What 264 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 535i

The contact owned a 2011 BMW 535I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal became stuck. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated into oncoming traffic. The contact's vehicle was crashed into by two oncoming vehicles. No warning light. The contact was taken to the local medical center, where the contact received multiple X-rays. In addition, the contact sustained bruises and pain to the left and right knees and to the middle of the chest. The contact stated that the pain in the chest was severe because of a pre-existing illness of male breast cancer. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. In addition, the vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. In addition, the contact was unsure of any injuries to the other drivers. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000

NHTSA ODI 11721737

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated that when pressing the accelerator pedal to drive from being idle at a red light, the driver's side air bag deployed out of the steering wheel without impact. The contact sustained burns to the left arm, right cheek, and chest area. The contact had suffered stomach issues due to inhaling the dust and fumes from the air bag. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed by AAA to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the horn module needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, where the vehicle remained for a month, and Liberty Mutual was to retrieve the vehicle and investigate the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not investigated to her knowledge, and the vehicle was returned without being repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

NHTSA ODI 11682140

The contact owned a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was unoccupied and parked in a parking lot, it was brought to the attention of the contact that the vehicle caught on fire. The local fire department arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire. The contact stated that it was unknown if a fire report was filed. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact stated that the fire damaged one other parked and unoccupied vehicle that was nearby. The vehicle was towed by the insurance and was deemed a total loss. The vehicle remained in the possession of the insurance provider for further investigation. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11641786

From very low speed (less than 5 MPH), car would not stop with full brakes applied. Front brakes were fully locked as evidenced by skid marks, but car kept pushing forward until stopped by solid object.

NHTSA ODI 11636479

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated while jump-starting another vehicle in the driveway, he reversed to park the vehicle by the side of the other vehicle; however, the vehicle surged and accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle sped into the garage, hit equipment, and hit the contact's wife. The contact stated that he then shifted into drive (D) to drive out of the garage; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle sped through the driveway, struck a stone retaining wall, and entered the roadway. The contact stated that he slightly steered the vehicle to the right and hit a utility pole to stop the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact hit his forehead against the rearview mirror and sustained a bruise. The contact's wife sustained a fractured left lower leg. The ambulance transported the contact's wife to the hospital, where she underwent surgery. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The insurance company then towed the vehicle to another tow lot, where the damage was being estimated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11574402

Car failed to start due fuel pump wires malfunction.

NHTSA ODI 11430841

Flame erupted out the top of Passenger seat, sitting cushion. Moms butted blistered, used personal health insurance for medical care. I do have pics in other phone. I will resubmit claim

NHTSA ODI 11429338

I HAVE A 2011 BMW 535I THAT HAS FRONT AND REAR CAMERAS AND I HAVE RECORDINGS OF THE LIVE FOOTAGE OF MY INCIDENCE. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO MY HOUSE. I APPROACHED THE GATE ENTRANCE FOR MY COMPLEX AND STOPPED ON THE RIGHT LANE OF THE ROAD TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE TO APPROACH THE GATE ENTRANCE. WHEN THERE WAS NO ONGOING TRAFFIC, I ACCELERATED TO CROSS THE LANE AND ONCE I HAD CROSS THE OPPOSING LANE AND ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY TO THE MY RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX'S GATE ENTRANCE, I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO ENTER THE KEY CODE TO OPEN THE GATE. THE CAR SLOWLY DOWN AFTER I PUSHED THE BRAKES, BUT THEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN A HERKY JERK MANNER FOR A 5 SECOND BURST FOR NO REASON (MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME AS MY CAR INITIALLY STARTED SLOWLY DOWN AFTER I MADE MY APPROACH TOWARDS THE GATE). THE CAR RAMMED THROUGH AND BROKE THE GATE AND ACCELERATED FOR A FEW SECONDS MORE BEFORE THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME AND KEPT DOWN ON THE BRAKE, WHICH WAS EVIDENT AS THE CAR WAS INITIALLY SLOWLY DOWN FROM AN ACCELERATION BEFORE THE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, AS WELL AS EVENTUALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER THE ACCELERATION INCIDENT. MY BMW HAS BOTH FRONT AND REAR CAMERAS ON IT AND I WAS ABLE TO RECORD THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. I CAN PROVIDE THE FOOTAGE OF THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE A GREAT DRIVING RECORD AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS BEFORE. MY CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. THEREWERE NOT ANY CHECK ENGINE OR NOTIFICATION LIGHTS ON THE CAR BEFORE OR AFTER THE INCIDENT..

