What 38 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 535i

My 2013 BMW 535i (VIN [XXX] ) caught fire spontaneously while parked, turned off, and unoccupied on 11/18/2025 in Westbury, NY. A passerby saw smoke and called 911. Nassau County Police and the Westbury Fire Department responded. Firefighters informed me at the scene that the fire was mechanical in origin. The vehicle was completely off and had been parked for about 20 minutes. I was not in or near the car. The fire originated under the hood. This matches known fire patterns in BMW 5-series models from this generation involving electrical/engine components, even though my VIN shows no open recalls. The previous owner did not register the car, so any recall notices may not have reached them. The vehicle is a total loss. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11700387

Heard a clicking noise behind the steering wheel for a few days then I’ll the sudden the horn stopped working and all the controls on the steering wheel stopped working. I’m a mechanic so I took apart the clock spring stealing wheel compartment to find all of the wire broken and very very brittle. Cause for concern due to airbag malfunction and is no longer connected properly!!!I’ve been hearing a clicking noise behind the steering wheel for a few days. Then, suddenly, the horn stopped working, and all the controls on the steering wheel stopped working as well. Since I’m a mechanic, I disassembled the clock spring and the steering wheel compartment to find that all the wires were broken and extremely brittle. This is concerning because it could cause an airbag malfunction, and the wires are no longer connected properly.

NHTSA ODI 11675261

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine was overheating. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal burning odor while driving, with smoke coming from underneath the hood while at a complete stop. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11666052

After the replacement of all 02 sensors and fuses, the fault code returns and was traced back to the integrated supply module/IVm

NHTSA ODI 11643302

Headlight Assembly has issues with the seal and condensation can/does enter the headlight assembly rendering the functionality of the headlight as suspect. Without proper lighting and condensation in front of the headlight which greatly impacts/effects the clarity and visibility of objects in the front of the car creating a safety issue. The cost to replace/repair these assemblies is excessive and is a widespread problem across multiple BMW models/years.

NHTSA ODI 11587192

Back passenger door handle started smoking.

NHTSA ODI 11569707

Front drive shaft detached and went into oil pan causing oils to splash out everywhere.

NHTSA ODI 11564639

Water pump failure with @32,900 miles on odometer. Cost to replace $2,800

NHTSA ODI 11540136

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Soon after hearing the noise, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the passenger’s side CV joint was replaced out of pocket. Recently, the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer for routine maintenance and the contact was informed that the driver’s side CV joint was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

NHTSA ODI 11515120

The headlight housing on my model year is leaking water into it and causing electrical issues , Iv noticed majority of other models I see on the road have the same issue with one of the headlight housings having water in them, this has caused numerous codes to appear on the dash. “ Vertical headlight malfunction “ …”turn signal malfunction “ …”daytime running light malfunction “ ect… this is a safety issue because it stops my signal from working and my headlight works when it wants to. Normally I would think maybe I rock chipped the housing but since I see it on majority of 535’s I see I figure it must have been an issue from factory.

NHTSA ODI 11512368

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 535I. The contact stated that the driver’s side headlamp had condensation inside the headlamp housing. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who replaced the headlamp housing. The contact stated that the failure recurred with the passenger’s side headlamp housing and the driver’s side replacement headlamp housing. The failure had caused the turn signals to malfunction. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11499233

Driver side rear air spring failure.

NHTSA ODI 11465264

Seat belt my driver restraint light has come on on my car there is a known safety recall on BMW takeda airbags second issue my horn has suddenly stopped working is this related to my airbag as they are in the same area of components basically I don't know if my airbag will work in a collision and I am no longer able to honk my horn

NHTSA ODI 11429530

Moonroof glass exploded while on highway at 60mph No other cars in around at time Moonroof blew outwards Nothing hit roof at all

NHTSA ODI 11425888

2011-2013 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE SUBJECT TO LEAKING AND THUS SOON FAIL. THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE FAILURE AS IT IMPACTS THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY (ROUGHLY A $2,000 PART) AND OF COURSE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFELY PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE SEEN MANY POSTS ON BMW FORUMS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HEARD IT AT MY REPAIR SHOP AS WELL. I RECOMMEND A SAFETY RECALL BASED ON THIS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND VERY EXPENSIVE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE START WITH CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLAMPS AND THEN RESULTS IN AN ELECTRIC CONTROL MODEL FAILURE FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LIGHT TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11404209

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE PARKING LIGHT MALFUNCTION AND ADAPTIVE HEAD LIGHT MALFUNCTION WERE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER BMW OF MACON LOCATED AT 4785 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*BF CONSUMER STATED FOLLOWING HAD MALFUNCTIONS HEAD LAMP VERTICAL AIM CONTROL, BATTERY DISCHARGING WHILE STOPPING, ELECTRICAL DEVICES SWITCHED OFF TEMPORARILY, AND AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11348428

MALFUNCTION OF DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT CONDENSATION WAS TOLD THAT THE REASON THE MODULES FOR CONTROLLING DAYTIME BURNING LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL WERE CAUSED WATER GETTING ON THE MODULES THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE'S NO TURN SIGNALS NO WAY FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SERIES OF BMW CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED SINCE PURCHASE AS CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE 45 MONTHS AGO

