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2012 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 →
35Owner complaints

Model-year median: 13

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
200911
201084
201135
201215
20136
20146
2015
Compare all 550I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine
13Fuel/propulsion System
11Tires
8Electrical System
4Power Train
4
All reported categories
Wheels
4Fuel System, Gasoline
2Steering
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

29 reports with mileage · 6 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2021
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

My car died in an intersection unexpectedly as if my battery had died. My infant was in the backseat. This was suck a busy intersection that police dept had to park behind me to keep me from being hit. The car could not be put in neutral to move it out of the way. After over an hour we were able to restart the car and excessive …

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My car died in an intersection unexpectedly as if my battery had died. My infant was in the backseat. This was suck a busy intersection that police dept had to park behind me to keep me from being hit. The car could not be put in neutral to move it out of the way. After over an hour we were able to restart the car and excessive battery discharge message displayed. This is on top of me taking it to the dealership for excessive oil consumption and BMW was aware my motor would eventually give out.

NHTSA ODI #11440813

89,000 miles · Sep 27, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

VEHICLE STOPS SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11361395

59,287 miles · Jun 7, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE, THE CONTACT FELT EXTREME HEAT COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED BURNING WIRES. ORANGE COUNTY BMW (101 MAHER LN, HARRIMAN, NY 10926, (845) 782-4269) STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE, THE CONTACT FELT EXTREME HEAT COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED BURNING WIRES. ORANGE COUNTY BMW (101 MAHER LN, HARRIMAN, NY 10926, (845) 782-4269) STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,287.

NHTSA ODI #11218438

40,800 miles · Jan 19, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE CAR THREW A DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION CODE WHICH HAPPENS WEEKLY ON THESE ENGINES AND THE CAR JUMPED A LANE AS IT MISFIRED AND WENT INTO LIMP DRIVING MODE. IF THERE WAS CARS NEXT TO ME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH. SINCE THEN BMW HAS ISSUED A CUSTOMER CAMPAIGN ON THE N63 ENGINE EFFECTING THOUGHTS OF CARS. THEY ARE CHANGING TON…

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THE CAR THREW A DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION CODE WHICH HAPPENS WEEKLY ON THESE ENGINES AND THE CAR JUMPED A LANE AS IT MISFIRED AND WENT INTO LIMP DRIVING MODE. IF THERE WAS CARS NEXT TO ME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH. SINCE THEN BMW HAS ISSUED A CUSTOMER CAMPAIGN ON THE N63 ENGINE EFFECTING THOUGHTS OF CARS. THEY ARE CHANGING TONS OF PARTS FROM INJECTORS TO FUEL RAILS. IT SHOULD BE A FULL BLOWN RECALL AND THE NHTSA SHOULD GET INVOLVED ON THIS. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 12/23 AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED CORRECTLY. I HAVE A FEELING YOU ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS AGAINST BMW. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676388

Official recalls

2

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.

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.