NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 BMW 535XI Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 BMW 535XI has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 BMW 535XI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 BMW 535XI owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 535XI, describing incidents dated August 11, 2013 to July 23, 2018.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Of the 4 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 4 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11114054 · Filed July 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT…
ODI #11023128 · Filed September 11, 2017
CPSC:THIS CAR HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CREATES THE ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE INSIDE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND THE GROWTH OF MOLD.*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FREQUENT RIDERS OF THE VEHICLE WERE EXPERIENCING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND ASTHMA LIKE SYMPTOMS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DI D NOT OFFER ANY…
ODI #10568941 · Filed March 13, 2014
BOTH FRONT TIRES DEVELOPED A BUBBLE AFTER GOING OVER A SMALL POTHOLE/BUMP AT UNDER 30MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR JUST OVER 7 MONTHS AND 3500 MILES. THESE STOCK TIRES ON 2013 BMW 535XI AWD WITH M SPORT PACKAGE -- GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 - SIZE…

Read all 4 complaints

Rear Reflex Reflectors/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #15V188000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 31, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 13,443 vehicles

Repair completion: 70.79% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified July 27, 2017 · Vehicles built January 30, 2013 – June 28, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2013 BMW 535XI. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 BMW 535XI.

Suspension; Power Train; Engine

ODI #11114054

Incident: July 23, 2018 · Filed: July 27, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *TT UPDATED 10/02/18*JB

Structure

ODI #11023128

1 injury

Incident: August 17, 2017 · Filed: September 11, 2017

CPSC:THIS CAR HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CREATES THE ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE INSIDE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND THE GROWTH OF MOLD.*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FREQUENT RIDERS OF THE VEHICLE WERE EXPERIENCING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND ASTHMA LIKE SYMPTOMS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DI D NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS ...UPDATED 10/17/17 *BF UPDATED 7/17/18*JB *TR

Tires

ODI #10568941

Incident: March 12, 2014 · Filed: March 13, 2014

BOTH FRONT TIRES DEVELOPED A BUBBLE AFTER GOING OVER A SMALL POTHOLE/BUMP AT UNDER 30MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR JUST OVER 7 MONTHS AND 3500 MILES. THESE STOCK TIRES ON 2013 BMW 535XI AWD WITH M SPORT PACKAGE -- GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 - SIZE 245/40R19 -- 98V CLEARLY HAVE A DESIGN FLAW OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND MUST BE RECALLED. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN DRIVING OVER VERY MINOR ROAD HAZARDS MIGHT CAUSE TIRE BLISTERS THAT COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A BLOWOUT. *TR

Service Brakes

ODI #10536488

Crash 1 injury

Incident: August 11, 2013 · Filed: August 21, 2013

ON SUNDAY, AUG. 11, 2013 WHILE TRAVELING IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON I-90W, MASS. PIKE NEAR EXIT 10A, TRAFFIC ABOUT 100 YARDS AHEAD STOPPED IN THE TRAVEL LANE. I TAPPED THE BRAKES WITH NO RESPONSE AND PROCEEDED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE, AGAIN NO RESPONSE. MY NEW BMW CRASHED, AT ABOUT 40 MPH, INTO THE REAR OF A VEHICLE IN MY TRAVEL LANE PUSHING THAT VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT CAUSING A FOUR CAR CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT. NO ONE IN THE OTHER THREE CARS CLAIMED TO BE INJURED. MY WIFE RIDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED A CONTUSION, DEPLOYED AIRBAG, ON HER LEG BELOW HER KNEE AND A CHEST PAIN. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. ALL AIRBAGS (6) IN THE FRONT SEAT COMPARTMENT DEPLOYED.THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY WITH NO PRECIPITATION AND THE ROADWAY WAS DRY. INITIAL APPRAISAL OF THE BMW DAMAGE IS $18,000+ WITH SUPPLEMENTAL APPRAISALS DUE ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN AUTO BODY EXPERTS CAN RAISE THE HOOD....UPDATED 09-26-13 *BF UPDATED 09/26/2013 *JS *TR

Other BMW 535XI model years

Check your 2013 BMW 535XI VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 535XI at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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