Bmw 550I transmission problems
13 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
252 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 to 2016 model years. Data snapshot: . 189 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
13 of 252 complaints match this topic (5.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10177510 · 2006-12-28 (December 28, 2006)
2007 550I BMW SEDAN JERKY TRANSMISSION***CC THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ACT ERRATIC AT ANYTIME. THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH WHILE AT INTERSECTIONS AND STOP LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS WERE HIDDEN BY THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO LOOK DOWN TO SEE IF THEY WERE FLASHING. *JB THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WAS SO DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY THE VEHICLE PERFORMED THAT HE TRADED IT IN AFTER 5 WEEKS AND 2800 MILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10408438 · 2011-06-22 (June 22, 2011)
2007 BMW 550I, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ABOUT 48,000 MILES. AFTER A PERIOD OF HIGHWAY DRIVING, IF REVERSE IS SELECTED (E.G., IN A PARKING LOT, A U-TURN THAT REQUIRES BACKING UP), THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS RATHER THAN IMMEDIATELY ENGAGING. SCENARIO 1 (COMMON): PULLING INTO PARKING LOT AFTER 22 MINUTE HIGHWAY COMMUTE TO WORK. I START TO GO BY AN OPEN SPOT AND NEED TO ENGAGE REVERSE IN ORDER TO PULL IN. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS, REVERSE FINALLY EN…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10408438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440796 · 2011-12-21 (December 21, 2011)
2008 BMW 550I. CONSUMER STATES WHEN NORMALLY DOWN SHIFTING TO REDUCE SPEED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PUSHED IN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS RELEASED IN A LOWER GEAR, IT MAINTAINED THE HIGHER SPEED AND MERELY REVVED THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER LEARNED HE COULD NOT DOWN SHIFT, BUT HAD TO BREAK INSTEAD. THE CONSUMER AND THE BMW TECHNICIAN WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUCTH HAD TO BE HELD FOR ABOUT SIX SECONDS IN ORDER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. THE DEALER IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443258 · 2012-01-10 (January 10, 2012)
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND FAILS TO RESTART, ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY FAIL TO START. THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, OR SHORTLY AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. NO WARNINGS OR ERRORS ARE GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED OR LOGGED HOWEVER IN RARE INSTANCES DRIVETRAIN WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED. THE ENGINE DISPLAYS NO STRANGE BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING AND SHUTS OFF AS IF IT WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE REGULARLY FAILS TO START. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER A…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11687033 · 2025-09-13 (September 13, 2025)
Vehicle abruptly shut off while reversing out of my driveway. Vehicle restarted after a long crank and appeared to enter a reduced power mode/limp mode with a transmission fault that locked the transmission in 4th gear. Reading OBD2 codes revealed a code for the crankshaft position sensor. Inspection of the 3 terminal sensor revealed 2 of the terminal contacts on the sensor to be shorted out with melted plastic on both the sensor and the wiring connector plug. Shorted wire could be a result of a leaking coolant passage at rear of engine wit…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11687033 at NHTSA ↗