IllustrationCAR SMOKES BAD VALVE SEALS AND SEATBELT RESTRAIN WENT BAD TWICE AND CAR SEAT ADJUSTMENT GOES BAD
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
60–25K
125–50K
450–75K
775–100K
6100–150K
0150K+
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.
1 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
6 reportsCONSISTENTLY RECEIVING 'PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM' WARNING INDICATING LOSS OF AIRBAG PROTECTION ON ONBOARD WARNING SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP SUPPORT NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE UNDER MANUFACTURER AS WELL AS PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTEES WITHOUT ANY REMEDY. 'NO FAULT' FOUND BY DEALERSHIPS - REPORTEDLY THEIR DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED NO …
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CONSISTENTLY RECEIVING 'PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM' WARNING INDICATING LOSS OF AIRBAG PROTECTION ON ONBOARD WARNING SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP SUPPORT NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE UNDER MANUFACTURER AS WELL AS PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTEES WITHOUT ANY REMEDY. 'NO FAULT' FOUND BY DEALERSHIPS - REPORTEDLY THEIR DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED NO CURRENT ISSUE WITH PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO INDICATE SHUT-DOWN WHILE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. LIMITED ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PASSENGER SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM ISSUE SPECIFIC TO THIS MANUFACTURER AND MODEL.
PURCHASED USED WITH 83,000 MILES. CURRENTLY 100,000. THE INTERMITTENTLY REPORTS A FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. WHEN EXAMINED BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC, THERE IS NO INDICATION OF AN ISSUE WITH ANY OF THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. WHEN THIS WARNING IS PRESENT ON THE VEHICLE, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SAFETY SYSTEMS (IF…
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PURCHASED USED WITH 83,000 MILES. CURRENTLY 100,000. THE INTERMITTENTLY REPORTS A FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. WHEN EXAMINED BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC, THERE IS NO INDICATION OF AN ISSUE WITH ANY OF THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. WHEN THIS WARNING IS PRESENT ON THE VEHICLE, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SAFETY SYSTEMS (IF ANY) HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED. DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THERE IS A RECALL ON SIMILAR VEHICLES DURING THE SAME YEAR, BUT NOT THIS VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT USES THE SAME COMPONENTS.
PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR. PLEASE HELP! I GET THIS WARNING EVERY SO OFTEN WHEN I GET IN MY CAR AND REGARDLESS OF A PASSENGER PRESENT OR NOT. SEVERAL TIMES THE BEEPING SIGNAL WILL BEGIN TO MAKE NOISE, TO BUTTON THE SEAT BELT, EVEN WHEN NOTHING IS IN THE SEAT. THIS IS CREATING A VERY ANNOYING DRIVING EXPERIENCE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
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.
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.