What 64 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 535i

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," detailed in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) B110614, to address the concerns reported by multiple owners and noted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under ID Number 11016414. A primary cause of the issue is accelerated timing chain wear. The N63 engine's design features timing chains that are prone to stretching prematurely. This stretching can disrupt the precise timing of the engine's valves, leading to a cascade of problems. As a consequence, owners have reported a variety of symptoms, including the illumination of the "drivetrain malfunction" warning light, noticeable engine noise, excessive vibration, and potentially catastrophic engine failure. The "drivetrain malfunction" message, in particular, is a frequently cited indicator of this underlying powertrain problem. To address these widely reported issues, the N63 Customer Care Package was implemented. This service bulletin instructs authorized BMW technicians to perform a series of diagnostic tests. The main objective is to detect if the timing chains have stretched beyond acceptable tolerances. If excessive wear is confirmed, the TSB provides a detailed procedure for the necessary repairs. This often involves replacing the timing chains and related components to restore proper engine function. Beyond the core timing chain replacement, the Customer Care Package also includes several proactive and preventative measures. Technicians are instructed to check and potentially replace other components, such as fuel injectors and boost solenoids, which may have been impacted or contributed to the engine's performance issues. Furthermore, the service includes reprogramming the vehicle's software

NHTSA ODI 11696232

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving approximately 50–55 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 related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V746000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to the fuel pump and the water pump. The water pump and fuel pump were replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11609875

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 535I. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled as the drivetrain malfunction warning message flashed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up after multiple attempts. The contact had a friend replace the battery; however, the failure persisted. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective fuel pump. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V746000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) which she linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified and informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11442812

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

NHTSA ODI 11432548

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 535i. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact waited approximately 5-10 minutes before restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted soon after the initial failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer for assistance. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V746000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11430482

ON OCTOBER 10TH, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 830AM, I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON THE 118 FWY, MY 2012 BMW 535I SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I TRIED TO GIVE IT MORE GAS BUT IT WOULD NOT GO FASTER. IT IMMEDIATELY GAVE ME AN ERROR POINTING TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY SAFELY. AFTER BEING INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH OF MY FUEL PUMPS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR FUEL PUMPS FOR THE 2012 BMW 535I BUT MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. IT'S OBVIOUS I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS OTHER 2012 BMW 535I.

NHTSA ODI 11366920

CAR STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE FOR 15 - 20 MINUTES WHILE BLOCKING THE ROADWAY. TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK MODE AND OVERRIDE TO NEUTRAL GEAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. INABILITY TO MANUALLY PUT GEAR INTO NEUTRAL POSES ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11323074

WHILE WAITING BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN MY VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HOWEVER, WHENEVER I OPENED THE DOOR IT WOULD START AND STOP WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SLOANE BMW OF DEVON, PA. SLOANE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PUMP MODULE WHICH THEY REPLACED FOR WHICH I WAS CHARGED $1585.62. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT THE END. ON 3/28/19 WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND DECELERATING. OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND MADE SOME DANGEROUS MOVES. FORTUNATELY A DRIVER IN THE RIGHT LANE ALLOWED ME TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SLOANE BMW AS HE FUEL PUMP THAT THEY HAD REPLACED WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SLOANE DECIDED THAT "THE ENGINE ECCENTRIC SHAFT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR IS INTERNALLY FAULTY AND CHARGED ME $169.99. TECH REPORTED "ALL PERFORMED NORMALLY" DESPITE NOT FINDING A PROBLEM WITH THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SLOANE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $6109.71. LATER WHEN COPIES OF THE TEST WERE REQUESTED SLOANE SAID THEY DIDN`T HAVE THEM. AS A RESULT I AM STILL DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT PRESENTS A DANGER TO MY LIFE IN ORDER TO GT TO WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED MR. CLAUS EBERHART VP AFTER SALES AND MR. IAN ROBERTSON, BOARD MEMBER AT BMW NORTH AMERICA BUT NEITHER RESPONDED. THE ONLY GUIDANCE THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WAS IN AN ARTICLE I FOUND ONLINE THAT RECOMMENDED CAUTION WHEN ACCELERATING. IN ADDITION I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 16V746000 FOR FUEL PUMP AND MODULE FOR WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. REGARDING SLOANE BMW OF DEVON, PA. I HAVE FOUND THAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED CONSUMER FRAUD, "I HAD A PROBLEM OPENING THE TRUNK, SLOANE SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE LATCH- WANTED $677 REPAIR. ON LINE FOUND THAT TRUNK COULD BE OPENED BY SWITCH IN THE STORAGE BOX. LATCH WORKS TRUNK OPENS

NHTSA ODI 11222495

THE RECALL NUMBER 16V746000 ON 2012 BMW FUEL PUMP IS INSUFFICIENTLY EXECUTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY CAR (VIN #[XXX]). I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A SAFETY HAZARD DURING DRIVING AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY EXPRESSWAY. CANNOT RESTART AND CAR TOWED WITH HELP FROM POLICE. AFTER DEALER DIAGNOSE PROBLEM WITH FUEL PUMP BUT REFUSE TO HONOR THE RECALL ON MY FIX EVEN IT IS OF SAME MODEL AND YEAR. APPARENTLY MANUFACTURER DID NOT INCLUDE "ALL" AFFECTED VEHICLES AFFECTED WITH THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. PLEASE OPEN ANOTHER RECALL OR EXTEND THE RECALL OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT TO BMW NORTH AMERICA AND HOPEFULLY YOUR AGENCY CAN FOLLOWUP ON THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI 11205329

VEHICLE STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON LAWRENCE EXPRESSWAY. SOMETIME CANNOT RESTART. ENGINE CODE REVEALED FUEL PUMP ISSUE 481B01 EKPS CONTROL VOLTAGE TOO LOW. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2012 BMW 535I ON FUEL PUMP BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE ACCORDING TO RECALL SINCE THE VIN DO NOT SHOW UP IN THEIR SYSTEM. (EVEN THE YEAR AND MODEL IS PART OF THE RECALL)

NHTSA ODI 11204728

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE FUEL MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11185052

I CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ABOUT SOMETHING WITH A FUEL LEAK AND BMW SAYS IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH ADMISSIONS! I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF PLEASE. THIS IS A REAL ISSUE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE ELECTRIC CALIPERS GET STUCK AND CAUSE A BIG BANG WHEN U PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT WHEN YOU FIRST LEAVE. DON'T HAPPEN AFTER THAT. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS THE PROBLEM CAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKED FINE.

NHTSA ODI 11183886

CAR STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET NEAR A PARKING LOT. UNABLE TO RESTART BLOCKING THE ROADWAY. TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK MODE AND OVERRIDE TO NEUTRAL GEAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK WHILE CARS WERE BLOCKED OFF. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF HAPPENED ON A BUSY FREEWAY OR STREET. INABILITY TO MANUALLY PUT GEAR INTO NEUTRAL POSES ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11110377

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL CAUSING THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE VALLEY AUTO WORLD BMW DEALER LOCATED IN 3822 SYCAMORE DAIRY RD, FAYETTEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA; 910-864-0000 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11020533

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.

NHTSA ODI 10958015