2009 BMW 535I: sudden loss of power

Filed Jul 25, 2018 · Fuel system · 129,500 miles · VA

At least once or twice a week my vehicle all of a sudden lose power the engine malfunction light come dash. Then on the idrive system it always say "fuel pump" problem. This problem occurs unexpected and has put me in dangerous situation on the highway. I pull over to the shoulder and put the flashers on. After about ten minutes the flashers go off and the car is able to drive again. Lastly, the problem always happen unexpected regardless on city street or highway. I can be traveling at 25 to 75mph and it just randomly happens. Many occasions I do not feel comfortable traveling in the far left lane. Due to moving to the left shoulder and cars traveling at a higher rate of speed.

Filed Jul 21, 2018 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 128,000 miles · CA

Fuel pump failures, car shut down while driving on the highway (numerous times) lost power steering while going over 60 MPH. Cost over $10,000 to make repairs on the vehicle because bmw said it is no longer under warranty.

Filed May 9, 2018 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 127,000 miles · NC

Fuel pump error while driving and the car shuts down, we lose power steering and have done so on the highway, and city numerous times.

Filed Oct 30, 2017 · Fuel system · 89,992 miles · OH

My 2009 bmw 535i xdrive has been owned by me for 6 years. It has less than 90,000 miles on it. Since I became owner, it had 2 fuel pump failures, one water pump failure, and now fuel injector failure. When its fuel injectors failed on 10/27/17, the car's engine started shaking right after I turned it on. The car was parked overnight and I proceeded on the side street at 10 miles an hour speed towards work in the morning. Car then lost power and would not accelerate. Very dark, dense, black smoke was coming out of the tail pipe. After towing it to the dealer because it was unsafe to drive, I have been told by bmw dealer that the fuel injectors are malfunctioning and rather than spraying the fuel inside the engine, they were dumping it in large amounts instead. This created a state of too much unburned fuel inside the engine and it caused the black smoke. Cost of repair estimate was $3075. I was told that the catalytic converter may have been affected as well due to this dysfunction and as a result I might need replacement as well adding another $1500 to the cost. I have learned of similar reports of fuel injectors problems in this particular model, placing the cars, the drivers, and the passengers at risk. Seeing the dark, dense, black smoke coming out of the tail pipe seemed very unsafe and extremely hazardous and should trigger recall of such deficient fuel injectors. I believe the fuel injector malfunction caused an abnormal fire inside the engine which caused such dark smoke to occur.

Filed Apr 17, 2017 · Fuel system · 102,000 miles · WA

I was driving on the highways, amidst other vehicles when the engine completely lost power and stopped running. I was very lucky that I did not create an accident. The vehicle just shut itself off while going 60!! I lost power steering but managed to pull off to the side of the road. The vehicle would then not start and on the idrive it gave me a fuel pump warning . About an hour later after calling for assistance, I started the vehicle and it was as if nothing had occured. The warning dissappearing and it drove normally. It has since then done this same thing 4 other times. I have read many other complaints similar to mine and want to know if this vehicle is recalled and if not then why is it not recalled?

Filed Jan 23, 2017 · Fuel system · 80,000 miles · FL

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 the federal safety agency 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!

Filed Mar 7, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · 8,100 miles · NY

Takata recall, I bought the car back in late august, at a dealership called deluxe auto located in linden, new jersey. The dealership offered me a warranty, 30 days free and 90 days to decide to get the warranty or not. The initial offer was about 60$ monthly, at 79k miles. After having the car for a month driving on the highway late at night the car starting shaking and turned off on the highway. Fuel pump errors. Car was towed off the highway. After a few hrs car started and ran normally. Went to the dealership, got warranty. The offer now was at 120$ a month. They did the job, car ran normally. Happened again in brooklyn, sent car back to dealer they said nothing came up on the computer, nothing they can do. After a few months same thing happened. This time in connecticut, sent it to the nearest mechanic shop, bill came to 850, not including towing 138$. Now back to my dealership, when I went to them to pay for the warranty, my father used his credit card, since then I figured it would charge it monthly automatically. That is not the case, as I found out the dealership said nothing they can do. Other problem, car started leaking oil, on oil housing unit, engine oil valve. Got them both fixed at about 500$ at a local mechanic shop. Now a week later, at 1am of march 7th of 2016 I'm starting the car, it turns on and gives an error "engine reduced power" and "engine pressure too low, shut off engine immediately ". I'm about to be 22, gonna start college soon, I have been making payments to a 20k car, on top of all the maintance problems that this dealership sold me and tricked me into. I dont know if me writing all this would help me in any way but this sucks, on top of me being trapped on a highway until a tow truck comes, in nyc, 2 times where cars fly by you I want that when dealership sell cars to be sure that the customers are safe driving them.I hope it helps.

Filed Feb 9, 2016 · Fuel system · 132,000 miles · MA

Driving on the highway, engine stops. First warning "engine malfunction, reduced power. But it had already stopped. After narrowing missing traffic parked in breakdown lane. Next warning fuel pump failure. Car would not re-start for an hour until tow truck arrived. Had to be towed to bmw dealer. Dealer reports low pressure fuel pump. Engine died again at dealers

Filed Sep 17, 2015 · Engine · 71,892 miles · NY

While driving "engine failure, reduce power" light came on, power on engine reduced but drivable. When car shut down and restarted light goes off but if stepping on the gas hard the light comes back with engine having reduced power. This was repaired twice, last by bmw on 7/29/13, they replaced vans solenoids (intake and exhaust) and reprogramed the transmission. At that time they told me if the problem returns the transmission may need to be replaced. Reading through forums and the web I came upon many complaints for the same problem in which dealers stated different root causes, many solutions proposed but often problem returns. I believe this is design flaw with this car and should be investigated.

Filed Jul 27, 2015 · Engine · 8,632 miles · IL

I was driving my vehicle northbound on the kennedy expressway (I-90) between montrose and lawrence exit here in chicago when my car stalled the middle of a very busy highway. I attempted to restart it with reduced power that allowed me to drive my vehicle to the shoulders but it was a scary experience nonetheless with high speed cars and trucks passing by you. It was determined that it was a fuel pump issue relating to an existing recall/class action lawsuit. Anyway, the car was never fully fixed; I mean I had at several instances of car stalling again and again. I repeatedly complaint to the manufacturer and the car dealer letting them know that I feel theres a systemic issue with the vehicle. Every time I brought it for repairs it was a different reason why the engine failure keeps lighting up and the car stalling. In the beginning they were covering the repairs under warranty but as soon as the original warranty expired I was on the hook for hundreds sometimes thousands of dollars in repairs. I complained that there was a class action lawsuit on this vehicle and part of the settlement was to extend the engine warranty to 10 years but they never covered it under this extended warranty simply by stating that the issue was not related to whats covered by the warranty. Ive finally given up disputing with them and sold the car this month and ive disputed with my credit card the repair costs since the issue was never fixed. Bmw is covering up that theres an issue with this model of their car and have been dodging warranty claims.

Filed May 27, 2015 · Fuel system · 69,887 miles · WI

Vehicle shutters and misfires when automatic transmission downshifts while attempting to accelerate at cruising speeds. Engine light comes on and has reduced power until vehicle is restarted. Major safety concern when attempting to merge onto highway.

Filed Aug 14, 2014 · Engine · 73,000 miles · CO

In passing on 2 lane highway with oncoming traffic a warning of reduced engine power occurred with corresponding reduction in engine power with significantly reduced margin of safety with respect to oncoming traffic. This is happening multiple times and has been in for repair once. Reliability is unpredictable.