repaired · 2018 Q4
Exterior lighting
Risk. The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
2013 BMW 535iProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 39 owner complaints about the 2013 BMW 535i, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 15V-188 the manufacturer reports only 69% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 12, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 BMW 535i has problems
39 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
13Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
10Engine1 crash/fire/injury
8Exterior lighting
5Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
3Suspension
3Fuel/propulsion system
2Power train
2Tires
2Structure
99 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 13 | 3 |
| Engine | 10 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 1 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 1 |
| Power train | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 9 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2013 BMW 535i 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.
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
2013 vs. every other 535i 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 535i median. How we score
'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 BMW 535i safety ratings
2013 BMW 535 I 4 DR RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 BMW 535i, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
In owners' words
What 535i owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are 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 in…
Heard a clicking noise behind the steering wheel for a few days then I’ll the sudden the horn stopped working and all the controls on the steering wheel stopped working. I’m a mechanic so I took apart the clock spring stealing wheel compartment to find all of the wire broken and very very brittle.…
After the replacement of all 02 sensors and fuses, the fault code returns and was traced back to the integrated supply module/IVm
Own a 2013 535i?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.