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2008 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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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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.

1 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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6 miles · Jul 19, 2020
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE A LOT OF POWER THEN WHEN I PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD THE CAR TURNED OF AND WOULD NOT START UNTIL SEVERAL ATTEMPTS . I WAITED ABOUT 8 MIN THEN STARTED TO DRIVE . AND IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME NOW . THEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND DRIVES FINE . …

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE A LOT OF POWER THEN WHEN I PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD THE CAR TURNED OF AND WOULD NOT START UNTIL SEVERAL ATTEMPTS . I WAITED ABOUT 8 MIN THEN STARTED TO DRIVE . AND IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME NOW . THEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND DRIVES FINE . BUT THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS . AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. I'VE BEEN IN SOME TIGHT SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11340211

36,000 miles · Jan 10, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10443258

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2011
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10440796

Official recalls

2

13V407000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.