2013 Bmw 550XI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 28.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
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 | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 1; Structure:Body: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
2017: 3; 2018: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10940013 · 2017-01-05 (January 5, 2017)
BMW 550 XI WAS TRAVELING ON PA TURNPIKE WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED INTO TINY SHARDS OF GLASS. THE CAR WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 24 DEGREES, THE SHADE WAS OPEN WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO ROCKS OR DEBRIS THAT HIT THE SUNROOF. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS NOT TRAVELING UNDER AN OVERPASS.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10940013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015770 · 2017-08-16 (August 16, 2017)
SUNROOF EXPLODED. SHATTERED WITH GLASS PIECES EVERYWHERE. NO STONE OR EXTERNAL OBJECT HIT THE SUNROOF.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024092 · 2017-09-18 (September 18, 2017)
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THE CAR STARTED SHAKING WHILE DRIVING LOST POWER CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND KEPT SHAKING. THE CAR WOULD NOT EXCEED 10 MPH AND CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11074691 · 2018-02-24 (February 24, 2018)
I WOULD BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND AT A RANDOM TIME IT WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY AND THEN SLOW WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WOULD GO INTO 'LIMP MODE" AND GIVE A 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION' ERROR. I RESEARCHED THIS ERROR ONLINE AND IT SEEMED IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES IT HAPPENED IT WENT AWAY UPON THE CAR BEING OFF. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES BEFORE THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION' ERROR ON THE CAR'S INFO CENTER. EACH TIME IT INVOLVED A VIOLENT JERKING OF THE CAR AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 76,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 11074691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113868 · 2018-07-26 (July 26, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 550XI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BMW OF ROANOKE DEALER (2824 FRANKLIN RD SW, ROANOKE, VA 24014, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE STEM SEAL IN THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE OCCURRENCE WAS A KNOWN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11129374 · 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 550XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN PROMPTED. DURING THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE REMOTE AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND, OVER TIME, THE REMOTE BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. CONSEQUENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WIDE WORLD OF CARS BMW (124 NY-59, SPRING VALLEY, NEW YORK 10977, [phone removed]). THE VE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11129374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144760 · 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 550 XI ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN I HAD WHAT WAS TERMED BY THE BMW SERVICE TECHNICIAN AS A "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE". AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IS DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO GET STOPPED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BMW OF ORLAND PARK WHERE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DISMANTLED MY E…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144760 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 ↗