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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

14 reports
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22,500 miles · Mar 16, 2015
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemSeat Belts

SINCE JANUARY 2014 THE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED AND REPLACED TWO TIMES AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE POSITION OF CRTIZ BMW DEALERSHIP IN SAVANNAH, GA SINCE FEBRUARY 12/2015 TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS FOR THE THIRD TIME AND ALSO TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THAT WERE FAILED TO WORK SINCE F…

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SINCE JANUARY 2014 THE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED AND REPLACED TWO TIMES AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE POSITION OF CRTIZ BMW DEALERSHIP IN SAVANNAH, GA SINCE FEBRUARY 12/2015 TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS FOR THE THIRD TIME AND ALSO TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THAT WERE FAILED TO WORK SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2014. ON FEBRUARY OF 2014 I HAVE REACHED OUT TO CRITZ BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA IN JUNE OF 2014 TO CUSTOMER CARE INDIVIDUALS MANY TIMES FROM OVER SIX MONTHS ABOUT THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THEN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED BUT I WAS TOLD THAT BMW COULDN??T DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE SEAT BELT. THREE PASSENGERS INCLUDING MY WIFE WERE AT RISK AND SAW THE LIGHT FOR SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON IN THIS VEHICLE WHILE SETTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS DATED SINCE FEBRUARY 2014. THE WARNING INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WON??T DEPLOY IN CASE OF ANY ACCIDENT AND I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE 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. THE CRITZ BMW MENTIONED THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA 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 OF NORTH AMERICA TO TRADE THIS VEHICLE AND I TOLD BMW THAT I WILL NOT TRADE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL ITS FIXED SINCE I DON'T WANT TO PUT SOMEONES 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 THE BMW OF NORTH AMERICA COULDN'T DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694561

22,367 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemSeat Belts

1- SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION FOR PASSENGER SIDE NOT FIXED AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP. I CAN'T HAVE A PASSENGER OR MY WIFE IN MY CAR DUE TO THE SEAT BELT SAFETY ISSUES. 2- FUEL INJECTORS FAILED AND WILL BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME 3- THE CAR IS VIBRATING AT 40MPH. BMW FOUND IRREGULAR TIRE WE…

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1- SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION FOR PASSENGER SIDE NOT FIXED AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP. I CAN'T HAVE A PASSENGER OR MY WIFE IN MY CAR DUE TO THE SEAT BELT SAFETY ISSUES. 2- FUEL INJECTORS FAILED AND WILL BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME 3- THE CAR IS VIBRATING AT 40MPH. BMW FOUND IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES BUT I HAVE A FULL WARRANTY ON ALL TIERS WITH BMW THAT I PURCHASED, THE WARRANTY IS BASED ON ALL THE ROAD HAZARDS AND THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION IS ROAD HAZARDS. BMW IS NOT REPLACING THE TIRES. 4- ENGINE MAKES BIG NOISE AT THE START AFTER PARKED FOR 8HRS OR MORE. 5- THE BACKUP CAMERA IS STOP WORKING SOMETIMES AND THE NAVIGATION IS LOADING SLOWLY. I BROUGHT THESE ISSUES TO CRITZ BMW DEALERSHIP AND ALSO CONTACTED BMWUSA CUSTOMER CARE BUT THEY SIMPLY COULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE AFTER MANY VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 45 DAYS OF WARRANTY LEFT ON THIS VEHICLE SO BMWUA IS GIVING ME A RUN AROUND AND EACH TIME SUPPORTING AND BACKING THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL MY WARRANTY EXPIRES. BMWUSA AND THE CRIZTE BMW DEALERSHIP BASICALLY DID NOT HONOR THEIR ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE WARRANTY CONTRACT TO FIX THE ISSUES THAT ARE STILL EXISTS ON THIS BMW. I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO CRITZE BMW DEALERSHIP FOR MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY KEPT IT FOR 4 DAYS AND NOW FOR 21 DAYS AND THEY MIGHT KEEP IT FOR ANOTHER 14 DAYS TO FIX THE ONGOING ISSUE BUT THE RESULTS ARE FAILING AND THE ISSUE IS UNRESOLVED THE VEHICLE WENT FOR REPAIRS THIS YEAR FOR MORE THAN 40 DAYS. BMW IS HOLDING MY VEHICLE UNTIL THE MANUFACTURE WARRANT EXPIRES SO THEY CAN'T HAVE AN EXCUSE FOR NOT FIXING. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAIN WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU BUT BBB REFERRED ME TO YOUR OFFICE SINCE GA LEMON LAW DOSE NOT APPLY TO A USED VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM BMW EVEN THOUGH WITH ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691758

