The 2013 BMW 535i has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 13,443 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
BMW 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 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…
Consequence
The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
1crashes2fires1injuries
ENGINE
9
1fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
8
AIR BAGS
5
1crashes1injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
1fires
SUSPENSION
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
POWER TRAIN
2
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
TIRES
2
Total complaints59
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“After the replacement of all 02 sensors and fuses, the fault code returns and was traced back to the integrated supply module/ivm”
“After the replacement of all 02 sensors and fuses, the fault code returns and was traced back to the integrated supply module/ivm”
“Back passenger door handle started smoking.”
“Front drive shaft detached and went into oil pan causing oils to splash out everywhere.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP22005 Opened 2023-01-27 · closed 2023-08-07
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2013 BMW 535i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.