2013 Bmw 550I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
72,343 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 15 complaints (53.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 13.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 13.3% |
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 | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Pressure Sensor | 1 |
Engine: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Power Train: 3; Seats: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Pressure Sensor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10534669 · 2013-08-10 (August 10, 2013)
ENGINE CONTINUES TO BURN THROUGH OIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1,500 MILES, WHICH COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE STRANDED AND INOPERABLE. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE IN A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552499 · 2013-11-15 (November 15, 2013)
I HAVE GOODYEAR 245/40R19 RUN FLATS ON MY VEHICLE. A HUGE BUBBLE CAME UP AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO IMPACT AND NOT COVERED ON MY WARRANTY. I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT. SINCE THEN ANOTHER BUBBLE ON ANOTHER TIRE HAS MANIFESTED. IT IS A COST OF OVER $1000 TO REPLACE THE TWO TIRES. VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE; CLEARLY THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10552499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692426 · 2015-03-06 (March 6, 2015)
THE COMPLAINT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S A QUALITY ISSUE. BMW'S N63 ENGINE IS EVIDENTLY NOT WELL ENGINEERED. THEY HAVE A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE"' IN PLACE FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT COMPLAIN TO THE SERVICE DEPT ABOUT THEIR ENGINES NOT RUNNING RIGHT. BMW IS VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS DO NOT VIEW THE REPAIR AS A RECALL. THAT SAID THE AMOUNT OF WORK REQUIRED IS EXTENSIVE (TAKES MORE THAN 1 WEEK TO COMPLETE). FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE THE FIX THEY HAVE IN PLACE DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. I ASKED TO BE LET OUT OF MY LEASE AND PUT INTO A …
Owner-reported narrative. 28,039 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11003179 · 2017-07-05 (July 5, 2017)
CAR WILL NOT RISE DUE TO AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. CAR IS A CPO STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BMW HAS NOT AGREED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG COMPONENT OF THE SUSPENSION ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT LISTED UNDER THE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT COVERED. THE CAR IS INOPERABLE WITH THIS PART MALFUNCTIONING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11003179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11080253 · 2018-03-19 (March 19, 2018)
I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS AND WENT INSIDE. I CAME BACK OUT A FEW MINUTES LATER AND SAT DOWN. I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT UNTIL MY BACKSIDE WAS BURNED BY THE HEATING ELEMENT. I HAD SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM THE SEAT.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11080253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11119363 · 2018-08-11 (August 11, 2018)
WHILE DRIVE BELOW 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT BROKE AND RUPTURED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE'S UPPER OIL PAN. THE FLEXIBLE JOINT OR UNIVERSAL JOINT SEIZED AND BROKE THE FRONT PART OF THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT. THEN THE VEHICLE HAD METAL IN THE ENGINE OIL AND THAT HAS DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND THE TURBOCHARGERS. THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO NEED A NEW ENGINE, NEW TURBOCHARGERS, AND A NEW FRONT DRIVESHAFT. THE REPAIR ESTIMATES ARE: NEW ENGINE - $3800.00 TURBO CHARGERS - $1100.00 FRONT DRIVESHAFT - $1500.00 AUXILIARIES PARTS - $1200.00 LABOR/REPAIR COS…
Owner-reported narrative. 113,665 miles reported. Look up ODI 11119363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163161 · 2018-12-23 (December 23, 2018)
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A 2013 BMW 550I XDRIVE M SPORT. IT KEEPS ON MISFIRING ON CYLINDER NUMBER TWO AND I HAVE CHANGED ALL 8 SPARK PLUGS AND THE INJECTOR FOR THAT CYLINDER. I ALSO USED OCTANE BOOSTER AND SEA FOAM TO CLEAN THE CARBON OUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE IF IT'S STILL MISFIRING ON THAT CYLINDER. IT STARTS UP GOOD AND SOMETIMES IT STARTS UP KIND OF HESITANT. WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER REALLY GOING FAST IT STARTS TO SHAKE AS I AM STOPPED AND WHEN I GO TO TAKE OFF IT LURCHES SOMETIMES. I HAVE ONLY HAD ME…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11172045 · 2019-01-25 (January 25, 2019)
PULLED A NHTSA REPORT ON THIS VEHICLE AND SAW NOTHING DANGEREOUS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE UNTIL WE GOT IT INSPECTED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ATHENS BMW IN ATHENS,GEORGIA AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD US THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW THE VEHICLE MADE IT TO THEIR SHOP. THERE WERE OVER 30 BOLTS AND SCREWS MISSING FROM THE ENGINE AND IN THEIR WORDS, "THE ENGINE WAS RAISING UP LIKE A HEART BEATING OUT OF ITS CHEST." WE GOT A 2ND OPINION FROM, EURO AUTO PRO IN LILBURN, GEORGIA AND THEY CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED VALVE SEALS AND THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WRECKED IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 75,353 miles reported. Look up ODI 11172045 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V188000 · Exterior Lighting
Reported: 2015-03-31 (March 31, 2015)
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."
Consequence: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