IllustrationI STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS AND WENT INSIDE. I CAME BACK OUT A FEW MINUTES LATER AND SAT DOWN. I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT UNTIL MY BACKSIDE WAS BURNED BY THE HEATING ELEMENT. I HAD SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM THE SEAT.
2013 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
Limited mileage data: 11 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
15 reportsCAR WILL NOT RISE DUE TO AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. CAR IS A CPO STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BMW HAS NOT AGREED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG COMPONENT OF THE SUSPENSION ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT LISTED UNDER THE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT COVERED. THE CAR IS INOPERABLE WITH THIS PART MALFUNCTIONING.
THE COMPLAINT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S A QUALITY ISSUE. BMW'S N63 ENGINE IS EVIDENTLY NOT WELL ENGINEERED. THEY HAVE A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE"' IN PLACE FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT COMPLAIN TO THE SERVICE DEPT ABOUT THEIR ENGINES NOT RUNNING RIGHT. BMW IS VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS DO NOT VIEW THE REPAIR AS A RECALL…
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THE COMPLAINT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S A QUALITY ISSUE. BMW'S N63 ENGINE IS EVIDENTLY NOT WELL ENGINEERED. THEY HAVE A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE"' IN PLACE FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT COMPLAIN TO THE SERVICE DEPT ABOUT THEIR ENGINES NOT RUNNING RIGHT. BMW IS VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS DO NOT VIEW THE REPAIR AS A RECALL. THAT SAID THE AMOUNT OF WORK REQUIRED IS EXTENSIVE (TAKES MORE THAN 1 WEEK TO COMPLETE). FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE THE FIX THEY HAVE IN PLACE DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. I ASKED TO BE LET OUT OF MY LEASE AND PUT INTO A DIFFERENT VEHICLE WITH NO PENALTY AND WAS REFUSED ANY ACCOMMODATIONS. I'M WRITING BECAUSE YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS ENGINE ISSUE (GOOGLE N63 ISSUES) ENCOURAGE BMW TO RECALL THE CARS AND ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS TO SWAP OUT VEHICLES IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. *TR
I HAVE GOODYEAR 245/40R19 RUN FLATS ON MY VEHICLE. A HUGE BUBBLE CAME UP AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO IMPACT AND NOT COVERED ON MY WARRANTY. I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT. SINCE THEN ANOTHER BUBBLE ON ANOTHER TIRE HAS MANIFESTED. IT IS A COST OF OVER $1000 TO REPLACE THE TWO TIRES. VERY FRUST…
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I HAVE GOODYEAR 245/40R19 RUN FLATS ON MY VEHICLE. A HUGE BUBBLE CAME UP AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO IMPACT AND NOT COVERED ON MY WARRANTY. I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT. SINCE THEN ANOTHER BUBBLE ON ANOTHER TIRE HAS MANIFESTED. IT IS A COST OF OVER $1000 TO REPLACE THE TWO TIRES. VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE; CLEARLY THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR
ENGINE CONTINUES TO BURN THROUGH OIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1,500 MILES, WHICH COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE STRANDED AND INOPERABLE. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. *TR
Official recalls
115V188000 · Exterior Lighting
Mar 31, 2015
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 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.