FaultScore report
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2012 BMW 535XI with NHTSA between 2012 and 2019. The largest single group is the tires. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 4 worst.
FaultScore 31/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the BMW 535XI.
How this is worked out23
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
24,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
73%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 15,815 miles
Median failure at 20,565 miles
Median failure at 76,000 miles
Median failure at 35,359 miles
Median failure at 27,000 miles
Median failure at 49,000 miles
Median failure at 60,000 miles
Median failure at 9,500 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT HEADLIGHTS BUILDS UP CONDENSATION AND ALOT OF WATER. LOWERING VISIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #11189881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
MY CAR HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ERROR POPPED UP ON THE MAIN SCREEN OF " "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION." IT ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER WHICH I DID. BMW OF WICHITA DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY QUOTED ME $2,500 TO FIX THE ISSUE AND I ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS BECAUSE OF DAMAGE OR ABUSE BY THE OWNER AND THEY SAID NO IT JUST A PART THAT FAILED. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD OFFER ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE I SET THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND SO I FIGURED I WOULD REPORT IT TO YOU. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS OFF A COLD START AND BEFORE ANYONE SAT IN THE SEAT AND HAS CONTINUED SINCE.
NHTSA complaint #11170230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
MY CAR HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ERROR POPPED UP ON THE MAIN SCREEN OF " "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION." IT ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER WHICH I DID. BMW OF WICHITA DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY QUOTED ME $2,500 TO FIX THE ISSUE AND I ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS BECAUSE OF DAMAGE OR ABUSE BY THE OWNER AND THEY SAID NO IT JUST A PART THAT FAILED. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD OFFER ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE I SET THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND SO I FIGURED I WOULD REPORT IT TO YOU. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS OFF A COLD START AND BEFORE ANYONE SAT IN THE SEAT AND HAS CONTINUED SINCE.
NHTSA complaint #11170230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
MY CAR HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ERROR POPPED UP ON THE MAIN SCREEN OF " "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION." IT ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER WHICH I DID. BMW OF WICHITA DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY QUOTED ME $2,500 TO FIX THE ISSUE AND I ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS BECAUSE OF DAMAGE OR ABUSE BY THE OWNER AND THEY SAID NO IT JUST A PART THAT FAILED. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD OFFER ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE I SET THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND SO I FIGURED I WOULD REPORT IT TO YOU. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS OFF A COLD START AND BEFORE ANYONE SAT IN THE SEAT AND HAS CONTINUED SINCE.
NHTSA complaint #11170230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WATER CONDENSES INSIDE THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS IMPACTING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LIGHTING SSYSTEM. REPORTED THIS WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM
NHTSA complaint #11164369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER SUDDENLY BEGAN TO OVERHEAT WHEN THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS OLD. THE HEAT BECAME SO INTENSE IT WAS NECESSARY TO TURN OFF THE HEATER FOR FEAR OF BURNS. THE SEAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM JUST RECURRED WITH THE NEW SEAT, THREE YEARS AFTER THE FIRST SEAT WAS REPLACED; THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PERSISTENT DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FLAW, OCCURRING IN TWO CONSECUTIVE SEATS.
NHTSA complaint #11079762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535XI. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #10924198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
CAR WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 10,000 MI. WITHIN 1 YEAR, ABOUT 13,000 MI. BUBBLES APPEARED ON 2 GOODYEAR RUNFLAT TIRES, DUE TO POTHOLES. AFTER REPLACING 2 TIRES, I REPLACED ALL 4 WITH BRIDGESTONE RUNFLATS. NO ISSUES WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES. GOODYEARS ARE NOT GOOD, AND SHOULD NOT BE USED ON THESE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10863212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BMW HAS AN ISSUE WITH RUN FLAT TIRE ON CERTAIN MODELS AND CONTINUES TO REPLACE THESE TIRES, KNOWING THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 TIRES. HAVING RECENTLY REPLACED 5 TIRES RECENTLY AND A 6TH TIRE TWO YEARS AGO THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. BMW CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS THESE ARE THE TIRES FOR THESES MODEL CARS. OUT OF SIX TIRES BMW DID AGREE TO REPLACE TWO LAST DECEMBER. THEY NOW SAY THIS IS THE TIRE FOR THIS CAR...LUCKILY, NO ONE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES WITH THESE HIGHWAY BLOWOUTS OCCURRED. NO MORE BMW"S FOR ME UNTIL THE COMPANY ADMITS THEY HAVE A "PROBLEM" THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AND A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE MONTHS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10785551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR HAS HAD 3 BLOW OUTS OF RUN FLAT GOODYEAR LS2 TIRES ON HIGHWAY AND 3 TIRES WITH SIDEWALL BUBBLES THAT WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. 5 TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN LESS THAN 10 MONTHS AND LESS THAN 5,000 MILE ON A TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS 35,000 MILES IN 37 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10783727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
A BUBBLE APPEAR ON THE SIDE WALL FROM AN APPARENT ROAD DIVOT. SINCE THAT INCIDENT I HAVE 4 MORE TIRES WITH A BUBBLE IN THEM ALL THE SAME TIRE BRAND. I AM TO ACCEPT THIS BECAUSE BUYER BEWARE APPLIES HERE. THE POSSIBLE TRAFFIC DANGERS THIS MAY CAUSE SHOULD IT BE BUYER BEWARE OR NHTSA GET INVOLVED AND MANDATE TIRE MANUFACTURERS PROVIDE A WARNING TO THE BUYER.
