2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,292 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 BMW 535 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 BMW 535 Owner Comments

problem #12

Apr 052022

535

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving heard a loud noise and oil start pouring out the bottom of the car.. After getting my Vehicle looked at BMW dealership informed me that the drive shaft had broken and fell in the engine and caused a hole in the engine and damaging the oil pan also

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #11

Sep 032021

535

  • miles
While driving car stalled, dropped speed and engine warning light came on. Fuel pump was needed. Had to have car towed obtained a rental for 11 days. Fuel pump out of stock. Immediately after fuel pump was replaced less than two weeks the thermostat had to be replaced. Another tow and another rental. I need to be compensated for stress aggravation and loss of use. Repairs and car rental and tow cost over $3500

- Townsend , DE, USA

problem #10

Mar 232021

535

  • 116,526 miles
3/23/2021 driving on I-94 in morning rush hour when engine killed. Was able to roll over to the median between an on-ramp and the highway before car stopped moving. Charge battery light on on the dash as well as check stabilization warning. Would not turn over at all but dash lights/wipers were on (raining). Towed to mechanic I've taken vehicles to for past 4-5 cars/trucks. It was found that the #2 piston ring came off and jammed between the cylinder wall and piston causing the engine to seize/need to be replaced. Once it was replaced and while doing a test drive, the mechanic felt a vibration and they found that there was movement on the passenger side axle so they replaced that as well. The car had 116.5K on it when I purchased about 2 weeks prior to the engine and cv assembly needing to be replaced. Just got car back yesterday, just over a month and a half to repair.

- Little Canada, MN, USA

problem #9

Nov 242020

535

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine blew a year ago and I had to have that replaced because the rod bearings blew at 90,000 miles. Rear differential has failed not once but 2 times. Failed the first time 11/24/2020 and after $2200 in repairs again on 01/23/2021. Nevermind also having both from cv axles replaced as well. But the rear differential failure I have been seeing on a lot of BMW's.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #8

Oct 132020

535

  • 109,000 miles
While driving at 40mph, my vehicle shifted into neutral by itself and almost caused a major accident. This happened 3 times yesterday and now I'm afraid to drive it.

- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #7

Mar 212020

535

  • 75,000 miles
My coolant fan is moving faster than it should because the water pump is failing. It almost caught fire the other day when my children were in the car.. it was at a stop light when I heard the fan spinning at a high rate of speed and was smoking terribly.

- Newton, NC, USA

problem #6

May 052019

535

  • 72,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my car on a road when a warning light came on. I parked the car home, since I was close to home. The same week I took the car to a BMW specialist because there was a noise coming from the engine. After $467 spent on labor, just to tell me I need a new engine. This car has 72K miles. This is a car that I only drove on weekends and not every weekend. The car is now parked in my garage because to repair it it will cost me $11K. I have heard this complaint from several BMW owners. The car still runs but the noise will no go away.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #5

Mar 132019

535

  • 91,000 miles
Was driving suddendly car lost speed to 20mph rpms reved up to 4000. Would not go any faster had to pull over the car put itself in neutral then turned itself off few minutes later was able to turn the car back on and resume driving.. it wa a city street clear weather he power train malfunction wasindicated on the screen very unsafe to drive on city streets plus interstate highways through atlanta.

- Eatonton, GA, USA

problem #4

Nov 012018

535

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 5-series. The contact stated that the vehicle excessively overheated without warning. The contact constantly had to exercise caution in the event that the vehicle may have reduced engine power and was uncertain if the failure would result in a fire. BMW gallery of norwood (918 boston providence hwy, norwood, MA 02062, (888) 441-2338) was notified of the failure, but had not specified if the failure was related to any recall campaigns or technical service bulletins. The dealer stated that further diagnostic testing was required. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Westwood, MA, USA

problem #3

Aug 202018

535

  • 100,009 miles
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 535I. While driving approximately 40 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 100,009.

- Lawrence, NY, USA

problem #2

Dec 292016

535

  • 115,272 miles
Vehicle has issues in line with the recall that has been extended for some VIN numbers under recall number #16V746000. Vehicle has experienced shaking under acceleration, sputtering, flashing check engine light and, multiple trips to the dealership. The vehicle has had items noted under the recall fixed at the expense of the vehicle owner. Currently the high pressure fuel pump has been replaced, as has the battery without making any change on the vehicles performance. It is currently in the dealers hands (for the last month) with bmwna currently reviewing the service records to see if they will cover the issue. The vehicle has experienced issues while merging into traffic, accelerating, and daily ddriving.

- Fort Meade, MD, USA

problem #1

Aug 122016

535

  • 58,700 miles
I was driving at about 65 mph on a highway uphill, engine completely stalled, no power, got a message "drive-train malfunction, no maximum output, drive moderately". I was surrounded by cars/semi trucks, very dangerous situation. Managed to pull over on the should. Could not restart car, got a message "automatic start/stop deactivated: Engine will not start automatically. Press the start/stop button to start the engine." About 30 mins after engine stalled, I finally restarted the car. Continued to drive on the highway for about 10 miles @ 60-65 mph. At a local street, as I slowed down to approach a traffic light, engine stalled again, no power, car stopped in the middle of road, got the two same messages, could not start car. About 30 mins after engine stalled, I finally started the car.

- Blacksburg, VA, USA

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