NHTSA ODI 11399867

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT MY WORK AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. BMW OF SAN ANTONIO SAYS OIL LEAKED FROM THE VALVE COVER TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. PROBLEM IS, EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS FAR PASSENGER SIDE. FIRE WAS TOP REAR OF THE MOTOR.

NHTSA ODI 11360856

MY WIFE WENT TO GET A HAIRCUT, PARKED HER 2011 BMW 535XI AWD AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 P.M. MST (THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CAR WAS LOCKED) IN THE RETAIL CENTER PARKING LOT. AT APPROXIMATELY 2:45 P.M. MST SOMEONE ENTERED THE SALON AND SAID A CAR WAS ON FIRE (HER CAR). THE FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN IN THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. IT IS CONCERNING A PARKED CAR THAT WAS TURNED OFF AND LOCKED STARTED ON FIRE. THANKFULLY FOR MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WHO ARE USUALLY WITH HER THE CAR DIDN'T CATCH FIRE WHEN THEY WERE IN THE CAR OR WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN OUR HOME GARAGE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MY SON'S BEDROOM. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT BMW ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUES. I CHECKED OUR CAR FOR RECALLS TONIGHT AND BOTH THE BMW SITE AND NHTSA SITE SHOWED ZERO OPEN RECALLS. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT STEPS WE SHOULD DO TO ENSURE THIS TRAGIC EVENT DOESN'T OCCUR TO OTHER OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI 11154652

MY 2 YEAR-OLD SON'S LEG WAS FRACTURED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED WHILE ADJUSTING THE SEAT. THE SEAT WENT BACK INTO THE FARTHEST POSITION WITHOUT STOPPING FRACTURING MY SON'S LEFT LEG WHO WAS IN A FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT IN BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE POWER SEAT HAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FORCE/POWER AND IT SHOULD BE REDUCED. A SAFETY SENSOR TO DETECT RESISTANCE SHOULD BE EQUIPPED IN THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. THIS COULD CAUSE A FRACTURE EVEN IF THE SEAT HADN'T MALFUNCTIONED AND PARENTS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE DANGER.

NHTSA ODI 11074337

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE'S PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING, A MESSAGE DISPLAYED INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CASEY BMW (12861 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SOON AFTER THE REPAIR, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL HAD LEAKED FROM THE PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING ONTO THE ENGINE PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL FILTER HOUSING UNIT AND THE ENGINE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,600.

NHTSA ODI 11072228

IN MAY, 2014 I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR ON THE OLD VALDOSTA HIGHWAY WHEN A SCHOOL BUS RAN A STOP SIGN AND T-BONED ME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10933802

THE MEMORY POWER SEAT IN MY CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND WENT BACK WITHOUT STOPPING CAUSING A FRACTURE TO MY 2 1/2 YEAR OLD SON'S LEG WHO WAS SITTING IN THE CAR SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928894

