Reliable Auto DB

2013 BMW 535i reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2013 BMW 535i has 38 complaints with NHTSA after 14 years, or 4 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 6 535i years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Exterior lighting.

2012 BMW 535i
Photo by Alexander Migl, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

38

Per year

4

Recalls

1

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (13 of 38), then Engine (9) and Exterior lighting (8). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 535i has 54 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2014 has 30 complaints, 3 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 BMW 535i. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Exterior lighting 2015-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 15V188000
Summary 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 number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
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 (38 total)

Electrical system
13
Engine
9
Exterior lighting
8
Air bags
5
Fuel and propulsion system
3
Suspension
3
Powertrain
2
Structure
2
Tires
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Speed control
1
Steering
1
Visibility
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Wheels
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

520135201422015220173201812019520203202122022320233202442025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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…"
    Electrical system, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-11-19
  • "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…"
    Electrical system, Air bags, Speed control · filed 2025-07-22
  • "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…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2025-06-10
  • "After the replacement of all 02 sensors and fuses, the fault code returns and was traced back to the integrated supply module/IVm"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2025-02-18
  • "Headlight Assembly has issues with the seal and condensation can/does enter the headlight assembly rendering the functionality of the headlight as suspect. Without proper lighting and condensation in front of the…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2024-05-06

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 BMW 535 I 4 DR RWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2013 BMW 535 I GT 4 DR RWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2013 BMW 535 I Xdrive 4 DR AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2013 BMW 535 I Xdrive GT 4 DR AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
535i 3L, 6-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $3450
535i 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 30 24 MPG $3300
535i Gran Turismo 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 30 24 MPG $3300
535i xDrive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 21 29 24 MPG $3300
535i xDrive Gran Turismo 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 18 26 21 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

F10 5 Series, 2012–2017
Body styles Sedan, Gran Turismo
Oil BMW 0W-30 (N55; verify under-hood label / LL-01 FE) , 6.9 qt capacity
Tire size 245/45R18, 245/40R19 (front); staggered packages may use 275/35R19 rear front / 245/45R18, 245/40R19, 275/35R19 (trim/package dependent) rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 15V-188 covers certain 2013 535i and 535i xDrive vehicles (and other 5 Series models): the rear reflex reflectors may not meet reflectivity requirements. Recall 24V-527 covers certain 2014 5 Series sedans and Gran Turismo models among other BMWs for a driver's frontal air-bag inflator module concern. Recall 16V-914 covers certain 2017 535i and 535i xDrive vehicles (and other BMW models) where the front passenger air bag may not deploy as intended in a crash. Dealers update related software or replace affected components per the campaign remedy.

Compare

Previous year 2012 BMW 535i Next year 2014 BMW 535i See every BMW 535i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 BMW 535i reliable?

The 2013 BMW 535i has 38 complaints with NHTSA after 14 years, or 4 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 6 535i years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Exterior lighting.

What are common problems with a 2013 BMW 535i?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (13 of 38), then Engine (9) and Exterior lighting (8). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2013 BMW 535i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 535i has 54 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2014 has 30 complaints, 3 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 BMW 535i been recalled?

The 2013 BMW 535i has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 BMW 535i?

Owners have filed 38 complaints about the 2013 BMW 535i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 BMW 535i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 BMW 535i is 23.2 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a BMW 535i (F10) take?

BMW 0W-30 (N55) is listed here; verify the under-hood label and LL-01 FE approval for your production date.

What does recall 24V-527 cover involving the 535i era?

Certain 2014 5 Series sedans and Gran Turismo models among other BMWs for a driver’s frontal air-bag inflator concern — confirm open campaigns by VIN.

What years does the F10 535i cover on this site?

2012-2017.