I WAS DRIVING AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THE WARNING SAYS (PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIR BAG, BELT TENSIONER BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE WEARING SAFETY BELT. HAVE SYSTEM CHECKED BY THE NEAREST BMW CENTER. I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WITH NO SUDDEN STOP OR ANY OUT OF THE ORDINARY MOVE.
2008 BMW 550I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 550I years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
24 reports with mileage · 8 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
32 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO STOP. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACCUM PUMP WAS LEAKING OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO STOP. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACCUM PUMP WAS LEAKING OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND FAILS TO RESTART, ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY FAIL TO START. THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, OR SHORTLY AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. NO WARNINGS OR ERRORS ARE GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED OR LOGGED HOWEVER IN RARE INSTANCES DR…
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VEHICLE SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND FAILS TO RESTART, ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY FAIL TO START. THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, OR SHORTLY AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. NO WARNINGS OR ERRORS ARE GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED OR LOGGED HOWEVER IN RARE INSTANCES DRIVETRAIN WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED. THE ENGINE DISPLAYS NO STRANGE BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING AND SHUTS OFF AS IF IT WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE REGULARLY FAILS TO START. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER AT ALL OR MAKE ANY INDICATION THAT IT IS ATTEMPTING TO START. THE VEHICLE RESPONDS AS THOUGH THE IGNITION WAS NOT ACTIVATED AND WAS NEVER INSTRUCTED TO START. AFTER A RANDOM TIME INTERVAL FROM 5 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS THE CAR WILL START AS IF NO PROBLEMS WERE EVER ENCOUNTERED. NO ERRORS ARE LOGGED IN THE ECU. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO FIND ANY ISSUES WHICH THEY CLAIM ARE REPAIRABLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40 DAYS OF SHOP TIME AND WELL OVER 100 OCCURRENCES. *TR
2008 BMW 550I. CONSUMER STATES WHEN NORMALLY DOWN SHIFTING TO REDUCE SPEED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PUSHED IN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS RELEASED IN A LOWER GEAR, IT MAINTAINED THE HIGHER SPEED AND MERELY REVVED THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER LEARNED HE COULD NOT DOWN SHIFT, BUT …
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2008 BMW 550I. CONSUMER STATES WHEN NORMALLY DOWN SHIFTING TO REDUCE SPEED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PUSHED IN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS RELEASED IN A LOWER GEAR, IT MAINTAINED THE HIGHER SPEED AND MERELY REVVED THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER LEARNED HE COULD NOT DOWN SHIFT, BUT HAD TO BREAK INSTEAD. THE CONSUMER AND THE BMW TECHNICIAN WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUCTH HAD TO BE HELD FOR ABOUT SIX SECONDS IN ORDER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE DELAY WAS APPARENTLY WITHIN THE SPECIFICATIONS
MY BRAND NEW 2008 BMW 550I WAS INVOLVED IN THREE SEPARATE COLLISIONS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN A SPAN OF LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER I LEASED IT. IT HAS 7 MILES WHEN I WAS GOT IT AND THE FIRST COLLISION OCCURRED WHEN MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING IT IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO AND THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 2,000 MILES. THE SECOND COLLISION …
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MY BRAND NEW 2008 BMW 550I WAS INVOLVED IN THREE SEPARATE COLLISIONS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN A SPAN OF LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER I LEASED IT. IT HAS 7 MILES WHEN I WAS GOT IT AND THE FIRST COLLISION OCCURRED WHEN MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING IT IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO AND THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 2,000 MILES. THE SECOND COLLISION OCCURRED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER (AFTER THE DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED) -- THE CAR COLLIDED WITH A BIG-RIG ON THE RIGHT SIDE, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. THE THIRD ACCIDENT HAPPENED WITHIN 4 MILES AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH THE HIGHWAY CONCRETE BARRIERS. THE CAR COULD HAVE ROLLED OVER THE CONCRETE EMBANKMENTS AND PLUNGED OVER 100 FEET -- I WAS EXITING FROM THE ELEVATED OFF-RAMP OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY BRIDGE. (THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL RESPONDEDTO THE SECOND COLLISION AND THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE AND TOWED TO SAN FRANCISCO FROM THE SUBMIT OF THE GRAPEVINE NEAR LOS ANGELES.) *TR