NHTSA ODI 11320972

WATER AND MOISTURE IS ACCUMULATING IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHEN IT RAINS CAUSING THEM NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I'VE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE ACTION AS THE VEHICLES IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE TWO OTHER CARS THAT MUCH OLDER AND NEVER HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11319153

DRIVE SHAFT IS HITTING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TIRE SENSORS KEEP POPPING UP AND SWEAT BELT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THESE THINGS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI 11317434

THE BMW HAD RUN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES A COLD MORNING WITH THE DRIVER CAR SEAT HEATER ON. IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SMOKE UNTIL THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. THE GREY LEATHER SEAT NOW HAS A BURN MARK, AND WE DO NOT TURN ON THE CAR SEAT HEATER UNTIL THIS IS EVALUATED.

NHTSA ODI 11312285

THERMOSTAT & WATER PUMPS FAIL ON THESE VEHICLES PREMATURELY. MANY OWNERS ARE BLOGGING ONLINE THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE EARLY (AND FREQUENT) FAILURES WITH THERMOSTATS & WATER PUMPS. THESE FAILURES LEAD TO THE VEHICLE FORCING YOU QUICKLY TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER(LIMP MODE) - SOMETIMES NOT IN THE MOST FORGIVING LOCATIONS. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OF THESE COMPONENTS MAY BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS FAILING - AT AN EXTREME, UNNECESSARY EXPENSE TO THE OWNERS. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE'S "SAFETY" SYSTEM FORCES THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE UNTIL YOU BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THIS CAN OCCUR ON THE FREEWAY (EVEN A FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES WHERE YOU MAY BE IN THE 8TH LANE TO THE LEFT WITH NO EMERGENCY LANE TO YOUR LEFT). THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO RECALL/UPDATE/REPLACE THESE FAULTY COMPONENTS ON ALL 5 SERIES MODELS FROM 2004 - 2013(AT LEAST 2 DIFFERENT MODELS IN THIS YEAR RANGE).

NHTSA ODI 11267551

AIR SUSPENSION. CAR LEANED LEFT AFTER SITTING, BUT THE AIR SPRING PUMPED UP ON VEHICLE START-UP. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO IDENTIFIED A LEAKING LEFT REAR AIR SUSPENSION SPRING. IDENTIFIED TECHNICAL BULLETIN (SI B37 01 15) NOTING FAULTY INSTALLATION DURING ASSEMBLY. THE BULLETING RECOMMENDS REPLACING LEFT AIR SPRING (BMW TO SUPPLY LABOR AND PARTS) ON CARS MANUFACTURED THROUGH FEB 2, 2013. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED FEB 17, 2013 AND THE BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT SINCE IT IS OUTSIDE THE BULLETIN DATES. CAR HAS 40,500 MILES AND THE FAILURE WAS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN. HENCE, THIS IS EVIDENCE THAT THE VEHICLE DEFECT EXCEEDS THE ASSEMBLY DATES AND THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE EXTENDED. FURTHER, THE AIR SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT A WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WAS INFLATED DURING THE VEHICLE START UP PROCESS. THIS MAY HAVE LED TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A DEFECTIVE AIR SHOCK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, AND IS THEREFORE A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11093385

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEITH BMW (5603 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616, (919) 882-2420) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 11092205

EARLIER THIS YEAR, WATER WAS NOTICED IN THE FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT A SEAL WAS BROKEN AND THE UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($2500+). 2 WEEKS LATER, THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT DID THE EXACT SAME THING. VEHICLE IS APPROX. 4.5 YEARS OLD WITH 55K MILES. SHOP FOREMAN TOLD ME THIS PARTICULAR MODEL IS KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND BMW IS AWARE AS WELL. I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEFECTIVE SEAL IN THE HEADLIGHT UNITS FOR THIS MODEL PRESENT NUMEROUS SAFETY CONCERNS, THE MOST SERIOUS OF WHICH IS THE INABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD DUE TO THE MOISTURE BUILDUP. FURTHER, THE MOISTURE EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE BULBS TO GO BAD, PARTICULARLY THE TURN SIGNAL BULB WHERE THE MOISTURE FIRST ENTERS. OTHER VEHICLES CANNOT SEE THAT TURN SIGNAL OR HEADLIGHT. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEALS ON THESE HEADLIGHTS AS THEY NOT ONLY RENDER THE VEHICLE USELESS (UNABLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTIONS) BUT ALSO PRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS DUE TO A LACK OF VISIBILITY, BOTH TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER DRIVERS.

NHTSA ODI 11091108

TAKATA INFLATORS- BMW HAS FAILED ON SOLVED THIS RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A POTENTIALLY SAFETY RISK RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ITS BEEN A YEAR AND NO FIX HAS BEEN AVAILABLE EVEN THOUGH I LIVE IN ZONE A (PUERTO RIO), ZONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOST AT RISK VEHICLE PER NHTSA WEBSITE.

NHTSA ODI 10981683