NHTSA complaint #10732893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
I HAVE GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 RUNONFLAT 245/45/18 WITH 18K ON THEM. I STARTED HEARING A TIRE NOISE WHEN I WOULD DRIVE OVER 50MPH. I THEN LOOKED AT MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AND NOTICED A BULGE. I DO NOT REMEMBER HITTING ANY POTHOLE OR CURB THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OWNERS OF THESE TIRES. GOODYEAR SHOULD REIMBURSE ANYONE WHO HAS TO REPLACE. I WILL NOT BE INSTALLING THESE TIRES AGAIN AND I WOULD ADVISE OTHERS NOT TO BUY A NEW OR USED CAR WITH THESE TIRES ON THEM. GOODYEAR KNOWS THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM BUT IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING BY RECALLING THESE TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10639707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
I HAVE GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 RUNONFLAT 245/45/18 WITH 18K ON THEM. I STARTED HEARING A TIRE NOISE WHEN I WOULD DRIVE OVER 50MPH. I THEN LOOKED AT MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AND NOTICED A BULGE. I DO NOT REMEMBER HITTING ANY POTHOLE OR CURB THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OWNERS OF THESE TIRES. GOODYEAR SHOULD REIMBURSE ANYONE WHO HAS TO REPLACE. I WILL NOT BE INSTALLING THESE TIRES AGAIN AND I WOULD ADVISE OTHERS NOT TO BUY A NEW OR USED CAR WITH THESE TIRES ON THEM. GOODYEAR KNOWS THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM BUT IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING BY RECALLING THESE TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10639707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
GOODYEAR LOW PROFILE TIRES. 245/40R19 98V LS2. TODAY MY TIRE SPLIT. THIS IS THE 5TH TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD REPLACED IN THE LAST 20 MONTHS. I ALSO HAVE A BUBBLE IN ANOTHER TIRE THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. THESE SPLITS AND BUBBLES ARE FROM ROUTINE DRIVING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RIDE OVER A CRATER TO DAMAGE THIS TIRE. ANY SMALL BUMP WILL BUBBLE OR SPLIT THE RUBBER. GOODYEAR HAS YET TO OWN UP TO THESE DEFECTS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10637857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
GOODYEAR LOW PROFILE TIRES. 245/40R19 98V LS2. TODAY MY TIRE SPLIT. THIS IS THE 5TH TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD REPLACED IN THE LAST 20 MONTHS. I ALSO HAVE A BUBBLE IN ANOTHER TIRE THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. THESE SPLITS AND BUBBLES ARE FROM ROUTINE DRIVING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RIDE OVER A CRATER TO DAMAGE THIS TIRE. ANY SMALL BUMP WILL BUBBLE OR SPLIT THE RUBBER. GOODYEAR HAS YET TO OWN UP TO THESE DEFECTS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10637857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
I RAN OVER A SMALL POTHOLE AND MY GOODYEAR LS2 TIRE IMMEDIATELY DEVELOPED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL MAKING THE TIRE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. THESE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THEM AND THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THIS SAME DEFECT APPEARED IN A TIRE ON THIS CAR. THESE GOODYEAR TIRES ARE UNSAFE AS ONLY A MODERATE BUMP OR POTHOLE RENDERS THEM INOPERABLE. GOODYEAR AND BMW ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND ITS DANGEROUS. THE CAR HAS A DESIGN DEFECT THATS EITHER IN THE TIRE CONSTRUCTION OR IN THE SPECIFICATION OF THIS TIRE ON THIS WHEEL. IN ADDITION, I HAVE THE 19 INCH TIRE SIZE WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE BUT THE BMW DEALER FOR $450 EACH. BMW HAS IN EFFECT CORNERED THE AFTERMARKET ON THIS 19 INCH REPLACEMENT TIRE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND COSTLY SITUATION FOR CONSUMERS. NHTSA SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. BMW SHOULD RECALL THE CARS WITH THIS WHEEL/TIRE COMBO AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WITH ANOTHER TIRE. THIS TIRES SIDEWALL IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A CAR THATS THIS HEAVY AND NOT TALL ENOUGH TO CUSHION THE IMPACT OF A POTHOLE. IT'S JUST UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10621602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
THREE TIRES HAD LARGE BUBBLES, FIRST TIRE AT 11,000, TWO MORE AT 12,000. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL FOR A 2012 BMW 535XI SPORT. TIRES WERE "GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 RUNONFLAT 245/40R19" TIRES HAVE GENTLE USE, 99% FREEWAY DRIVING ON GOOD ROADS. TIRES ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND MUST BE RECALLED. BMW KNOWS THIS BECAUSE THEY QUICKLY REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN'S AT PRORATED COST. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO RECALL THESE TIRES!
