Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 2 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 reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

20 reports

37,500 miles · Mar 5, 2019

Engine

CAR BURNS OIL AND SMELLS OF ENGINE COOLANT DURING OPERATION AND WHILE AT IDLE.

NHTSA ODI #11184323

63,000 miles · Jul 5, 2018

Fuel System, Gasoline

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP IN FARMINGTON HILLS WHERE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000. *TT

NHTSA ODI #11109650

67,000 miles · Jun 14, 2018

EngineFuel/propulsion System

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A FEW MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DISPLAY "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" ON THE SCREEN WHILE SHAKING WITH A HORRIBLE ODOR OF FUEL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A $100K+ VEHICLE BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER BATTLING WITH THE DEALER I WAS TOLD BMW HAS AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I WENT TO PICKUP THE CAR I WAS GIVEN AN INVOICE FOR ALMOST $500 FOR A DEDUCTIBLE! FAST FORWARD TO 06/06/2018, DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND AT A BUSY INTERSECTION I STARTED TO SMELL FUEL AGAIN AND I GOT A "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN AND THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT NOW THE VEHICLE NEEDS AN IN TANK FUEL PUMP REPLACED! NOT A FEW MONTHS AFTER HAVING ALL THE FUEL INJECTORS REPAIRED. THE COST OF REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP OVER $1900 BUT WITH A DISCOUNT IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1550.00 (WHO KNOWS WHAT THE COST WILL BE WHEN I GO TO PICK IT UP). AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE IS UNDER A RECALL FROM BMW FOR ALL THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AND SYMPTOMS I'M HAVING WITH THE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, THEY CLAIM THAT MY VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY WILL NOT ASSIST IN ANY WAY. THIS IS A LOW MILLAGE CAR THAT IS WELL MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. I THINK ITS TIME BMW EXPANDED THE RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM THEIR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING HAS CREATED BEFORE THEIR NEGLEGANCE COSTS SOMEONE THEIR LIFE WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY OR A BUSY INTERSECTION. IT'S TIME YOU DID THE RIGHT THING BMW NORTH AMERICA. I HAVE CONTACTED MY ATTORNEY AND WE WILL BE SENDING NOTICES TO OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM TO JOIN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11101836

35,000 miles · Jan 3, 2018

Service Brakes

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THE BRAKES PRESENT WITH A VIBRATION OR "JUDDER" (AS DESCRIBED BY BMW) ON APPLICATION AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VIBRATION INCREASES AT HIGHER SPEEDS - THUS THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS WAS A RESULT OF ROTOR WARPING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (ALL 4 ROTORS AND PADS???? - THIS IS INCREDULOUS). I CONTACTED BMW USA AND THEY DECLINED TO RECTIFY THE CONDITION SO IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A SAFE DRIVING CONDITION. I HAVE BORNE THE COST OR REPLACING THE ROTORS AND BRAKES AFTER ONLY 35,000 MILES. MY PREVIOUS BMW 6 SERIES WAS PERFECT FOR 72,000 MILES ON ONE SET OF BRAKES. THIS REPRESENTS A MANUFACTURING FAILURE AS IT IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE FOR ALL 4 ROTORS TO WARP AND FAIL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11058319

68,100 miles · May 26, 2017

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. WHILE GRADUALLY ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BMW OF EASTERN NORTH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V161000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE RECALL, BUT WOULD CONSIDER REIMBURSEMENT IF THEY FOUND THE INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,100.

NHTSA ODI #10991753

39,400 miles · Sep 13, 2016

SeatsFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. AFTER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, SMOKE AND A SMALL FIRE EMITTED FROM THE SEAT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,400…

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NHTSA ODI #10906182

24,000 miles · Apr 5, 2016

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/17/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10853540

29,000 miles · Dec 2, 2015

EngineUnknown Or OtherWheels

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BMW 650 N63 ENGINE ISSUES AKA DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION (DTM) ERROR HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THESE CARS. IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE WITH BRAND NEW CARS WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES HAVE THESE ISSUES AS WELL. LONG STORY SHORT BMW, NA OFFERED TO BUY BACK MY CAR AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN 5 WEEKS IN THE SHOP FOR 2ND REPAIR. FIRST REPAIR WAS THE RECALL , BMW OFFERED AS THE "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" . I PURCHASED IT CPO (CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED) W/ 26,000 MILES., I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE OFFER SINCE THEY DEDUCTED MILEAGE USED. DTM OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 4 MONTHS. OF COURSE THE BMW DISMISSED IT SINCE THE DTM RESOLVED AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. IT USUALLY OCCURS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR SHAKES, RATTLES, DECELERATES AND IS UNRESPONSIVE WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN NEW 650I W/ N63 ENGINES PLEASE CHECK YOUTUBE, BMW FORUMS AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS FILED 9/2015 AGAINS BMW, NA. THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING ALL THE PARTS REPLACE FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH. THE CAR WAS FINE FOR 2 MONTHS THAN IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND SINCE THEY DID NOT WANT TO EXTEND MY WARRANTY I DECIDED TO REQUEST A BUY BACK. OTHER ISSUES: EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL BURNING, BACK PASSENGER WINDOWS NOT ROLLING UP COMPLETELY REAR WHEAL CRACKING. DTM STILL OCCURRED AFTER THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED IN THE CAR FOR THE 2ND REPAIR: -CATALYTIC CONVERTOR (SINCE THEY DISCOVERED BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WHERE COMING APART), ALL 8 SPARK PLUGS , 32 VALVE GUIDE SEALS. I HOPE THIS WAS OF USE FOR SOMEONE WHO FEELS HELPLESS AND HAVE TO SETTLE WHATEVER BMW, NA IS OFFERING. STILL ENTERTAINING THE THOUGHT OF FILING A SEPARATE CLAIM FROM THE "BUY BACK" OFFERED BY BMW. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHICH MAY LEAD TO A FATALITY DUE SUDDEN DECELERATION WHEN DRIVING IN HIGH SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #10808085

23,000 miles · Aug 17, 2015

Engine

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VEHICLE ENGINE (N63) LOSES POWER WHILE IN OPERATION AND GOES INTO A DRIVETRAIN FAILURE MODE REDUCING ENGING POWER SUBSTANTIALLY. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE CAR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS TAKEN THE CAR IN TO REPAIR IT 3 TIMES. THEY RECENLY PERFORMED A CUSTOMER CARE PROGRAM TO REMEDIATE THE PROBLEM. BUT IT OCCURRED AGIAN SHORTLY AFTER THET ATTEMPT. BMW MADE A RULING TODAY, THAT THEY WILL NOT BUYBACK MY CAR NOR OFFER ANY OTHER REMEDY. I SPECIFICALLY WANT THE NHTSA TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL RECALL OF THIS ENGINE AS IT IS NOT REPAIRED AFTER WIDESPREAD FAILURES FOR THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #10749268

1,000 miles · Oct 25, 2014

EngineSeat BeltsStructure

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH AND THE INJECTORS FOR THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE PREVIOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. DJR

NHTSA ODI #10649902

Official recalls

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

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

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

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

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module