Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 BMW 535I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 30 · page 1 of 2
This is a known and unaddressed issue. BMW headlight seals fail allowing condensation to build and erode electronics. Replacement costs exceed $15K and only OEM parts and BMW servicing are options. Many BMW repair shops refuse to do this work as it is overly complicated and expensive. This issue is well known and document and warrants compensation and/or recall.
The BMW, while turning at low speed into a parking space, suddenly accelerated and the braking system failed. Airbags deployed after multiple impacts with other vehicles and a fixed object, causing serious personal injury for the driver. The incident occurred on 01/16/2026. The vehicle is a total loss, has not yet been inspected, and is in storage. No warning lamps, messages or other issues were displayed or known prior to the failure. The vehicle was regularly maintained. The incident did not occur as a result of driver error or a medical issue.
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 535i. The contact stated that while driving in stop-and-go traffic, she depressed the brake pedal, however crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front of her. The contact stated that all three air bags deployed; however, the front driver-side air bag failed to deploy properly. The contact stated that smoke came out from the air bag and failed to fully inflate, not protect the contact. Neither the contact nor the driver of the other vehicle sustained any injuries. A police report was filed. Due to the accident, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the damage to the vehicle from the accident was repaired, and all air bags were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
2014 BMW 535i Oil housing filter started leaking oil into serpentine belt causing the belt to shred and snap then was sucked into the crankshaft causing the motor to seize. Car was towed to bmw dealership and was diagnosed with catastrophic engine failure resulting in $28,000 estimate for engine replacement. Then vehicle was towed to licensed BMW repair facility and was repaired for $15,000 engine replacement.
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 535I. The contact stated that the engine cooling fan was running at abnormal high speed upon starting the vehicle and while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently, and the vehicle hesitated to respond while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with defective water pump and water pump electrical system. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in an undisclosed recall. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
LEFT LIGHT IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE TO USE MY BRIGHT LIGHTS TO HAVE LIGHTS AT NIGHT. I HAVE NOTICE THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER BMW'S IN THIS YEAR RANGE 2013-2014. SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS WRONG WITH THIS LIGHT.
Driver-side headlight started getting condensation last winter. Brought the car to the dealer to see if they can replace the gasket but was told that it needs to be replaced and it could cost as much as $7,000 if the module needs to be replaced as well. That is ridiculous that it needs to be replaced at such ab absurd cost. Lights can stop working if it burns out and dangerous if it occurs at night and lose your headlights. Since it is summer now, condensation has not occurred until it starts raining.
Exploding sunroof. While driving on a normal day no rain or bad weather on open highway I here what was like a gun shot and see glass explode upwards and out of vehicle then I hear pebbles falling on my sunroof visor. My back sunroof window exploded for no reason.
Possible PCV malfunction. Intense plastic burning smell, smoke coming from front ac vents. Dealer unable to replicate issue, valve cover replaced under warranty. Issue persists. 2 Vehicle inspections at same bmw dealer, were unable to identify burnt battery PCM as well. Occasional check engine light, gone after vehicle restart. Under hard acceleration burning plastic smell intensifies.
Ken Cook <[email protected]> Sun, Jun 19, 4:10 PM (3 days ago) to nhtsa.webmaster i found car online cr gurus and it was certified and car fax no problems, i used my savings of 5000 for down payment closed the deal and was coming down on weekend to get vehicle. coworker came and is witness. we get to Wilkins and the salesman who i talked to is nowhere to be found another person closes deal and brings up oil leak. i'm mad but here. i ask for them to subtract cost of oil leak from down payment, they said no.they said a warranty on car i took ti bmw they told me engine might lock up. i called dealership no help and warranty was only for tires and windshield. im livid. i called all politicians and government. and my car is locked up and i still pay 400 a month to finance company and car does not work can’t afford to purchase engine or car. i need your help making them replace engine. i have a witness witness . i was taken advantage pf im a honorable veteran and i was swindled. i just want the car fix and driving like it is supposed to by dealer this oil leak i have taken in 5 different times and only driven the car 5 months anhd i stay current on maitenamnce and this last trip the engine locked up at 70k miles. i bought at 60k miles and each dealership has told me to contact wilkins hyundai in illinios and report because this is wrong and i have but they have ignored me. i contacted Bmw and they have also tried to avoid my situaation. i am without a working vehicle and i am still financing this vehicle. my family is broken i am on the verge of losing my job i am getting counseling for mental health at the VA medical center now and i am an honorable Veteran this has caused me to become homeless. they are obligated to repair this vehicle and if a lawsuit must occur or legal action i am 100 with this because this was deceptive and fraudulent! please help
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 535i. The contact stated that after receiving the vehicle back from the dealer after a collision repair, the steering wheel seized while driving. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that a faulty oil gasket damaged the serpentine belt, causing an oil leak. The dealer informed the contact that the serpentine belt and drive belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
you have serious construction going on at 21425 spring street at the veteran shelter where i stay. well the crew dug up sections of the road and cut it where it is a Sharpe dip to go up and down. i went over one at 1am on my way to work and it hit my undercarriage the following morning my car was leaking oil and now the ignition and battery are out ! i ask my insurance but it is not and accident it is damage to my vehicle that i cant afford and i need to get to work. now im in a hotel room trying to save the couple grand it will take to fix. i was told that you would help or even fix this because of the construction damage and so i am reaching out to you for your help? that is union grove wisconsin
1 of my headlights is currently displaying an adaptative headlamp malfunction warning error. I took my vehicle to the dealer and the resolution offered seemed more trial and error. The dealer offered to dry out my headlight assembly which was holding condensation but could not guarantee this will resolve the issue. If the dry out method did not work the only other option was to replace the entire head light assembly at a cost of several thousand dollars each. In the mean time additional lighting modules could be at risk of failure due to the potential moisture buildup. I took my vehicle for a 2nd opinion and the mechanic stated the electrical in the both Head light assemblies are at risk for failure or worst due to exposure to moisture.
