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2011 BMW 550I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

62 reports with mileage · 22 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.

  • Engine. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports11 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

84 reports
55,000 miles · Dec 18, 2019
Engine

ENGINE INFORMATION CENTER SAYS TO ADD OIL, IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, NUMEROUS TIMES. CAR SHUT DOWN ON ROAD AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED. SINCE THE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER THE WARRANTY BY MILES, PAX 500 MILES, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CAR ONLY HAS JUST OVER 50K MILES.…

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ENGINE INFORMATION CENTER SAYS TO ADD OIL, IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, NUMEROUS TIMES. CAR SHUT DOWN ON ROAD AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED. SINCE THE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER THE WARRANTY BY MILES, PAX 500 MILES, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CAR ONLY HAS JUST OVER 50K MILES. IT WAS PURCHASED WITH 40K MILES ON IT BUT WAS PURCHASED FROM A DEALER NOT BMW. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE?

NHTSA ODI #11289852

125,000 miles · Sep 21, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2014. FIRST, IT WAS UNKNOWN ISSUES THAT RESULTED IN THE INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS, AND BATTERY BEING REPLACED. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT WENT BACK TO THEM SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE THEY EVENTUALLY BROUGHT AN ENGINEER IN THAT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A STRETCHE…

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THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2014. FIRST, IT WAS UNKNOWN ISSUES THAT RESULTED IN THE INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS, AND BATTERY BEING REPLACED. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT WENT BACK TO THEM SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE THEY EVENTUALLY BROUGHT AN ENGINEER IN THAT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN. THIS RESULTED IN A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND ALL PARTS ASSOCIATED AT 60,000 MILES. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD RECALL WORK A COUPLE OF TIMES. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE TURBO COOLANT LINES REPLACED AND WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW WATER PUMP PUT IN AT 80,000 MILES BECAUSE OURS APPARENTLY FELL APART. THE CAR NEEDS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 500-700 MILES (THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE BEGINNING BUT IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE) AND THE NEWEST PROBLEM IS THAT IT THREW A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ERROR DRIVING UP A HILL. THIS ERROR IS RELATED TO A COMPLETE LACK OF COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER 3. THE CAR HAS 125,000 MILES. THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BACK AS A LEMON BUT BMW ALWAYS HAS SOME EXCUSE.

NHTSA ODI #11256973

110,000 miles · Sep 10, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFire

ON JULY 19, 2019, I DROVE MY CAR 2.5 MILES FROM MY OFFICE AND PARKED THE CAR AT MY RESIDENCE. THE CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND NEXT DAY THE CAR FAILED TO START. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPEN THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE OVERNIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, LUCKY THE FIRE WAS SELF CONTAINED AND DID NOT SPREAD TO NEARBY HOMES. I CONTACTED MR. M…

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ON JULY 19, 2019, I DROVE MY CAR 2.5 MILES FROM MY OFFICE AND PARKED THE CAR AT MY RESIDENCE. THE CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND NEXT DAY THE CAR FAILED TO START. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPEN THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE OVERNIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, LUCKY THE FIRE WAS SELF CONTAINED AND DID NOT SPREAD TO NEARBY HOMES. I CONTACTED MR. MIKE DISCEPOLO WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA AND AFTER 30 DAYS OF INVESTIGATION HE TOLD ME THAT THE FIRE WAS BECAUSE I FAILED TO MAINTAIN MY CAR, I SEARCHED THE NET AND HIS ANSWER WAS CONSISTENT WITH ANSWERS TO OTHER BMW CARS THAT START FIRE WHILE PARKED. ABC NIGHTLINE AND OTHER TV STATIONS INVESTIGATED PARKED BMW CARS FIRE AND BMW DENY THE PROBLEM. SEE ATTACHED HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=US56C7YQAYY HTTPS://WWW.10NEWS.COM/NEWS/TEAM-10/SAN-DIEGO-BMW-OWNERS-SAY-THEIR-USED-BMWS-SUDDENLY-CAUGHT-FIRE HTTPS://ABC7CHICAGO.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/BMW-CAR-FIRES-MORE-FIRES-REPORTED-IN-PARKED-CARS-WHILE-ENGINES-OFF/5121834/

NHTSA ODI #11254334

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

SINCE JAN 2014 THE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED AND REPLACED 2 TIMES AND THE VEH IS CURRENTLY AT THE POSITION OF CRTIZ BMW DEALERSHIP IN GA SINCE FEB 12/2015 TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS FOR THE 3RD TIME AND ALSO TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT MALF ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THAT WERE FAILED TO WORK SINCE FEB OF 2014. ON FEB OF 2014 I HAVE …