BMW 528I - IF YOU CARRY LIQUIDS WHICH SPILL IN YOUR TRUNK, THE LIQUID CAN SEEP THROUGH AND BURN THE WIRES, OR THE CAR WILL STOP RUNNING (PER SERVICE DEPARTMENT), WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ON 7-5 MY CAR HAD A LOW TIRE LIGHT GO ON. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR IN AS THEY MIGHT NEED TO "RESET" SOMETHING. I TOOK THE CAR IN &WAS T…
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BMW 528I - IF YOU CARRY LIQUIDS WHICH SPILL IN YOUR TRUNK, THE LIQUID CAN SEEP THROUGH AND BURN THE WIRES, OR THE CAR WILL STOP RUNNING (PER SERVICE DEPARTMENT), WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ON 7-5 MY CAR HAD A LOW TIRE LIGHT GO ON. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR IN AS THEY MIGHT NEED TO "RESET" SOMETHING. I TOOK THE CAR IN &WAS TOLD TO RETURN ON 7-7 AS THEY COULDN'T GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. ON 7-7 WE TOOK THE CAR IN.THE SERVICE REP. CALLED &ASKED ME IF I HAD SPILLED WATER IN THE TRUNK.I TOLD HIM ON 7-4 A WATER BOTTLE SPILLED.HE TOLD ME DUE TO THE WATER SPILL, THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.HE SAID THEY RAN TESTS AND WIRES WERE BURNT 3 TO 4'. HE SAID THERE IS A CHANCE WHEN YOU PUT WATER BOTTLES IN TRUNK & THEY ARE NOT SEALED TIGHTLY THE HEAT CAN CAUSE THEM TO EXPAND,& OPEN UP & SPILL. HE SAID HE WARNED HIS WIFE OF THIS. I WAS NOT WARNED THE WIRES ARE DOWN THERE & NOT TO CARRY LIQUID IN THE TRUNK. I ASKED IF I COULD DRIVE THE CAR AND HE SAID NO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN WHEN THE WIRES ARE BURNED. I CAN'T USE THE TRUNK FOR GROCERY SHOPPING FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING WILL 'LEAK' AND CAUSE THE WIRES TO 'BURN' AGAIN,CREATING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. IF THERE IS NO FIRE DUE TO THE BURNT WIRES, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR 'SHUTTING DOWN', CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO MYSELF OR ANOTHER PARTY. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED THE BMW TRUNK CAN'T HANDLE TRANSPORTING LIQUID STORED IN CONTAINERS.THE WIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM WATER DAMAGE DUE TO THEIR LOCATION AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE BY LIQUID. THESE WIRES ARE SOMEWHERE UNDER THE SPARE TIRE IN THE TRUNK AREA, WHICH IS, IN MY OPINION, A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. I WOULD FEEL BAD IF ANYONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE WIRES PLACED WHERE THEY ARE & THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM LIQUID. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEALED BOTTLE OF WATER STORED IN THE TRUNK LEAKED. THE LEAK CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, WHICH BURNED THE WIRES AND MODULATORS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
I HAVE A BMW 335I BOUGHT ON MARCH 28, 2008 AND IT HAS STALLED ON ME AND DIED OVER 4 TIMES. THE CAR NOW HAS 1000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT ON LIMP MODE WAS AT 500 MILES AND THE FIRST TIME IT STALLED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WAS AT 750 MILES. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS FAULTY GAS, WHICH WAS MY PROBLEM, AND THAT I …
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I HAVE A BMW 335I BOUGHT ON MARCH 28, 2008 AND IT HAS STALLED ON ME AND DIED OVER 4 TIMES. THE CAR NOW HAS 1000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT ON LIMP MODE WAS AT 500 MILES AND THE FIRST TIME IT STALLED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WAS AT 750 MILES. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS FAULTY GAS, WHICH WAS MY PROBLEM, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF A NEW GAS PUMP, NEW INJECTORS AND TO CLEAN OUT MY BRAND NEW GAS TANK, SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. I JUST GOT MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON, JUNE 23, 2008, AND WILL BE IN THE SERVICE FOR THE SAME THING, A FAULTY GAS PUMP, FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR
NOTE THIS IS FOR A 2008 BMW 335XI NOT A BMW 550I I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335XI WHICH HAS HAD TWO FUEL PUMP FAILURES WITHIN A WEEK. FIRST WAS ON JUNE 9TH WHERE MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. A WEEK LATER, AND LESS THAN 100 MILES, THE FUEL PUMP DIED AGAIN WITH AN ERROR MES…
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NOTE THIS IS FOR A 2008 BMW 335XI NOT A BMW 550I I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335XI WHICH HAS HAD TWO FUEL PUMP FAILURES WITHIN A WEEK. FIRST WAS ON JUNE 9TH WHERE MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. A WEEK LATER, AND LESS THAN 100 MILES, THE FUEL PUMP DIED AGAIN WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION; REDUCED POWER... AND THE CAR KEPT RUNNING ROUGH... FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE REFER TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE08032 . THIS IS A DIFFERENT CLAIM MADE THAN THE ONE IN THAT ACTION NUMBER, HOWEVER, IT IS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Official recalls
213V407000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
Sep 11, 2013
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
07V479000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Oct 12, 2007
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE AND THE POWER STEERING COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ATTACH TWO GROUND CABLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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