Bmw 650I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
104 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 87 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 104 complaints (27.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 11.5% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 8.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 29 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Seats | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
Engine: 29; Electrical System: 13; Power Train: 12; Air Bags: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Seats: 10; Seat Belts: 8; Service Brakes: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 17 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 5; 2014: 13; 2015: 12; 2016: 11; 2017: 8; 2018: 6; 2019: 14; 2020: 8; 2021: 5; 2022: 5; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10370471 · 2010-12-13 (December 13, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID (10V446000- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: VACUUM) HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION WAS DONE, THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL COMPONENT LISTED AND NOT FOR THE VACUUM PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466665 · 2012-07-19 (July 19, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10663657 · 2014-12-11 (December 11, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 650I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DURING COLD WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT AND THE HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V479000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10925620 · 2016-11-12 (November 12, 2016)
ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE UNLOCKED/LOCKED. ENGINE STALLED, STEERING WHEEL TEMPORARILY LOCKED. ENGINE CANNOT BE RESTARTED. THE CAR WAS MOVING WHEN WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE PULLING INTO SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. CALLED AAA AND HAD CAR TAKEN BY FLATBED TO HUDSON VALLEY BMW IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601 AT ABOUT 14:30 HRS 11/12/2016.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11032224 · 2017-10-08 (October 8, 2017)
THE ACTIVE STEERING SYSTEM OPERATES ON AND OFF. STEERING IS NORMAL THEN THE ACTIVE STEERING SYSTEM SHUTS OFF. STEERING BECOMES VERY HEAVY. THE WARNINGS LIGHT NOW STAYS ON ALL THE TIME THIS IS UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND ROADS.
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205667 · 2007-10-15 (October 15, 2007)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: SEVAS S-10 SHOULD NOT BE TARGETED/MARKETED TO BMW 6 OR 7 SERIES DRIVERS. A 3RD CASE OF KNOWN WHEEL FAILURE OCCURED ON OCTOBER 11TH, 2007 IT SHOULD BE ASSUMED/PROVEN THAT THIS IS A LOW QUALITY WHEEL. DESPITE 3 (1 MAJOR ACCIDENT DUE TO WHEEL FAILURE) KNOWN CASES OF THESE WHEEL BREAKING ON BMW 6 & 7 SERIES OWNERS, OTHER USERS COMPLAIN OF VIBRATION PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING AS WELL AS STEERING WHEELS RATTLING. THESE WERE MY INITIAL EXPERIENCES WHEN THE WHEELS WERE FIRST INSTALLED. THE WHEELS WERE REBALANCED 3 TIMES AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11443562 · 2021-12-13 (December 13, 2021)
Leak from fuel pump located under passenger rear side (right rear). Gasoline pooling next to electrical connection and excess gasoline dripping into interior and exterior. Explosion risk. Gasoline fumes.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11443562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190027 · 2019-03-19 (March 19, 2019)
DASHBOARD COMPLETELY CRACKED! SAME PROBLEM WITH CAR NOT STARTING LIGHTS ON DAS FLASHING ! BOUGHT IT USED 4 YRS AGO ON 3RD BATTERY SEVERS THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER I JUST PICKED UP AT SERVICE CENTER AGAIN . DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO WITH THIS, PLEASE HELP!!! THANKS
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11190027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11296889 · 2020-01-03 (January 3, 2020)
THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY IN TANK FUEL PUMP THAT HASN'T BEEN REPLACE I. NOTIFYIED MY BMW DEALER SHIP IN HENDERSON NV. AND THEY AND THEY REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE MY RECALL ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP THEY REFUSE TO DO IT. AND YES I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAIL. AND MY VEHICLE FALLS IN THE CATEGORY OF FOR THE RECALL IS LISTED IN THE RECALL BY NASTA
Owner-reported narrative. 121,876 miles reported. Look up ODI 11296889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501477 · 2013-03-06 (March 6, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 FROM WASHINGTON DC TO RICHMOND, VA AT ABOUT 65-75 MPH. AT AROUND THE KINGS DOMINION EXIT, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO GET INTO A SLOWER LANE TO LET FASTER TRAFFIC PASS. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICE THE RPM'S WENT UP TO 8X1000 AND THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING. I WAS NOW COASTING AT AROUND 60 MPH AND IMPEDING TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. BEING THAT THIS PARTICULAR STRETCH OF HIGHWAY IS ABOUT 6-7 LANES WIDE, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS GETTING OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MY …
Owner-reported narrative. 22,143 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10811401 · 2015-12-21 (December 21, 2015)
VEHICLE DOWN SIFTED WHILE IN AUTOMATIC MODE TO SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED WHILE OPERATING AT 75 MPH ON BELTWAY. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO "LIMP" MODE WITH SPEEDS LIMITATION. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS COMMON WITH THIS ZF TRANSMISSION THAT IS A SHIFTABLE AUTOMATIC MODEL. .
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811401 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2010: 0; 2012: 2; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 1; 2017: 1