RoadVitals

2010 BMW 535I Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Apr 26, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
28%
of 58 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 BMW 535I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 26, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED AND MANUALLY STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO RALLYE BMW (1 BRUSH HOLLOW RD, WESTBURY, NY 11590, (516) 226-7947) WHO HAD REPLACED AN UNKNOWN PART HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE SAME WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11413933
Incident
Mar 29, 2021
Mileage
120,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 2, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BATTERY DISCHARGING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVE BELTS, BATTERY, INTELLIGENT BATTERY SENSOR (IBS) SYSTEM, BOLTS, HOSE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.*DT

NHTSA ID
11337163
Incident
Apr 19, 2015
Mileage
70,000 mi
EngineSuspension
Filed Jun 27, 2020

I HAD THE CAR SERVICED BY A MECHANIC BECAUSE I HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FAULTS. WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. SPARK PLUGS AND COPS WERE REPLACED. SOME OF THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. MECHANIC ASKED ME TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR 100 MILES TO SEE IF ANY CHECK ENGINE ISSUES WILL REAPPEAR. THE VEHICLE FIRST BEGAN STATING IT HAD LOW OIL PRESSURE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO JUST STOP AT 15%. I THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE INDICATOR WENT AWAY FOR THE LOW OIL PRESSURE. I DROVE ABOUT 10 MORE MILES AND DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION APPEARED AND I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. ENGINE WAS SEIZED. WHAT WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE WAS "SHARDS OF METAL". MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 5 SERIES BMW ENGINES. I THINK THAT BMW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ENGINE FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID
11331245
Incident
Jun 25, 2020
Mileage
145,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 18, 2020

MY BMW 2010 5 SERIES GT ( CAMPAIGN 10V446000 ) HAS HAD ISSUES PERTAINING TOO A CHECK VALVE OF THE BREAK VACUUM PUMP THAT LEAKS A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS HAS CONTAMINATED MY BRAKE BOOSTER, AND ALSO THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH THE POWER ASSIT BRAKING PERFORMANCE THAT HAS LED TOO LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING WHICH I'VE DONE RESEARCH AND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE A RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. MY FUEL GUAGE HAS ALSO DISPLAYED A LARGER AMOUNT OF FUEL THAN WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK, WHICH COULD ALSO INCREASE MY VEHICLE TOO STALL AND INCREASE A CHANCE OF ME BEING IN A ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11309893
Incident
Jun 24, 2019
Mileage
88,924 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 10, 2020

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRING VEHICLE UP TO SPEED ON THE ON-RAMP OF THE HIGHWAY, THE "FUEL PUMP WARNING" WILL DISPLAY ON SCREEN. THIS IS THEN FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE UNTIL THE ENGINE STOPS AND THE VEHICLE NO LONGER RUNS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED AND DIAGNOSED AS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP BE TECHNICIAN. TECHNICIAN ADVISED ME THAT BMW HAS RECALLED "CERTAIN" MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11308210
Incident
Jan 29, 2020
Mileage
115,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed May 13, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHILE IN TRAFFIC BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED CLOSER TO THE ROAD AND WAS DRAGGING WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT DID NOT NOTICE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY BMW OF DECATUR DEALER, LOCATED AT 1606 CHURCH ST, DECATUR, GA 30033, (404) 994-4329, FOR THE STALLING FAILURE AND IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11207323
Incident
Dec 19, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 7, 2017

ENGINE VALVE COVERS CRACKED, LEADING TO ACCUMULATED OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
11044069
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 24, 2016

ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM COMMON VALVE COVER LEAK. CAUSES SUDDEN POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
10888062
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 25, 2014

MY 3 KIDS AND I HAD LEFT THE BMW DEALER AFTER I HAD PARTS SERVICED/PARTS REPLACED, AND JUMPED ON THE INTERSTATE. I WAS CRUISING AROUND 70MPH WHEN I FELT THE CAR SLOW DOWN AND THE MSG "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCE SPEED" APPEARED. I VEERED TO THE RIGHT A LITTLE,BUT I QUICKLY FOUND AND EXIT AND PULLED OVER. FORTUNATELY, THE TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE WAS LITE AND AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED, BUT IT DID GET MY HEART RACING. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A "COMMON" TYPE OF MSG, BUT I'M WEARY. I TRIED TELLING THEM ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE, BUT THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND I JUST PAID TO HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AND DIAGNOSED! THEY ALSO SUGGESTED I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THE ISSUE FORCES ME TO HAVE TO BRING IT IN - BASICALLY UNTIL SOMETHING BREAKS. I WOULD HAVE THE DEALER WOULD HAVE STARTED WITH REPLACING THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND MOVING ON FROM THERE SINCE IT IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10584812
Incident
Apr 24, 2014
Mileage
62,500 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 9, 2014