WHILE DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES WITH SEAT WARMERS ON MY HUSBAND (DRIVER) TURNED IT OFF. WE WERE TRAVELLING ON SUBURBAN ROADS AROUND 40 MPH. THEN AT A STOP LIGHT HE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. WE CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THEN I NOTICED THE SMELL A FEW SECONDS LATER, SO I OPENED A WINDOW EXPECTING TO FIND SMELL A FIRE NEARBY OR HEAR SIRENS. AT THAT POINT WE SAW A PLOOM OF SMOKE COME FROM UNDER HIS SEAT TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OPEN WINDOW. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND TURNED EVERYTHING OFF. THE SMOKE TOOK SOME TIME TO CLEAR BUT DID STOP. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WE DROVE 1 MILE TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD COST $1,700 TO FIX. I DECLINED TO PAY $1,700 TO FIX AND REQUESTED THEY DISCONNECT SEAT HEATER. BMW PERSONNEL INFORMED ME IT COULD NOT DISCONNECT POWER TO SEAT HEATER WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE ENTIRE AC/HEAT SYSTEM. THIS IS A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE, NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. FOR A SEAT HEATER TO CAUSE SMOKE IT CAUSED A FIRE AND THIS IS A DEFECT. THE CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE IF THE SEAT WARMER IS ACTIVATED. I ASKED DEALERSHIP WHAT IF I LOAN MY CAR TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THE DEFECT, THEY SUGGESTED PUTTING TAPE OVER THE BUTTON. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE SAFETY MEASURE TO PREVENT BURNS, FIRE, OR EVEN DEATH. CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT PEOPLE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE. ON A COLD MORNING I COULD HAVE BUCKLED KIDS IN, TURNED ON CAR, SEAT HEATER, AND TALK TO A NEIGHBOR FOR 2 MINUTES, OR TEACHER AT THE CARPOOL LINE.... WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE CHILDREN? THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE BUT BMW PERSONNEL DID AGREE THERE WAS SMOKE SMELL IN VEHICLE CAUSED BY SEAT WARMER.

NHTSA ODI 10870649

INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. OTHER VEHICLE GOING SOUTHBOUND CROSSED OVER MEDIAN STRIP OF HIGHWAY, HIT THREE CARS GOING NORTHBOUND, MINE WAS THIRD CAR TO BE STRUCK. OFFENDING CAR DID A 360 IN FRONT OF ME, I SLOWED TO ABOUT 25 AND HE MOVED INTO ME. I STRUCK HIS REAR PASSENGER SIDE CORNER. I HAD FRONT END DAMAGE OVER $5K. NO AIRBAG, BUT DEFAULT MESSAGES AND AN AIRBAG ICON CAME ON THE VIDEO SCREEN AND THE FRONT INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT STATES "DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OR RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION." *JS

NHTSA ODI 10661924

JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. EXITED THE VEHICLE, OBSERVED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FLAMES FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, MOSTLY ON THE TOP LEFT OF THE ENGINE NOW. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN THEIR LOT WAITING FOR THEIR INVESTIGATORS TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST COMMENT OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, MAYBE AN ANIMAL BUILT A NEST IN THE ENGINE AREA. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3000 MILES ON IT, PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2011, AND IS GARAGE KEPT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10456604

THERE ARE 3 MAJOR ISSUES. 1. VEHICLE TENDS TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. FEELING IS QUITE LIKE A VEHICLE THAT HASN'T BEEN ALIGNED FOR A WHILE. 2. THE MOST DANGEROUS. UPON ACCELERATION AND/OR AT LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKS FORWARD WITHOUT ANY NOTICE- MAKING IT TOO LATE FOR THE DRIVER TO SLAM THE BRAKES. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS STANDING THREE FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, YOU CAN EASILY CRASH AND REAR END INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. AND OF COURSE, YOU WILL BE SUED FOR NOT KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE. THIS CAN EASILY CAUSE SOME SERIOUS INJURIES. 3. VEHICLE WOBBLES AS IF THE TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED. THERE ARE CLEARLY UNKNOWN DEFECTS THAT CAN NOT BE LOCATED. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER, THEY KEEP ASCRIBING IT TO "NORMAL" CHARACTERISTICS AND THEY KEEP INFORMING ME THAT BMWS ARE BUILT THAT WAY, THEY ARE NOW SPORTIER. HOWEVER, TO ANY NEW OWNER, IT IS NOW DEADLIER. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER ALSO STATE UNLESS THEY VEHICLE DOESN'T INFORM THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. ITS MORE LIKE, UNTIL SOMEONE DOESN'T SUE THEM IS WHEN THEY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BMW SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BEGINS AGAINST THEM.

NHTSA ODI 10418816