2013 BMW 535I — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
59
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
9
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2013 BMW 535I
The 2013 BMW 535I has received a total of 59 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 9 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (13 complaints), Engine (9 complaints), and Exterior Lighting (8 complaints).
Recalls for the 2013 BMW 535I
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 2013 BMW 535I, potentially affecting up to 13,443 vehicles.
Recall 15V188000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 13,443 vehicles affected
Defect: 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."
Consequence: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2013 BMW 535I
59 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 BMW 535I. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptivemobility | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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)
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)
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)
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.
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.
Safety Rating for the 2013 BMW 535I
The 2013 BMW 535I received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2013 BMW 535I
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 9 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2013 BMW 535I. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
B651320 — STRUCTURE
COLLECTION OF DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS: BMW intends to perform evaluations and analyses on these side air bags.
B660814 — BACK OVER PREVENTION
Side View Camera Does Not Display Picture.
120915 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
"SUBJECT N55: Slight Surging at Constant Speeds when Accelerating Very Lightly. The vehicle shudders or surges slightly while driving at constant speeds and applying the accelerator very lightly. This symptom is most easily reproduced under light loads when the current fuel consumption is approximately 3448 miles per gallon. The current...
511714 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Rattling Noise from Mid-range Speaker in Front Door Panel. The customer complains of a rattle noise in either the left or right front door only when the speakers are in use. The inside door lock rod is making contact with the inside panel when the speakers are in use at...
121712 — ENGINE
N52T / N55 with 8HP45: Delay in Engine Response. A customer may complain of a delay in engine response after decelerating at low road speeds and then reaccelerating. This can occur when the transmission remains in a high gear due to a delay in the transmission downshifting. This situation can...
310312 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE
Groaning Noise from Front Axle. Groaning noises are heard from the front axle area while maneuvering at low speeds (e.g., parking lot maneuvers) or over uneven road surfaces. CAUSE Hydraulic mount in tension strut
121713 — ENGINE
N55: Engine Difficult to Start at Cold Ambient Temperatures. The complaint may include any of the following symptoms: * The engine stalls immediately after a cold start before driving away * The engine may run roughly or misfire after a cold start * The engine does not start cold or...
320113 — STEERING
Squeaking Noises when Steering Wheel Is Turned. There are squeaking noises from the steering spindle when the steering wheel is turned. The steering spindle sleeve's plastic bearing is insufficiently lubricated or not lubricated at all.
650913 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
"CHAMP2: Stored Radio Stations Deleted After Ignition Off. After ignition off, the stored radio stations (AM/FM and Satellite) are no longer available in: * Menu ""PRESETS"" * Functional bookmarks (buttons on the head unit) Error in the CHAMP2 head unit"
NHTSA Investigations for the 2013 BMW 535I
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 535I
- 2008 BMW 535I — 116 complaints
- 2009 BMW 535I — 100 complaints
- 2010 BMW 535I — 81 complaints
- 2011 BMW 535I — 153 complaints
- 2012 BMW 535I — 86 complaints
- 2013 BMW 535I (current)
- 2014 BMW 535I — 44 complaints
- 2015 BMW 535I — 36 complaints
- 2016 BMW 535I — 15 complaints
- 2017 BMW 535I — 0 complaints