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2010 BMW 535I ON 12/31/2013. THE NEXT DAY (NEW YEAR'S DAY), AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT DOWN, COMING TO A ROLLING STOP. AS SOON AS THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THE DASHBOARD SHOWED A "FUEL PUMP" WARNING, WHICH ALSO NOTED THAT "CONTINUED DRIVING IS POSSIBLE." HOWEVER, SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RE-START WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED TO A SAFE LOCATION. PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE, I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH ON A 2-LANE DIVIDE ROADWAY, WHERE CONSTRUCTION BARRICADES REPLACED THE SHOULDER. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST AROUND MIDNIGHT, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC, SO WE WERE SPARED CERTAIN CATASTROPHE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY HOME, AND ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM THERE. FOR THE NEXT 30+ DAYS, VARIOUS FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM COMPONENTS WERE SERVICED AND/OR REPLACED INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED; LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED; FUEL INJECTORS FLUSHED, IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. AFTER EACH OF THOSE "FIXES", THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO US, AND SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON THE ROAD AND IN TRAFFIC WITHIN 2 DAYS. FINALLY, THE INJECTION PUMP CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT A COMPLETE SOFTWARE SYSTEM UPDATE. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FOR THE 4TH TIME ON 2/3/2014, AND IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED AND OUR SAFETY RESTORED.... *TR

NHTSA ID
10563583
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
62,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 30, 2014

IGNITION COIL MALFUNCTION RECURS AFTER DEALERSHIP REPAIRS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. CAUSES ENGINE SPEED TO VARY AND BE OUTSIDE THE DRIVERS CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10562212
Incident
Jan 28, 2014
Mileage
58,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 15, 2013

ON JANUARY 12, 2013, WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF ROUGHLY 70 MPH, OUR 2010 BMW 535I SEDAN, SUDDENLY LOST POWER, STALLED, COULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AS I CROSSED 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC; SURPRISINGLY GUIDED THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT DISPLAYED, "ENGINE MALFUNCTION-REDUCED POWER." AS A RESULT, IT REQUIRED A TOW SERVICE TO A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10492993
Incident
Jan 12, 2013
Mileage
32,007 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 19, 2010

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE ON 2010 BMW 535XI THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED TWICE, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. ENGINE LOSES POWER - UNSAFE TO OPERATE. FIRST FAILURE IN OCTOBER OF 2009, SECOND FAILURE ON JUNE 22, 2010. *TR

NHTSA ID
10356356
Incident
Oct 14, 2009
Mileage
1,370 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 15, 2010

UPON DELIVERY OF VEHICLE LEAKING OIL, TURNS OUT TO BE THE HEAT TRANSFERER UNTIL. PART REPLACED FROM MFG, THEN FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP DEAD WITH 5000 MILES ON IT, NOISE ON CAR FROM DELIVERY IN FOR SERVICE MORE THAN 3 TIMES REQUIRED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WANTING TO LEMON LAW THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10343446
Incident
Oct 17, 2009
Mileage
20 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 12, 2010

BRAND NEW BMW 535I WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES. ENGINE MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING IN MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC. ALL POWER, STEERING, EVERYTHING WENT DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BARELY GET TO MIDDLE LANE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. UPDATED 6/21/10 *CN THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS AN ACUTE FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB *TR

NHTSA ID
10335904
Incident
Jun 12, 2010
Mileage
3,900 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 6, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REBOOTED THE COMPUTER AND REPROGRAMMED FAULTY CODES AT LEAST SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE ALSO WOULD NOT START AT TIMES. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PARKED AT HIS HOME AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,299. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

NHTSA ID
10324095
Incident
Oct 22, 2009
Mileage
2,299 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .