12 complaints reported

2009 BMW 5 Series Fuel System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
12
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2017

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 75MPH WHEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER, SHUT OFF AND LEFT ME WITHOUT POWER AND STRANDED DUE TO A FUEL PUMP. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I'VE FOUND THAT BMW AND SPECIFICALLY THE "N54" MOTOR THAT I HAVE A SEVERE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT REASON. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PUT IN PLACE FOR CERTAIN PARTS HOWEVER NOT ALL THE PARTS THAT CAUSE THIS TYPE OF A FAILURE. I'VE TRIED WORKING PROFESSIONALLY WITH BMW OF USA BUT BECAUSE I WASN'T INVOLVED IN A CRASH FROM SAID FAILURE THEY JUST REFUSE TO HELP. I DO NOT THINK ANY CAR WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES ON IT SHOULD BY ANY MEANS HAVE THIS SEVERE OF A BREAK DOWN POTENTIALLY CAUSING A RATHER FATAL OUTCOME. LUCKILY I AM AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER AND CAN HANDLE A CAR WITH LOST POWER AND NOT COLLIDE INTO A WALL WHICH I NEARLY DID. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH BMW USA AS IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A HIGH END TURBO VEHICLE TO HAVE COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BMW FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET HAVE SHOWN ME THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. SADLY THEY MAY NOT KNOW NHTSA EXISTS TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I SINCERELY HOPE YOUR GROUP CAN HELP US HELPLESS CONSUMERS OF BMW PRODUCTS GAIN A SAFER DRIVING EXPERIENCE. BMW RECALLING ONE FUEL PUMP AND NOT THE OTHER, OR EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON TURBOS YET NOT THE SUBSEQUENT PARTS THAT THEY OPERATE AND IT CAUSING THIS TYPE OF A BREAK DOWN IS TRULY TRULY SCARY AS WELL AS UNACCEPTABLE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Apr 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 5 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S POWER SEIZED AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT UPDATED 01/23/17.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 5 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Jan 2015

PURCHASED A 2009 BMW 535I XDRIVE (VIN# [XXX]) IN MARCH 2013. IN JUNE OF 2013 I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. THEY INDICATED THE INJECTORS WERE UNDER RECALL HOWEVER MY CAR HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED. UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT CAME TO LIGHT THAT ONLY THREE OF THE SIX INJECTORS WERE REPLACED UNDER THE PRIOR RECALL WORK. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BAD INJECTOR UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT ONE OF THE ONES REPLACED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WORK. THEY INDICATED THEY CONTACTED BMWNA AND THAT THEY REFUSED TO APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INJECTOR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT DEALT WITH UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL WORK.I ENDED UP HAVING MY LOCAL BMW MECHANIC REPLACE THIS INJECTOR. THIS NOVEMBER 2014 I BEGAN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH ANOTHER OF THE RECALLED INJECTORS THAT HAD YET TO BE REPLACED. THIS INJECTOR WHILE DRIVING BECAME LOOSE AND BROKE A FUEL LINE DAMAGING THE CYLINDER HEAD OF THE ENGINE WHERE THE INJECTOR IS LOCATED. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE HEAD, THE INJECTOR LOCATED IN CYLINDER 5 CONTINUES TO LOOSE THE O-RING. THIS RENDERS THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THIS IS MY THIRD BMW AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD THESE KINDS OF PROBLEM. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, ONE FUEL INJECTOR, WATER PUMP AND CRANK SEAL. IN ADDITION THE TRUNK LEAKS CREATING ISSUES WITH MY BATTERY AND SOS SYSTEM. I HAVE LEARNED THOUGH MUCH RESEARCH THAT THIS CAR MODEL HAS MANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, INJECTORS, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, ETC. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THIS AND HOW THE CURRENT ISSUE WITH THE INJECTOR AND NOW HEAD CAN BE RESOLVED SINCE THIS INJECTOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WORK LONG BEFORE THE HEAD WAS DAMAGED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Dec 2013
Jul 2014

