2013 BMW 535I Electrical Problems

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)

NHTSA ID

11700387

Incident

Nov 18, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11675261

Incident

Nov 4, 2023

After the replacement of all 02 sensors and fuses, the fault code returns and was traced back to the integrated supply module/IVm

NHTSA ID

11643302

Incident

Feb 18, 2025

Back passenger door handle started smoking.

NHTSA ID

11569707

Incident

Feb 3, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11512368

Incident

Jan 12, 2022

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

NHTSA ID

11429530

Incident

Jun 30, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE PARKING LIGHT MALFUNCTION AND ADAPTIVE HEAD LIGHT MALFUNCTION WERE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER BMW OF MACON LOCATED AT 4785 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*BF CONSUMER STATED FOLLOWING HAD MALFUNCTIONS HEAD LAMP VERTICAL AIM CONTROL, BATTERY DISCHARGING WHILE STOPPING, ELECTRICAL DEVICES SWITCHED OFF TEMPORARILY, AND AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING.*JB

NHTSA ID

11348428

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

55,000 mi

MALFUNCTION OF DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION WAS TOLD THAT THE REASON THE MODULES FOR CONTROLLING DAYTIME BURNING LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL WERE CAUSED WATER GETTING ON THE MODULES THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE'S NO TURN SIGNALS NO WAY FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SERIES OF BMW CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED SINCE PURCHASE AS CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE 45 MONTHS AGO

NHTSA ID

11320972

Incident

Apr 10, 2020

DRIVE SHAFT IS HITTING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TIRE SENSORS KEEP POPPING UP AND SWEAT BELT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THESE THINGS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID

11317434

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

AS I WAS LEAVING THE STOP SIGN AND ENTERING THE BUSY INTERSECTION, MY ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED A FEW DAYS LATER. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH, AGAIN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED.WE TOOK THE CAR TO BMW ENCINITAS FOR ITS FIRST MAINTAINANCE CHECK AND WE DID MENTION THESE TWO SCARY INCIDENTS.THEY RE-ASSURED US THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED TWO DAYS AGO, FEB 23 ,2015. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MPH, AND AGAIN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL. *JS

NHTSA ID

10690684

Incident

Nov 7, 2013

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING DOWN A HILL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ID

10629238

Incident

Aug 25, 2014

Mileage

12,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10585071

Incident

Sep 29, 2013

Mileage

10,000 mi

AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST TUNE UP WOULD BE DUE AT 10,000 MILES. THEREFORE I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE, HOVER WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN THE FIRST TIME AT 10,000 MILES I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO NEED FOR TUNE UP THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD DISPLAY A MESSAGE TELLING ME WHEN TO SERVICE IT. ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS DISPLAYING THAT IT NEEDED OIL, SO I BROUGHT IT IN. ONE QUART OF OIL WAS ADDED ON THE SPOT. AFTER 11,000 IT WAS TELLING ME TO SERVICE THE CAR IN 1200 MILES SO AT 12200 I BROUGHT IT IN. ONCE AGING I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT TIME. NOW IT IS ONCE AGAIN DISPLAYING A MESSAGE THAT OIL LEVEL IS LOW BUT I STILL DON'T HAVE THE MESSAGE FOR SERVICE NEEDED. THE CAR NOW HAS 14000 MILES. I JUST DO NOT WANT THE ENGINE TO BLOW OUT AND THE DEALER BLAME IT ON ME FOR NOT BRINGING IN ON TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575561

Incident

Feb 18, 2013

Mileage

10,000 mi