39,300 miles · Sep 29, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENTIRE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I GET MULTIPLE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS AND THEN GET A "REDUCED POWER" ALERT ON MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP-MODE", WHICH MEANS IT'S INCAPABLE OF GOING PAST 40-45 MPH AND GOING ANYTHING ABOVE 25 RESULTS IN VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE CAR. ALSO AT RED L…

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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENTIRE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I GET MULTIPLE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS AND THEN GET A "REDUCED POWER" ALERT ON MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP-MODE", WHICH MEANS IT'S INCAPABLE OF GOING PAST 40-45 MPH AND GOING ANYTHING ABOVE 25 RESULTS IN VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE CAR. ALSO AT RED LIGHTS, THE ENTIRE CAR VIBRATES. THE FAULT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE FUEL INJECTORS IN THE ENGINE, HOWEVER I ALREADY KNEW THAT BY SIMPLY LOOKING UP THE SYMPTOMS. THOUSANDS OF BMW 5-SERIES MADE BETWEEN 2011-2012 HAVE THIS ISSUE, YET BMW IS NOT RECALLING THEM, BUT RATHER FIXING THEM ON A ONE-BY-ONE BASIS. IF SOMEONE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, LIKE ME, THEY ARE THEN CHARGING NEARLY $6,000 FOR A FAULT THAT AFFECTS OVER 50% OF 2011 BMW 550I'S MADE! BMW FORUMS EVERYWHERE TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND AS CARS MADE IN 2011 START RUNNING OUT OF THEIR WARRANTY IN LATE 2014, EARLY 2015, MORE AND MORE OF THEM WILL START SHOWING SYMPTOMS AND CONSUMERS WILL BE FORCED TO SHELL OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A FIX BMW SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED IN A MANDATORY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639803

29,230 miles · Nov 7, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DRIVE AT THIS POINT AND I AM ON …

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I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DRIVE AT THIS POINT AND I AM ON THE FREEWAY TRYING TO MAKE IT TO AN EXIT. THE HESITATION BECOMES WORSE AND WORSE I START TO FEAR THAT I MAY BECOME STRANDED ON A BUSY ROADWAY. I MAKE IT OFF THE EXIT AND HOME. 10/18/13: (D/O VEHICLE MILEAGE: 29,375) I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO CONCORD BMW FOR INSPECTION; [XXX] IS THE SERVICE CONSULTANT AT BMW OF CONCORD. 10/19/13: (P/U VEHICLE MILEAGE: 29,379) [XXX] TELEPHONES ME TO INFORM ME THAT IT WAS A QUICK FIX AND THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. I COME TO SIGN FOR THE VEHICLE AND RELEASE THE RENTAL. NOT EVEN 10 MINUTES AFTER I AM IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IT MALFUNCTIONS IDENTICALLY AGAIN. I CALL BACK TO TELL THEM I AM DROPPING IT OFF, ONCE AGAIN. RETURNED THE VEHICLE WITH (D/O 29,392 MILES) 10/20/13: CONTINUED... 10/21/13: CONTINUED... 10/22/13: CONTINUED... 10/23/13: CONTINUED... 10/24/13: CONTINUED.... 10/25/13: CONTINUED... 10/26/13: CONTINUED... 10/27/13: CONTINUED... 10/28/13: CONTINUED... 10/29/13: CONTINUED... 10/30/13: CONTINUED... 10/31/13: CONTINUED... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551398

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.