal and condensation can/does enter the headlight assembly rendering the functionality of the headlight as suspect. Without proper lighting and condensation in front of the headlight which greatly impacts/effects the clarity and visibility of objects in the front of the car creating a safety issue. The cost to replace/repair these assemblies is excessive and is a widespread problem across multiple BMW models/years.
Front drive shaft detached and went into oil pan causing oils to splash out everywhere.
Water pump failure with @32,900 miles on odometer. Cost to replace $2,800
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Soon after hearing the noise, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the passenger’s side CV joint was replaced out of pocket. Recently, the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer for routine maintenance and the contact was informed that the driver’s side CV joint was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
The headlight housing on my model year is leaking water into it and causing electrical issues , Iv noticed majority of other models I see on the road have the same issue with one of the headlight housings having water in them, this has caused numerous codes to appear on the dash. “ Vertical headlight malfunction “ …”turn signal malfunction “ …”daytime running light malfunction “ ect… this is a safety issue because it stops my signal from working and my headlight works when it wants to. Normally I would think maybe I rock chipped the housing but since I see it on majority of 535’s I see I figure it must have been an issue from factory.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated that the driver’s side headlamp had condensation inside the headlamp housing. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who replaced the headlamp housing. The contact stated that the failure recurred with the passenger’s side headlamp housing and the driver’s side replacement headlamp housing. The failure had caused the turn signals to malfunction. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Seat belt my driver restraint light has come on on my car there is a known safety recall on BMW takeda airbags second issue my horn has suddenly stopped working is this related to my airbag as they are in the same area of components basically I don't know if my airbag will work in a collision and I am no longer able to honk my horn
Moonroof glass exploded while on highway at 60mph No other cars in around at time Moonroof blew outwards Nothing hit roof at all
2011-2013 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE SUBJECT TO LEAKING AND THUS SOON FAIL. THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE FAILURE AS IT IMPACTS THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY (ROUGHLY A $2,000 PART) AND OF COURSE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFELY PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE SEEN MANY POSTS ON BMW FORUMS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HEARD IT AT MY REPAIR SHOP AS WELL. I RECOMMEND A SAFETY RECALL BASED ON THIS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND VERY EXPENSIVE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE START WITH CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLAMPS AND THEN RESULTS IN AN ELECTRIC CONTROL MODEL FAILURE FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LIGHT TO WORK.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.