IllustrationTHE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON. THIS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY.
2007 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
50–25K
725–50K
450–75K
875–100K
4100–150K
1150K+
29 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. 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.
3 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Steering complaints
6 reportsFROM TIME TO TIME I AM GETTING A YELLOW WARNING LIGHT INDICATING ELV BLOCKED AND SOMETIMES PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING THE CAR. WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STRANDED MANY TIMES. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS.
STEERING MALFUNCTION. DO NOT CONTINUE DRIVING. BIG RED SIGN TO STOP CAR. *TR
ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO I BOUGHT A 2007 BMW 550I WITH 29,802 MILES. WHEN A LARGE RED STEERING LOCK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH, AS WELL AS, THE CENTER CONSOLE COMPUTER HAD INSTRUCTIONS "NOT TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF". THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY JUST WITH AN UNCOMFORTABLE BIG RED LIGHT ON MY DASH. BEFORE CALLING THE BMW DEALER I DECIDED…
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ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO I BOUGHT A 2007 BMW 550I WITH 29,802 MILES. WHEN A LARGE RED STEERING LOCK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH, AS WELL AS, THE CENTER CONSOLE COMPUTER HAD INSTRUCTIONS "NOT TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF". THE CAR OPERATED NORMALLY JUST WITH AN UNCOMFORTABLE BIG RED LIGHT ON MY DASH. BEFORE CALLING THE BMW DEALER I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF BMW FORUMS REFERENCING STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONS. MOST WERE RANGING FROM UPDATING COMPUTERS TO STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALER AS HE GAVE ME A LOANER AND TOOK MY CAR FOR THE NIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY HE CALLED ME IN AND TOLD ME I NEEDED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT WOULD COST ME $700 OR THE STEERING MIGHT LOCK UP ON ME DURING DRIVING. WITH THIS MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ON THE BMW STEERING LOCK? *TR
THE ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNCTION TAKES PLACE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS RUN FULL DIAGNOSTICS AND HAVE COME UP WITH NO ERRORS. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH IS IN EXCESS OF $5,000. I AM WORRIED THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO LOCK UP IN WHOLE AND LOSE STEERING CAPABILITIES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 550I SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE WARNING HYDRAULIC STEERING MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE COMPUTERIZED STEERING COLUMN CHIP. HE WAS IN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 550I SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE WARNING HYDRAULIC STEERING MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE COMPUTERIZED STEERING COLUMN CHIP. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND HE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE RECALL NOTICE BEFORE THEY CAN REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE RECALL AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Official recalls
213V564000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Nov 12, 2013
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. 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.