2012 BMW 535I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 535I years
- About as many complaints as other years 5th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 535I. That ranks 5th out of 11 535I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (12 complaints, 22%), typically at around 83,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 fires. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 54owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 BMW 535I problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 12 | 22% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 11 | 20% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 10 | 19% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 17% | 33,573 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 11% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 7% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 7% | 16,987 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 6% | 119,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 6% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 6% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 6% | 70,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 6% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 6% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 4% | 46,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 4% | 58,267 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 4% | 103,335 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 2% | 91,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 2% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | 74,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 2% | 109,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 BMW 535I recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.
Risk: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
BMW N63 Engine Powertrain Issues 2012 535i The N63 engine, utilized in various BMW models including the 2012 535i, has been subject to multiple customer complaints regarding premature timing chain wear and other powertrain-related issues. This led BMW to introduce a "Customer Care Package,"…
The car was parked overnight. In the morning around dusk , it spontaneously caught fire.
UNKNOWN passenger restraint system malfunction message started coming.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the engine temperature and "Pull Over - Stop Vehicle" warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and let the vehicle cool down and drove to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed…
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving approximately 50â55 MPH, the engine overheated and the vehicle shutoff. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The contact continued to drive to her residence. The contact stated that the failure was…
Other BMW 535I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 535I | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 535I | 12 | 2 |
| 2015 535I | 23 | 0 |
| 2014 535I | 30 | 2 |
| 2013 535I | 39 | 1 |
| 2012 | 54 | 1 |
| 2011 535I | 112 | 4 |
| 2010 535I | 58 | 1 |
| 2009 535I | 71 | 1 |
| 2008 535I | 74 | 1 |
| 1995 535I | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW 535I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 535I?
Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, engine, power train problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 12 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 BMW 535I?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 BMW 535I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 535I model years, the 2012 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.