2016 Bmw 535d problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel System, Diesel (3) · Engine (2) · Tires (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 535d model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Fuel System, Diesel 2021-11-19 · campaign 21V907000 · 50,404 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold
Risk: A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer
Fuel System, Diesel:delivery:fuel Pump 2021-07-29 · campaign 21V586000 · 11,216 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 2018-10-25 · campaign 18V755000 · 44,368 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smol
Risk: The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags 2016-12-20 · campaign 16V914000 · 3,506 vehicles
Defect: 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-
Risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Child Seat 2015-10-30 · campaign 15V718000 · 7,162 vehicles
Defect: 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
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (219)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-22 · b011125 · Warranty Program/Extension
the exhaust gas recirculation (egr) cooler (with egr valve) and the auxiliary exhaust gas recirculation (egr) cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 25 years without mileage limit as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
Engine 2025-08-28 · B011125 · Warranty Program/Extension
the exhaust gas recirculation (egr) cooler (with egr valve) and the auxiliary exhaust gas recirculation (egr) cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 25 years without mileage limit as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
Engine 2025-08-15 · B010520 · Warranty Program/Extension
n47/n57 diesel engine egr cooler revised ext ltd wty(elw) coverage/procedure
Engine 2025-08-08 · B011125 · Warranty Program/Extension
the exhaust gas recirculation (egr) cooler (with egr valve) and the auxiliary exhaust gas recirculation (egr) cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 25 years without mileage limit as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2024-01-23 · B010520 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the vehicle demonstrates a power loss and the malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on. the following fault codes may be stored in the dde: 24ce00 hot film air mass meter: ratio of measured to calculated air mass too high 27f000 charge air hose monitoring in idle: charge air hose fallen down 290900 a
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls 2024-01-16 · B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Showing the 6 most recent of 219 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-07-29 · Engine“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 recall 21v-907 (egr cooler replacement), which involve…”
2025-04-14 · Fuel System, Diesel · 116,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 bmw 535d. the contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with high-pressure fuel pump failure. the vehicle was left at the local dealer, where it remained for further repa…”
2025-04-04 · Engine · 🔥 fire“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. …”
2024-07-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System“high pressure fuel pump has suddenly failed causing a immediate engine stall without warning. will not restart even though it does turn over. code reads low fuel pressure at fuel rail. fuel tank lift pump is working correctly. there is a recall for some 2014 to 2016 535d for this failure. why is mine not covered? 122,400 miles.…”
2022-08-12 · Power Train“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 which indicated: intake manifold runner control (im…”
2022-08-02 · Fuel System, Diesel · 65,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 bmw 535d. the contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v907000 (fuel system, diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reaso…”
2022-01-21 · Fuel System, Diesel“the contact owns a 2016 bmw 535d. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 21v907000 (fuel system, diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. …”
2018-03-05 · Tires · 16,000 mi“1 st tire blown 13000 miles at 45 mph on lake havasu city,az 2nd tire blown 16000 miles at 65 on 5fwy los angeles,ca at 14 000 miles had to replace a tire for a punture so no big deal but 3 goodyear eagle ls 245/45r18 run on flat before 20 000 miles thats a concern safe to drive the car…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.