2013 Bmw 535i problems and recalls

Owners have filed 38 complaints on the 2013 Bmw 535i, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Electrical System (13 complaints).

38
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
1
Injuries
61.6
Severity index

Severity index 61.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 61.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 13 complaints (34.2%)13 34%EngineEngine: 9 complaints (23.7%)9 24%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 8 complaints (21.1%)8 21%Air BagsAir Bags: 5 complaints (13.2%)5 13%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 3 complaints (7.9%)3 8%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 3 complaints (7.9%)3 8%SuspensionSuspension: 3 complaints (7.9%)3 8%StructureStructure: 2 complaints (5.3%)2 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1334.2%
ENGINE923.7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING821.1%
AIR BAGS513.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM37.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER37.9%
SUSPENSION37.9%
STRUCTURE25.3%

Complaints filed per year

0252013: 52014: 52015: 22017: 22018: 32019: 12020: 52021: 32022: 22023: 32024: 32025: 41351415171819202122232425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20135
20145
20152
20172
20183
20191
20205
20213
20222
20233
20243
20254
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (10 against 10).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
15V18800031/03/2015EXTERIOR LIGHTINGBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fede

Other Bmw 535i model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 4 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.