RECALL COOLANT LEAK WITHIN ERG. MY ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED A STRANGE TICKING SOUND.
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK, ALL OTHER DOORS DO. EVEN WITH A DOUBLE PULL IT WILL NOT OPEN. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN IT IS USING THE CENTER DASH MOUNTED UNLOCK BUTTON. A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.
PASSENGER FRONT DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURE CAUSING INABILITY TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR. NORMALLY WITH DOOR LOCKED YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO A 'DOUBLE PULL' WITH DOOR LATCH TO OPEN THE DOOR SUCH AS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR.
WHEN TURNING ON THE MAX/AC BLOWER FAN THE FAN BECOMES INTERMITTENT/SPORADIC. THE FAN RUNS ON HIGH AND THEN SHUTS DOWN THEN RUNS ON HIGH AND SHUTS DOWN. ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ON CITY STREETS WITH NORMAL STRAIT AWAY DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE AND APPEARS TO HAPPEN EACH TIME THAT I TRY THE MAX/AC FAN.
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, EFFECTIVELY TRAPPING THE DRIVER INSIDE. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE STATIONARY AFTER ENGINE IS STOPPED AND VEHICLE IN PARK. TOOK TO DEALER AND IT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF SERVICE ADVISER, THEY INFORMED ME NOTHING IS WRONG.
WHY THE VEHICLES IN OFF POSITION THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ONCE YOU COMPLETE THE DOUBLE PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE TRAPPING YOU IN THE VEHICLE THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IS TO ACTUALLY HIT THE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE CENTER RASH. I FIND THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY I WILL BE TRAPPED UNLESS I CAN ACTUALLY REACH THE DOOR BUTTON TO UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS THERE IS A VIDEO THAT I AM FORWARDING AS WELL ON YOUTUBE SHOWING THIS ACTUAL PROBLEM MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED IF YOUR VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES
ON 12-JUL-2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM DRIVING WEST ON I-580 AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH LESS THAN 1 MILE EAST OF THE CASTRO VALLEY BLVD EXIT, IN DAILY COMMUTER TRAFFIC ON OPEN ROAD (NO OVERPASS OR OTHER STRUCTURES HANGING OVER THE ROAD) I HEARD A TREMENDOUSLY LOUD BANG, AND LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD HIT ME. I THEN HEARD THE SOUND OF BROKEN GLASS ABOVE ME IN THE SUNROOF "COMPARTMENT"; THE INTERIOR SHADE OF THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME. AFTER REGAINING MY COMPOSURE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE FREEWAY, INSPECTED THE SUNROOF AND EXTERIOR OF THE CAR AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY DAMAGE OTHER THAN THE BROKEN SUNROOF GLASS. I RETURNED HOME, TOOK SOME PICTURES, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FURTHER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DAMAGE TO ANY BODY PANELS OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE (INDENTATION) OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE GLASS AND DENTING THE INTERIOR SHADE/SHIELD OF THE SUNROOF.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE DOOR HANDLE. THE DOOR LOCK WAS JAMMED INTO THE LOCKED POSITION AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT ACTUATING THE ELECTRIC DOOR UNLOCK SYSTEM. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THIS INSTANCE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES TO OTHER BMW VEHICLES.
THE BRAKES ON MY BMW 535XI 2014, WERE REPAIRED AND THE BMW SHOP ON A SATURDAY AND BY TUESDAY, WHILE TURNING THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND FAILED, CAUSING ME TO HIT ANOTHER VICHICLE.
DRIVING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY 85 SOUTH. VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SHUT OFF. ALL POWER LOST. POWER STEERING LOST. WARNING DISPLAY INDICATED DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY INOPERABLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER SHUTTING DOWN ON HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO SAFETY AND THEN TOWED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES RUPTURED AND CAUSED NUMEROUS FLATS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE TIRE INFORMATION WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,200.
WARNING ON DASH BOARD TELLING FLAT TIRE. NO SIGN OF ANY RUPTURE OR NAIL BUT END UP REPLACING IT. A SIMILAR INCIDENT ON AUGUST, SEPT AND NOW IN OCT.I STRONGLY BELIEVE THOSE RE DEFECTIVE TIRES. REPLACED FOUR TIRES IN LESS THAN A YEAR WITH REPLACEMENT COST OF $2000 PLUS. BMW REFRAIN TO HELP AND SO IS GOOD YEAR THE MANUFACTURER. TIRES BURST EVEN YOU PASS A ROUGH BUMP. IN OVER 30 YEARS OF DRIVING NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS. SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. *TR
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.
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