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED BECAUSE IT FAILED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EXPRESS WAY WITH FAST MOVING CARS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS POSE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO THE PASSENGERS BECAUSE THEY COULD GET RUN OVER BY OTHER CARS. THE CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING IT JUST STOPS. I'VE COMPLAINED TO BMW ABOUT THIS AND THEY PRETEND THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE FIRST FUEL PUMP THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE SAME PART AGAIN. THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY ITS FAILING IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2014
Jul 2011

VEHICLE HAD LOSS OF POWER, SHAKY AT START UP. VEHICLE HAD A LOSS POWER TO ONLY GO ABOUT 5MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jun 2011
Apr 2011

SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BMW REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER BUT SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES (AT 8,000MILES, 13,000 MILES AND 18,000 MILES). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Dec 2011
Jul 2010

WHILE DRIVING MY BMW, THE ENGINE STALLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND FORCED ME TO EXPEDITE MYSELF TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE AND RATTLE AT IDLE, AND THE CAR WAS SENT INTO LIMP MODE BY THE PCM. THIS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS, AND ALWAYS AT RANDOM TIMES AND SPEEDS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOT BE PASSING SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY, OR ENTERING/EXITING THE ON/OFF RAMPS WHEN IT OCCURRED. I AM FORCED TO TAKE ULTRA SAFE ROUTES THAT OFFER SLOWER SPEEDS. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON WITH THIS ENGINE MAKE AND MODEL, AND MUST BE ADDRESSED AS THIS WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A INJURY/ACCIDENT/ OR WORSE, FATALITY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND HAVE THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FIX THEIR MISTAKES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Jun 2010

NORMAL DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE LOSING POWER. THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE COMPUTER SCREEN STATES "ENGINE MALFUNCTION! REDUCING POWER". THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES BY BMW. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT HAS NO REPAIR FOR THE SITUATION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Feb 2010

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ENTERING HIGHWAY. DEALER CONFIRMED FAILURE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP 2009 BMW 535I WITH 10K MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Dec 2009
Dec 2009

MY FAMILY AND I WAS DRIVING TO SAN FRANCISCO AND READY TO CROSS THE BAY BRIDGE. I WAS IN MY 2010 BMW 535I (THE CAR WAS THREE MONTHS OLD WITH ABOUT 5500 MILES ON IT. WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT GOES ON AND I GET A MESSAGE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES, THE ENGINE DIES AND THE CAR IS STALLED. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, VERY DANGEROUS, NO WHERE TO EXIT. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AND EVERYTIME I TRIED TO DRIVE, THE ENGINE DIES. WE WERE BLOCKING TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE CHP ARRIVED TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE TRAFFIC LANES. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM (HPFP) - BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS -- THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THIS FUEL PUMP WILL FAIL AGAIN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2009
Dec 2009

MY BMW 535XI SPORT WAGON HAD A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AFTER 12500 MI. THE ENGINE LOST MOST OF ITS POWER AND I NEEDED TO QUICKLY EXIT HWY.IN ORDER NOT TO POSE A THREAT TO OTHERS. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM I NOTICED THE ENGINE TOOK LONGER TO START, AND ONE TIME THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SPUTTER AND TEMPORARILY BECOME UN DRIVABLE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE DEALER SAID THEY HAD TO FIX A PROBLEM IN THE CARS COMPUTER. THE SECOND TIME , THE DEALER SAID THE PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2009
Nov 2009

PURCHASED 2009 BMW 335CI IN MARCH OF 2009. IN SEP THE CAR STALLED, BMW REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP OR HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP). TODAY WE STARTED THE CAR AND MOVED IT IN OUR DRIVEWAY. 1.5 HOURS LATER WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN TO GO TO WORK AND IT STALLED. WE TRIED TWICE TO RESTART IT WOULDN'T. AT THAT TIME WE NOTICED A FUEL SMELL AND STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE INTO A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2009

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2009 BMW 5 Series has 12 Fuel System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.