2012 Bmw 550I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
59,287 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 35 complaints (37.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 9 | 25.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.9% |
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 | 13 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Engine: 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Tires: 8; Electrical System: 4; Power Train: 4; Wheels: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 9; 2020: 6; 2021: 5; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10453410 · 2012-03-28 (March 28, 2012)
AFTER DRIVING ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES THE TIRES ON THE CAR FAILED. THE TWO FRONT TIRES "BUBBLED. WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER, THE LEFT FRONT FAILED BY "BLOWING". IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS ALL FOUR "NEW" TIRES FAILED, WITH THE SAME "BUBBLING" ISSUE. 4 MONTHS, 7 TIRES - SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THE CAR AS IT RELATED TO THE RUN-FLAT TIRES USED BY BMW CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS RIDING CONDITION. BMW SERVICE IN THE ONE SERVICE CENTER I VISITED CLAIMS TO CHANGE UP TO 15 TIRES PER DAY. MULTIPLY THAT BY THE NUMBER OF SERVICE CENTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10461665 · 2012-06-13 (June 13, 2012)
1. NEW 2012 BMW 550XI M SPORT PACKAGE W/APPROX. 6,700 MILES ON FOUR OEM GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 ROF 245/40R19 98V (DOT NE66 JP1R 3411) TIRES. NO RECOLLECTION OF HITTING ANY POTHOLES, SPEEDBUMPS, CURBS, ETC. 2. NOTICED APPROX. 2.5" X 1" BUBBLE ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SIDEWALL AFTER PARKING AT WORKPLACE. NO CRASHES OR INJURIES. 3. VEHICLE DRIVEN DIRECTLY TO BMW DEALER AT LOW SPEED. SERVICE REP SAID TIRE MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS AND THAT HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS. DEALER INSTALLED NEW GOODYEAR TIRE (DOT NE66 JP1R 0412…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10473628 · 2012-09-03 (September 3, 2012)
FRONT TIRE BULDGE AFTER DRIVING OVER A RECESSED MAN WHOLE COVER-THIS IS THE 3RD TIRE I REPLACED . THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR 245/40 R19 EAGLE RUN FLATS THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS , THEY ARE NOT SAFE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10484582 · 2012-11-14 (November 14, 2012)
I HAVE A 2012 BMW 550I, CROSSTRACK, V-8, AND WITH ONLY 5500 MILES (PURCHASED IN JULY 2012). WHEN INITIALLY STARTING MY CAR ON A FLAT PLAIN, THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE FIERCELY, REPEATED LOSS OF POWER, AND THE I-DRIVE REPORTED THE CHASSIS WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ONLY MODERATE DRIVING WAS PERMITTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND NO MATTER HOW FAR THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE CAR WOULD NOT GAIN POWER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO UP THE HILL TO MY HOME. WHEN THE CAR STALLED, THE GEARS WO…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490050 · 2012-12-25 (December 25, 2012)
THIS IS THE 3RD "RUN FLAT TIRE" WITHIN A 3 MONTH PERIOD THAT COULD NOT RUN FLAT EVEN A MILE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10490050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532606 · 2013-07-30 (July 30, 2013)
WE WERE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND IMMEDIATELY OUR LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING WENT OFF. MY HUSBAND WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR, PULLED TO SAFE LOCATION, GOT OUT TO INSPECT THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE TO FIND THAT THE GOODYEAR TIRE HAD ACTUALLY BLOWN OUT. WE HAD A 4 INCH TEAR IN THE TIRE JUST ABOVE THE RIM. THIS IS THE THIRD DUNLOP TIRE THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WITH THE SAME ISSUES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. THE FIRST TIRE WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH BUBBLED, THE 2ND ALSO BUBBLED BUT WITH ONLY 100 MILES ON IT, AND THEN THE LAST WHICH ACT…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560360 · 2014-01-17 (January 17, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550XI. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES, SIZE 245/40/R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHEN DRIVING CARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE SEVERAL BUBBLES ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED ALL FOUR TIRES WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF BOTH THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577249 · 2014-04-03 (April 3, 2014)
REPEATED SIDEWALL BUBBLES WITH 2012 BMW 550XI GOODYEAR LS II 245/40/19 RUNFLAT TIRES. 6 TIRES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 33,000 MILES DUE TO SIDEWALL BUBBLES. SIGNIFICANT ISSUE ALSO APPEARS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE (WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM) AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS THAT I HAVE DIRECTLY SPOKEN WITH WHO HAVE SAME CAR AND TIRE CONFIGURATION. ALTHOUGH I AM FILING A SINGLE COMPLAINT, THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED TO 6 SEPARATE TIRES THAT WERE ON MY AUTOMOBILE. ALL 4 TIRE LOCATIONS WERE AFFECTED. OF NOTE, REPORTED TO BMW CUSTOMER RELAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10577249 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V746000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2016-10-17 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V248000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 2018-04-18 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