2008 BMW 550I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 550I years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 BMW 550I. That ranks 4th out of 12 550I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (9 complaints, 28%), typically at around 56,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 3 fires, 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 32owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 BMW 550I problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 | 28% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 22% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 19% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 16% | 94,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 13% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 9% | 18,003 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 6% | 1,450 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 6% | 1,896 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 6% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 3% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 3% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 1,896 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 3% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | 141,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 BMW 550I recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Problem: BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).
Risk: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: On certain vehicles equipped with v8 engines, in conditions of below freezing temperatures combined with low humidity, it is possible for electrostatic discharge to occur at the fuel rails. If this were to occur, the engine electronic control unit (ecu) could be affected so that engine stalling could result.
Risk: If stalling were to occur, the driver may not be able to maintain vehicle speed or accelerate and the power steering could fail increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will attach two ground cables in the engine compartment free of charge. The recall began on october 29, 2007. Owners may contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Vehicle abruptly shut off while reversing out of my driveway. Vehicle restarted after a long crank and appeared to enter a reduced power mode/limp mode with a transmission fault that locked the transmission in 4th gear. Reading OBD2 codes revealed a code for the crankshaft position sensor…
The contact owns a 2008 BMW.The contact stated that he was getting ready to drive the vehicle, however when he started the vehicle, the ABS and check engine lights illuminated.The contact stated that he noticed the vehicle was overheating and turned the vehicle off.The contact heard an unusual…
The daytime running lights aka Angel Eyes wiring is sub-standard. The plastic coating on the wires for the daytime running lights/Angel Eyes has melted away exposing bare wiring that has fused causing the lights to malfunction and not work. I believe the manufacturer is aware of this sub-standard…
I was driving and came to a stop and noticed smoke and an odd smell coming from under the hood. The heater control valve and the wire connector started to smolder and melt the plastic. If it wasnât for me disconnecting the connector wire to the heater control valve, it would have definitely would…
The wiring in my headlight assembly is crumbling and the headlight is shorting out. The coating on the wiring is trash. I own a 08 Bmw550i. BMW should be ashamed. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Other BMW 550I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 550I | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 550I | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 550I | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 550I | 6 | 2 |
| 2013 550I | 15 | 1 |
| 2012 550I | 35 | 2 |
| 2011 550I | 84 | 3 |
| 2010 550I | 11 | 1 |
| 2009 550I | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 | 32 | 2 |
| 2007 550I | 37 | 2 |
| 2006 550I | 23 | 3 |
See all BMW 550I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 BMW 550I?
Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 BMW 550I?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 BMW 550I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 550I model years, the 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.