YearToAvoid

2009 BMW 535i Engine Problems

NHTSA has 28 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2009 BMW 535i, 39% of all 71 complaints for this model year. That is #3 highest engine complaint count among 10 535i model years. These complaints report 2 fires and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 70,946 miles.

Engine complaints
28
39% of 71
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
70,946 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2009 BMW 535i engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 18, 2009, latest Dec 1, 2023.

2009 BMW 535i engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2009Apr 2013Jun 2014Sep 2015Feb 2017Apr 2019Jun 2022
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2009 to Dec 2023; peak Aug 2010 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2009 BMW 535i

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by 535i model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200832 (43%)
  2. 200928 (39%)
  3. 201017 (29%)
  4. 201146 (41%)
  5. 201215 (28%)
  6. 201311 (29%)
  7. 201411 (37%)
  8. 20156 (26%)
  9. 20161 (8%)
  10. 20170 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 BMW 535i have engine problems?
NHTSA has 28 owner complaints about the engine in the 2009 BMW 535i, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 70,946 miles.
Which BMW 535i year has the most engine complaints?
The 2011 BMW 535i has the most engine complaints (46), compared with 28 for the 2009.
Is there a engine recall for the 2009 BMW 535i?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 BMW 535i is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.