I WAS DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD ABOUT 40 MPH. NO OTHER CARS AND NOTHING BUT BUSHES AROUND ME. I HEARD A HUGE LOUD BANG AND MY SUNROOF JUST ABRUPTLY SHATTERED. I KNOW NOTHING HIT IT AND IF IT DID IT SHOULDN'T HAVE SHATTERED LIKE THAT. I READ ANOTHER VEHICLE ON HERE, SAME MODEL, YEAR AND MILEAGE HAD THE SAME ISSUE! RECALL THIS! *TR
2011 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
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.
What owners actually said
84 reportsI 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
THIS COMPLAINT IS CONCERNING MY 2011 BMW 550I. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW SINCE ABOUT 7000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES KEEP LOCKING, THE ROTORS KEEP GRINDING AND GROOVING, NOSE COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING, AND THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THEM MORE THAN 4 TIMES AND THE ISSUES CONTINUES TO HAPPEN…
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THIS COMPLAINT IS CONCERNING MY 2011 BMW 550I. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW SINCE ABOUT 7000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES KEEP LOCKING, THE ROTORS KEEP GRINDING AND GROOVING, NOSE COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING, AND THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THEM MORE THAN 4 TIMES AND THE ISSUES CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY CANNOT FIX IT AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY VEHICLE ISSUE. IT HAS BEEN PARKED FROM MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF AND I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL LIKE MY LIFE IS IN DANGER IF I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR
THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF A SIDEWALL BUBBLE ON MY BMW GOODYEAR EXCELLENCE19" RUN FLAT TIRES 98 ON MY 2011 BMW 550I. IN JANUARY 2013 AT 11,000 MILES MY RIGHT FRONT DEVELOPED A BUBBLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ONLY NOTICED BECAUSE MY TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR ALERT CAME ON AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE MY TIRES CHECKED TH…
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THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF A SIDEWALL BUBBLE ON MY BMW GOODYEAR EXCELLENCE19" RUN FLAT TIRES 98 ON MY 2011 BMW 550I. IN JANUARY 2013 AT 11,000 MILES MY RIGHT FRONT DEVELOPED A BUBBLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ONLY NOTICED BECAUSE MY TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR ALERT CAME ON AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE MY TIRES CHECKED THEY NOTICED THE BUBBLE. NOW AT 14,000 MY LEFT FRONT SIDE TIRE IS ALSO DEVELOPING A SIDEWALL BUBBLE. THE TIRES HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD AND I DO NOT ABUSE MY CAR. I AM VERY CAREFUL ABOUT AVOIDING POTHOLES AND DRIVE SLOWLY OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. *TR
GOODYEAR RUN ON FLAT 245/40/19 GETS BUBBLE ON TIRE. I HAD TO CHANGE THE SAME TIRE WITHIN 10 DAYS WITH NO WARRANTY COVERAGE AVAILABLE. THEN A WEEK LATER HAD TO CHANGE ANOTHER TIRE WHICH IS 3 TIRES WITHIN 5,000 MILES AND COST OF $1,600. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED AND EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED AND EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
I JUST HAD MY 4TH GOODYEAR RUN FLAT TIRE FAILURE. THE FIRST TWO WERE REPLACED BY GOODYEAR AS THEY SAID THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. LAST MONTH ONE OF THE REPLACED TIRES FAILED AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT. TODAY THE 4TH TIRE FAILED. THE TIRE DEVELOPS A BUBBLE IN THE SIDE WALL THAT IS 5 TO 6 INCHES LONG AND PROTRUDES ABOU…
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I JUST HAD MY 4TH GOODYEAR RUN FLAT TIRE FAILURE. THE FIRST TWO WERE REPLACED BY GOODYEAR AS THEY SAID THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. LAST MONTH ONE OF THE REPLACED TIRES FAILED AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT. TODAY THE 4TH TIRE FAILED. THE TIRE DEVELOPS A BUBBLE IN THE SIDE WALL THAT IS 5 TO 6 INCHES LONG AND PROTRUDES ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF. IT AFFECTS THE STEERING AND CAUSES HARSH VIBRATIONS. I JUST SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SEE A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT MAY BE STARTED BY BMW OWNERS AS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GOODYEAR IS AWARE OF. THESE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE AND WILL CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. BMW IS ALSO AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NEITHER COMPANY IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550X1 EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 RUN FLAT TIRES, SIZE 245/40/19. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH CAUTION AND THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN A TOTAL OF TEN TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550X1 EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 RUN FLAT TIRES, SIZE 245/40/19. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH CAUTION AND THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN A TOTAL OF TEN TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE SINCE 2011 AS A RESULT OF A BLOW-OUT OR BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
I HAVE HAD 15 TIRE DEFECTS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF !! TIRES IN 16,300 MILES OF DRIVING. THESE DEFECT RESULT IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITONS AND POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENTS. THE TIRES ARE NOT CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING MINOR AND NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. MY TIRES ARE CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AGAIN. THREE BULGES ON THE RIGHT FRONT, T…
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I HAVE HAD 15 TIRE DEFECTS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF !! TIRES IN 16,300 MILES OF DRIVING. THESE DEFECT RESULT IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITONS AND POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENTS. THE TIRES ARE NOT CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING MINOR AND NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. MY TIRES ARE CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AGAIN. THREE BULGES ON THE RIGHT FRONT, TWO OF THE LEFT FRONT AND ONE ON THE RIGHT REAR. THESE ARE NOT DO TO DRIVING THEY HAVE RESULTED IN 11 NEW TIRES AND 15 BLOWOUTS, IN 16,300 MILES. THE TIRES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW. SEE INTERNET FOR COMPLAINTS> THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEED INVESTIGATION. *TR
BULGE IN SIDEWALL OF GOODYEAR TIRE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE. *TR
Official recalls
318V248000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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