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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Bmw 550I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

84 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

54,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 62 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 84 complaints (38.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues89.5%
Fuel system concerns78.3%
Engine operation67.1%
Braking behavior67.1%
Transmission and shifting44.8%
Steering behavior33.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
32
Electrical System
20
Fuel/Propulsion System
14
Power Train
13
Tires
12
Unknown Or Other
8
Wheels
6
Air Bags
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine32
Electrical System20
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Power Train13
Tires12
Unknown Or Other8
Wheels6
Air Bags5

Engine: 32; Electrical System: 20; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Power Train: 13; Tires: 12; Unknown Or Other: 8; Wheels: 6; Air Bags: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
16
25,000 to 49,999
12
50,000 to 74,999
12
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
10
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,99912
50,000 to 74,99912
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,99910
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 22 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012
5
2013
10
2014
9
2015
10
2016
4
2017
8
2018
9
2019
9
2020
7
2021
4
2022
2
2023
2
2024
2
2025
2
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20125
201310
20149
201510
20164
20178
20189
20199
20207
20214
20222
20232
20242
20252
20261

2012: 5; 2013: 10; 2014: 9; 2015: 10; 2016: 4; 2017: 8; 2018: 9; 2019: 9; 2020: 7; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10566247 · 2014-02-27 (February 27, 2014)

MY 2011 BMW 550IGT DRIVEN FOR 43200 MILES WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH IGNITION TURNED OFF (FOR AT LEAST 45 MINUTES). NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE TRUNK, WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 43,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566247 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10652558 · 2014-11-04 (November 4, 2014)

I BOUGHT THE CAR ON MAY 6, 2015 WITH ABOUT 53K MILES ON IT. DROVE IT FOR ONLY ABOUT 45 DAYS AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND HAD THE CAR JUMPED BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. THE CARE ENGINE WAS TOTALLY DEAD, NO SOUND NO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE ENGINE LIGHT THAT POPPED ON BEFORE IT STOPPED. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM GWC AT THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR SO INFORMED THEM. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A PLACE (LMC…

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10652558 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10984964 · 2017-05-11 (May 11, 2017)

THE 2011 BMW 550I HAD JUST RECENTLY BEEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF. AFTER NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS PARKED, IT BURST INTO FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEN VERY QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CAR. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN AN ATTACHED GARAGE THUS NOT ONLY COMPLETELY BURNING THE CAR TO THE GROUND BUT ALSO PARTIALLY BURNING THE HOME DOWN AS WELL. RESULTING IN OVER $250,000 IN DAMAGE. THIS VEHICLE HAD ONE OF THE N63 ENGINES IN IT WHICH BMW HAD THREE VOLUNTEER RECALLS TO "CORRECT" THE FUEL INJECTOR ISS…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984964 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11014076 · 2017-08-09 (August 9, 2017)

IN-TANK FUEL PUMP, IS CREATING A GAS ODOR INSIDE THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11014076 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10778488 · 2015-09-29 (September 29, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ALONG WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 49,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10778488 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10808373 · 2015-12-04 (December 4, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING THAT CONNECTED TO THE FUSE BOX AND BATTERY WAS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAUSED THE FUSE BOX AND BATTERY TO MELT. THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK WAS SCORCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIRRORED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYST…

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808373 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10543299 · 2013-09-12 (September 12, 2013)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543299 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10587375 · 2014-05-09 (May 9, 2014)

I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO STOP THE BUCKING. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE THEN INDICATED THAT IT HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND DRIVE 0.5 MILES TO MY DESTINATION. WHILE PARKED, THE PARKING BRAKE ALSO MALFUNCTIONED AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS A SIGNIFICA…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587375 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11172397 · 2019-01-27 (January 27, 2019)

DURING DRIVING ON THE STREET, I STARTED TO SMELL LIKE TOXIC BURNING LIKE RUBBER AND/OR ANTIFREEZE BURNING AND WHEN I STOP AT HOME I COULD SEE LITTLE STEAM COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA AND ALSO OIL LEAK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE-TRANSMISSION REGION. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR NOW.

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11172397 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10509479 · 2013-04-24 (April 24, 2013)

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 AW…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509479 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10979764 · 2017-04-21 (April 21, 2017)

MY 2011 BMW 550I HAS THRICE HAD THIS WEIRD RESPONSE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. AFTER DRIVING FOR 30M-1H SUDDENLY GOT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING (STIFF LIKE A DEAD BODY) AND BRAKES FOLLOWING WHICH THE CAR STALLED. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THIS WAS A BAD BATTERY WHICH DID NOT MAKE SENSE BUT THE CAR WAS RUNNING THEREAFTER SO I TOOK IT HOME. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED - I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR A FEW MINUTES LATER AND TOOK THE RISK OF DRIVING HOME. THE DEALERSHIP SAID SINCE THE CA…

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979764 at NHTSA ↗