FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW 535XI

Owners have filed 223 complaints about the BMW 535XI with NHTSA across model years 2007 to 2013. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2008 BMW 535XI

123 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

2012 BMW 535XI

23 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW 535XI year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2013 6 1 0 106,000 Engine & Cooling
2012 B 23 0 0 24,000 Tires
2011 C 44 0 0 23,000 Tires
2010 B 26 0 4 52,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2008 D 123 0 8 90,230 Electrical System
2007 1 0 0 Brakes

What breaks on a BMW 535XI

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 31 13.9%

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2008

Airbags 21 9.4%

Worst in 2008

Transmission & Drivetrain 18 8.1%

Worst in 2008

Tires 18 8.1%

Worst in 2011

Lights 14 6.3%

Worst in 2008

Wheels 13 5.8%

Worst in 2011

Seats 9 4.0%

Worst in 2008

Seat Belts 6 2.7%

Worst in 2008

Brakes 5 2.2%

Worst in 2008

Other & Unspecified 5 2.2%

Worst in 2008

Body & Structure 4 1.8%

Worst in 2008

Suspension 4 1.8%

Worst in 2011

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW 535XI, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Sep 2011 peak 9 Aug 2024

Compare the BMW 535XI

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.