NHTSA complaint #10520703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
THREE TIRES HAD LARGE BUBBLES, FIRST TIRE AT 11,000, TWO MORE AT 12,000. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL FOR A 2012 BMW 535XI SPORT. TIRES WERE "GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 RUNONFLAT 245/40R19" TIRES HAVE GENTLE USE, 99% FREEWAY DRIVING ON GOOD ROADS. TIRES ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND MUST BE RECALLED. BMW KNOWS THIS BECAUSE THEY QUICKLY REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN'S AT PRORATED COST. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO RECALL THESE TIRES!
NHTSA complaint #10520703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
2012 BMW 535 XDRIVE 27000 MILES. 2.5 INCH BUBBLE ON RIGHT FRONT SIDEWALL, CRACK ON SIDEWALL OF REAR TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10512666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535 XI EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 TIRES, SIZE 245/40/R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OVER A POT HOLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THE TIRES WERE RUN FLAT TIRES AND WERE MADE THINLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS APPROXIMATELY 600. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10502460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
IT WAS 530AM AND WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. FEW CARS ON THE ROAD.OUT OF NO WHERE WE HEAR A LOUD BOOM COMING FROM WHAT SOUNDS THE BACK OF THE CAR. AFTER THE BOOM NOTHING HAPPENED FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. THEN THE CAR HAD A MESSAGE OF "DRIVE TRAIN ISSUE DRIVE MODERATELY" THEN THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND CALLED THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE. THEY ARRIVED WITHIN TWENTY MINUTES OF OUR CALL. AS THE OFFICER PULLED UP, AND WE EXPLAINED WHAT WE THOUGHT HAPPENED HE EXPRESSED THAT HE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AT ALL IN THE ROAD (HE WAS TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS WE WERE). WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS KIMBERLY BMW IN DAVENPORT, IA. WE RENTED A CAR AND CONTINUED TO CHICAGO SO WE RENTED A CAR AND CONTINUED OUR TRIP. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM KIMBERLY BMW AND THEY STATED THAT THE GAS TANK BLADDER HAD BEEN PUNCTURED, AND THAT IT WAS OUR FAULT NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT?? WE HIT NOTHING, WE SAW NOTHING, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY DAMAGE TO INSINUATE THAT WE HIT SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE "PUNCTURED GAS TANK". KIMBERLY BMW SAID THEY TOOK PICTURES. WE REPEATEDLY ASKED THEM TO BE EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE, ANY MEANS NECESSARY SO WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE PICTURES. WE DEMANDED THAT THE PUNCTURED TANK BE LEFT FOR OUR INSPECTION UPON PICKING UP THE CAR, AND WE NEVER RECEIVED IT. UPON CALLING BMW THEY STUCK BY KIMBERLY BMW STATING KIMBERLY BMW HAS "PICTURES" AND LEFT IT AT THAT. NO ONE FROM BMW CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THE PICTURES. I TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE COVERING UP A DEFECT IN THE GAS TANK OF THE VEHICLE. WE PAID THE MONEY TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. ITS NOT AT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY IT IS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THE MOTORIST AROUND US. OUR CONCERNS HAVE FELL ON DEAF EARS. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10496821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
THERE IS A BUBBLE THAT HAS FORMED ON MY TIRES VERY OFTEN AND HAS FORCED ME TO REPLACE 4 TIRES IN 10 MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10485817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 535XI EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 TIRES, SIZE 245/40R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE BUBBLES IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER TIRES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
NHTSA complaint #10475829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.