YearToAvoid

2016 BMW 535i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

14/100

#7 most-complained of 8 535i years

The 2016 BMW 535i ranks 7th of 8 model years with a complaint index of 14, the second-lowest among all years, earning a "Best" verdict. It has 12 complaints, 2 recalls, and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.

Complaints
12
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22.5
19.5 city / 28 hwy

Top 2016 BMW 535i problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags7 (58%)
  2. Other2 (17%)
  3. Seat Belts2 (17%)
  4. Engine1 (8%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (8%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Airbag warning lights for the driver or passenger side stay on or flash intermittently, sometimes with no prior warning.
  • Passenger airbag systems have been reported as malfunctioning, meaning the airbag may not deploy in a crash.
  • Owners describe the head unit failing, which disables the rear view camera, tire pressure warnings, and distance-warning safety features at 36,000 miles.
  • Tires reportedly came apart and became unserviceable at 19,000 miles under normal driving.
  • One owner reported an engine overheating warning at various speeds at 78,000 miles, later diagnosed as a water-related issue.
  • Seat belt and passenger restraint complaints included a malfunctioning system alongside a repeatedly failing panoramic sunroof.
2016 BMW 535i complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2017Feb 2020Feb 2023Feb 2024Aug 2024
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2017 to Sep 2024; peak Feb 2021 (3).

2016 BMW 535i recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V914000Dec 20, 2016Airbags3,506 vehicles

    Air bags

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

    Risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 15V718000Oct 30, 2015Other7,162 vehicles

    Child seat

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

    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.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the inboard lower anchor on the left rear seat, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

2016 BMW 535i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
22.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,550
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other 535i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Caution5730223
2015Good2923022.5
2016Best1412222.5
2017No verdict00121.5

All BMW 535i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 BMW 535i reliable?
Compared to other 535i model years, 2016 has the second-lowest complaint index recorded, 14, and a "Best" verdict. NHTSA lists only 12 complaints and 2 recalls for this year, with no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths.
What is the top problem area for the 2016 BMW 535i?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 7 of 12 complaints, or 58% of the total. Median mileage at failure for airbag issues was 36,000 miles.
Does the 2016 BMW 535i have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for airbag modules (campaign 16V914000) and one for a child seat anchor issue on the rear seat (campaign 15V718000). Neither recall is marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2016 BMW 535i compare to other years?
The 2016 model ranks 7th worst out of 8 years by complaint index, well below the worst years, 2011 (complaint index 100) and 2010 (complaint index 86). Only 2015, with a complaint index of 29, scored lower.

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.