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SINCE JAN 2014 THE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED AND REPLACED 2 TIMES AND THE VEH IS CURRENTLY AT THE POSITION OF CRTIZ BMW DEALERSHIP IN GA SINCE FEB 12/2015 TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS FOR THE 3RD TIME AND ALSO TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT MALF ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THAT WERE FAILED TO WORK SINCE FEB OF 2014. ON FEB OF 2014 I HAVE REACHED OUT TO CRITZ BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE TO [XXX] AND ALSO CONTACTED BMW IN JUNE OF 2014 TO CUST CARE INDIVIDUALS AND [XXX], [XXX]THE CUSTOMER RELATION MGR MANY TIMES FROM OVER 6 MONTHS ABOUT THE SEAT BELT MALF SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THEN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED BUT I WAS TOLD THAT BMW COULDN'T DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE SEAT BELT. 3 PASSENGERS INCLUDING MY WIFE WERE AT RISK AND SAW THE LIGHT FOR SEAT BELT MALF WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON IN THIS VEH WHILE SETTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS DATED SINCE FEB 2014. THE WARNING INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WON'T DEPLOY IN CASE OF ANY ACCIDENT AND I HAD TO STOP THE VEH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR THE PASSENGER'S SAFETY AND I ALSO CONTACTED BMW EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTIONS. [XXX] AT CRITZ BMW MENTIONED THAT THE SERVICE DEPT AND BMW ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE SEAT BELT AND THAT THEY ARE IN CONTACT TO REPLACE THE SEAT MAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSOR. I WAS OFFERED BY BMW TO TRADE THIS VEHICLE AND I TOLD [XXX] THAT I WILL NOT TRADE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL ITS FIXED SINCE I DON'T WANT TO PUT SOMEONE'S LIFE IN DANGER DUE TO THE SEAT BELT ISSUE THAT BMW COULDN'T FIX AND I TOLD THEM THAT THEY CAN SIMPLY REPURCHASE, REPLACE OR REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. ON MARCH 12/2015 [XXX] TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE THAT THE BMW COULDN'T DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. I TOLD [XXX] OVER THE PHONE THAT I WILL NOT RISK THE LIFE OF MY WIFE OR ANY OTHER PERSON DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. BMW SIMPLY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT AND THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSING MY CASE. I WAS TOLD BY BMW

NHTSA ODI #11241522

109,000 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Unknown Or Other

DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILS CAUSING DEADLOCK. THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER/S ARE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE WITH OUT AN EXPEDITIOUS PATH OF EXIT.

NHTSA ODI #11232714

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

IT'S A USED CAR AND I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT

NHTSA ODI #11231649

86,000 miles · May 11, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

I RECEIVED A CARD IN THE MAIL FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INFORMING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP OF MY 2011 BMW 550I. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN AMARILLO TEXAS, AUTOPLEX BMW, WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] THAT WE ARE WELCOME TO BUY NEW CARS FROM THEM BUT THEY WILL NO LONGER HONER WARRANTY OR RECALL…

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I RECEIVED A CARD IN THE MAIL FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INFORMING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP OF MY 2011 BMW 550I. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN AMARILLO TEXAS, AUTOPLEX BMW, WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] THAT WE ARE WELCOME TO BUY NEW CARS FROM THEM BUT THEY WILL NO LONGER HONER WARRANTY OR RECALL WORK FOR ANYONE WITH THE LAST NAME [XXX] OR WHO IS RELATED TO OR AFFILIATED WITH [XXX] IS THERE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE WITH THIS MATTER? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11206988

76,000 miles · Feb 25, 2019
Engine

THE ENGINE STOP WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, OIL OK MAINTENANCE OK, DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS NO GOOD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. NO EXPLANATION GIVEN!!

NHTSA ODI #11182384

42,000 miles · Jan 27, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

DURING DRIVING ON THE STREET, I STARTED TO SMELL LIKE TOXIC BURNING LIKE RUBBER AND/OR ANTIFREEZE BURNING AND WHEN I STOP AT HOME I COULD SEE LITTLE STEAM COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA AND ALSO OIL LEAK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE-TRANSMISSION REGION. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11172397

90,000 miles · Nov 19, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

THIS VEHICLE WHEN BEING USED HAS EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF OIL AND OIL LEAKS. THIS PROBLEM CAUSE THE ENGINE, ENGINE TURBOS, VALVE STEMS AND SEALS AND OIL PAN SEALS TO GO BAD PRIOR TO NORMAL VEHICLE ENGINE/PART LIFE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A SETTLED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT REPLACES THE ENGINE AT A PERCENTAGE BASED ON MILES ON CAR AT…

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THIS VEHICLE WHEN BEING USED HAS EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF OIL AND OIL LEAKS. THIS PROBLEM CAUSE THE ENGINE, ENGINE TURBOS, VALVE STEMS AND SEALS AND OIL PAN SEALS TO GO BAD PRIOR TO NORMAL VEHICLE ENGINE/PART LIFE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A SETTLED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT REPLACES THE ENGINE AT A PERCENTAGE BASED ON MILES ON CAR AT TIME OF BAD ENGINE TEST. BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE TREAT MORE LIKE A RECALL NOT A SUIT. YOU CAN VIEW MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SUIT AT HTTPS://BANGCLASSSETTLEMENT.COM

NHTSA ODI #11152644

Official recalls

3

18V248000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Apr 18, 2018

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

16V832000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 17, 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been incorrectly programmed and, as a result, the SCU may not accurately determine if activation and deployment of the air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and head restraints is necessary in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Depending on the severity of the crash, inadequate activation of the driver and/or passenger air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and active head restraints may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the SCU, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

16V746000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Oct 17, 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.