BMW has a known issue with my make and model with the steering knuckle (swivel bearing) and wheel bearings making contact. This has happened now to both my driver and passenger side and it is very scary. Once they make contact, they stay in contact until fixed by the dealer. It significantly affects the ability to handle the vehicle and makes the car shutter, affects the ability to accelerate and…
2015 BMW 535i steering problems
moderate 3 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 3 steering complaints filed for the 2015 BMW 535i, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 535I. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, a steering wheel image was displayed on the instrument panel. The computer then informed the contact to carefully drive the vehicle to a dealer for service. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic test was…
Here is the video about how the part fails. I uploaded this video to youtube. You can pass this video to BMW, that is your prerogative, [XXX] My cars has the angle sensor error, and calling for irregular communication with other modules. I am sure he reasons for this are in the video. Lastly I will upload error codes my scanner detected. The steering angle control fails in all BMWs 5 series…
Had steering trouble with your 2015 BMW 535i?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2015 BMW 535i?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 73,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/BMW/535i.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.