BMW 550I Problems by Year
BMW 550I years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 550I year: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2011 550I: 84 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2007 550I: 37 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2012 550I: 35 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2016 550I: 1 complaint, 2 recalls
- 2009 550I: 2 complaints, 1 recall
- 2014 550I: 6 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 550I problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 72 | 10 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 37 | 7 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 34 | 5 | 5 |
| Power Train | 33 | 8 | 2 |
| Tires | 30 | 8 | 0 |
| Wheels | 20 | 7 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| Steering | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Seats | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 550I model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 550I | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2016 550I | 1 | 2 | — | Engine | |
| 2015 550I | 6 | 0 | 5★ | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2014 550I | 6 | 2 | 5★ | Air Bags | |
| 2013 550I | 15 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2012 550I | 35 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 550I | 84 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 550I | 11 | 1 | — | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 550I | 2 | 1 | — | Tires | |
| 2008 550I | 32 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 550I | 37 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 550I | 23 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 550I years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (37), 2008 (32), 2011 (84), 2012 (35) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 550I year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 550I?
Engine, with 72 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 550I have?
11 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.