repaired · 2024 Q2
Fuel system, diesel
Risk. A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
2016 BMW 535dProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 9 owner complaints about the 2016 BMW 535d, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-907 the manufacturer reports only 78% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 29, 2025. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 BMW 535d has problems
9 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
4Engine1 crash/fire/injury
3Fuel system, diesel
1Fuel/propulsion system
1Power train
1Tires
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel system, diesel | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2016 BMW 535d recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Emission control: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)
Risk. The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Air bags
Risk. If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Show 1 more recall
repaired · 2017 Q1
Child seat
Risk. If the child seat is not properly attached to the lower anchors, it can increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other 535d year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 535d median. How we score
'14'15'16
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 BMW 535d, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- High pressure fuel pump failureLed to recall 24V-957
In owners' words
What 535d owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On [XXX], the coolant connector flange on my 2016 BMW 535d (VIN: [XXX] ) catastrophically failed, causing complete coolant loss. I immediately contacted BMW of Las Vegas and was instructed to drive it in despite fluid visibly leaking through the undercarriage. The next day, [XXX], BMW performed…
Valve cover leak Oil filter housing leak Super common that these items leak in the bmw N57 diesel engines. Increased risk of fire. I am in the Facebook group with many other owners of the same engine, and almost everyone runs into the same problems by 100,000 miles.
A recall campaign No. 21V-907 was issued for my car on November 19, 2021 for the EGR Cooler. In the past 6 months I've had to add engine coolant to the cooling system reservoir and I made sure it is not leaking on the ground. On 8-8-22 I had a check engine light(MIL) with a stored code of P2004…
Own a 2016 535d?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.