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CarsLore / Makes / BMW / 550i

BMW 550i

Model years 2006–2017 in the US safety record. Years that drew the most complaints: 2011. Fewest complaints: 2009, 2014, 2016.

252owner complaints
11recall campaigns
2,595service bulletins
12model years on record

Complaints by model year

Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2011. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.

’06’08’10’11’12’14’1684’06’09’11’12’1584

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026

Year by year

Model yearComplaintsRecallsBulletinsCrashes · fires
2017001870 · 0
2016 550i122390 · 0
2015 550i602850 · 0
2014 550i623920 · 0
2013 550i1514330 · 0
2012 550i3523880 · 1
2011 550iMost complaints8433821 · 11
2010 550i111791 · 0
200921500 · 0
2008 550i322551 · 3
2007 550i372533 · 1
2006 550i233523 · 0

A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections

Most common problems

  • Engine72
  • Electrical system43
  • Fuel/propulsion system37
  • Air bags34
  • Power train33
  • Tires30
  • Wheels20
  • Exterior lighting18

NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years

Fatal crashes in the US

From 2020 to 2023, 32 550i vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 24 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.

Model yearVehicles in fatal crashesDeaths in the vehicleRolled over
2016100
2015311
2013430
2012300
2011673
2010420
2008781
2007210
2006220

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count

Crash-test ratings by year

NHTSA 5-star results for 5 model-year variants; 5 of 5 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

YearVariantOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
20152015 BMW 550 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %
20142014 BMW 550 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %
20132013 BMW 550 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %
20122012 BMW 550 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %
20112011 BMW 550 I 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9.3 %

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain

Fuel consumption by year

Official Canadian test results for 11 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 12.1–12.8 L/100 km.

YearVariantEngineTransmissionCityHighwayCombinedCO₂ g/km
2016550i xDrive Gran Turismo · Full-size · Premium gasoline4.4 L, 8 cyl.AS814.39.312.1283
2015550i xDrive Sedan · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.4 L, 8 cyl.AS814.49.712.3283
2014550i xDrive · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.4 L, 8 cyl.A814.49.612.2281
2013550i xDrive Gran Turismo · Full-size · Premium gasoline4.4 L, 8 cyl.A814.59.812.4285
2012550i xDrive · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.4 L, 8 cyl.A815.19.812.7292
2011550i · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.4 L, 8 cyl.A814.39.412.1278
2010550i · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.8 L, 8 cyl.A615.110.112.8294
2009550i Sedan · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.8 L, 8 cyl.A615.010.112.8294
2008550i · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.8 L, 8 cyl.A615.010.112.8294
2007550i · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.8 L, 8 cyl.A614.89.812.6290
2006550i · Mid-size · Premium gasoline4.8 L, 8 cyl.A614.89.812.6290

Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

11 campaigns cover the 550i.

24V527000 · Air bags11 Jul 2024 · 2014

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

18V248000 · Engine and engine cooling18 Apr 2018 · 2011, 2012

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.

17V428000 · Air bags6 Jul 2017 · 2006

BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.

16V914000 · Air bags20 Dec 2016 · 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

16V832000 · Air bags17 Nov 2016 · 2011

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.

16V746000 · Fuel system, gasoline17 Oct 2016 · 2011, 2012

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.

15V718000 · Child seat30 Oct 2015 · 2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

15V188000 · Exterior lighting31 Mar 2015 · 2013, 2014

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."

13V564000 · Air bags12 Nov 2013 · 2006, 2007

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.

13V407000 · Exterior lighting11 Sept 2013 · 2008, 2009, 2010

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).

07V479000 · Engine and engine cooling12 Oct 2007 · 2006, 2007, 2008

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.

NHTSA recalls