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2013 BMW 550XI

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
20130
20142
2016
Compare all 550XI years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Unknown Or Other
2Electrical System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1
All reported categories
Structure
1

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: 6 of 7 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 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 reports0 injury reports

Engine complaints

2 reports
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67,500 miles · Nov 1, 2018
Engine

I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 550 XI ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN I HAD WHAT WAS TERMED BY THE BMW SERVICE TECHNICIAN AS A "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE". AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO AND …

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I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 550 XI ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN I HAD WHAT WAS TERMED BY THE BMW SERVICE TECHNICIAN AS A "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE". AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IS DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO GET STOPPED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BMW OF ORLAND PARK WHERE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DISMANTLED MY ENGINE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE DETERMINATION WAS MADE THAT INDEED THE ENGINE HAD A "ROD BEARING FAILURE" WHICH CAUSED THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. AS I UNDERSTAND ENGINES VERY WELL IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT AN ROD BEARING COULD FAIL. WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 67,500 MILES ON IT AND AS I HAVE NOW DISCOVERED, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE ARE HAVING THE SAME "CATASTROPHIC FAILURES" PUTTING THEM IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AS WELL. AS I CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE I HAVE FOUND THAT BMW NA KNOWS ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND HAS TO DATE DONE NOTHING TO EITHER WARN VEHICLE OWNERS OF THIS SITUATION NOR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DO KNOW THAT MULTIPLE ROD BEARING FAILURES SUCH AS MINE CANNOT BE COINCIDENCE AND NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED AS ENGINE FAILURES AT HIGH SPEEDS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS OF ALL FAILURES.

NHTSA ODI #11144760

115,000 miles · Jul 26, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 550XI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BMW OF ROANOKE DEALER (2824 FRANKLIN RD SW, ROANOKE, VA 24014, 540-274-2475) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE STEM SEAL IN THE ENGINE NEEDED T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 550XI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BMW OF ROANOKE DEALER (2824 FRANKLIN RD SW, ROANOKE, VA 24014, 540-274-2475) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE STEM SEAL IN THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE OCCURRENCE WAS A KNOWN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI #11113868

Official recalls

1

15V188000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.