2015 BMW 535i recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Tires › Sidewall

  Tire Size 245-40-19 - Car 2015 BMW 535 x-drive During a trip from [XXX] to [XXX] the the Continental ProContact SSR MOE tires on both the drivers and passinger side front developed sidewall bubbles. The tires had less than 3500 miles on them. The tires were purchase through the local BMW Dealer, A&L Motors, in Pennsylvania. I had a bubble develop on another Continental Pro Contact MOE a year ago but I wasn't worried about that due to the tire having over 35,000 miles. In XX years of car ownership I have never had an issue with a tire bubbling other than this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

  Apr 6, 2026
• Engine and engine cooling

  The contact owns a 2015 BMW 535I. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the engine overheated. The engine temperature gauge was between 250 and 300 degrees. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with a water pump connector failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

  Aug 23, 2023 · 70,000 miles
• Steering

  The contact owns a 2015 BMW 535I. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, a steering wheel image was displayed on the instrument panel. The computer then informed the contact to carefully drive the vehicle to a dealer for service. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that the electrical steering rack system was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

  Apr 20, 2025 · 88,000 miles
• Exterior lighting › Headlights

  1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: The adaptive headlight system on my 2015 BMW 535i XDrive sedan has malfunctioned due to water intrusion. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer: The malfunctioning adaptive headlights have put my safety and the safety of others at risk because they fail to provide adequate illumination while driving at night. This compromised visibility can lead to an increased risk of accidents, especially on poorly lit roads and during adverse weather conditions. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed…

  Jan 15, 2025
• Engine and engine cooling

  The contact owns a 2015 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds or while the vehicle was parked, the message “Engine Coolant Level Low" and "Top off Soon as Possible - See Owner’s Manual” were displayed. Additionally, the message “Possible Engine Damages - Attention Scudding Hazard" was displayed. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the engine. The contact stated that coolant was added approximately every two days. Additionally, there was an abnormal burning coming from the engine, with an abnormal odor coming from underneath the vehicle.…

  Oct 15, 2024 · 121,397 miles
• Engine

  Water pump electrical plug not properly protected from water causing short circuit and possible fire hazard. Smell wires burning at water pump plug. It’s a known issue and actual recall on other bmw models.

  Jan 18, 2025
• Seat belts

  Seatbelt light on, restraint System warning indicator on.

  Nov 30, 2024
• Engine and engine cooling

  The contact owns a 2015 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the message that the engine was overheating was displayed, with a message to “Drive Moderately” displayed as well. The driver started to slow down and the message to turn off the engine was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle four times and waited 15 to 20 minutes. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately…

  Aug 26, 2024 · 25,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• Pedestrian alert soundsClosedLed to recall 22V063000

  NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review…

  DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023
• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen

  From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…

  EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021