2010 BMW 550i

Routine

Owners filed 11 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine4
100
Wheels2
000
Electrical System2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Power Train1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights13V407000
Filed Sep 11, 2013134,100 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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].

What owners reported

Newest filings
EngineCrash
Filed Dec 19, 2023IL

I have been having issues , not sure what the problem is but the car doesn’t seem like it’s getting proper gas , & it shakes when I drive . I had to park it in the garage after having it towed home due to an unknown issue .

Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2022CA

On 11/10/21 I was advised by Long Beach BMW (Long Beach, CA) that my car needs a new engine. The car smells of gas (both when running and when sitting) and burns excessive amounts of oil. The car requires a quart of oil every 200 - 400 miles. The first engine was replaced after only 77,000 miles because the car was stalling unexpectedly. Now, the current engine needs to be replaced after only 51,000 miles because the car smells of gas (likely because the fuel injection system is not working properly) and because it is burning excessive amounts of oil. BMW expects me to cover the cost of a new engine even thought there is an obvious defect. I contacted BMW of North America and they offered to take the car back & give me $2000 toward a new car. There is currently a recall because of engines at risk of blowing up but for some reason, my car does not appear to be part of that recall. https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/wireStory/bmw-recalls-vehicles-3rd-time-due-engine-fire-83338862 BMW has been notified of the defects with this car and has diagnosed the defective engine but refuses to replace the engine at their cost as part of the current recall. Instead, the car remains a hazard at risk of catching fire. BMW's negligence is placing me, my family & other travelers at risk of harm or death because they know of the problem & will not address it. This is the 2nd complaint that I've sent to the NHTSA (the first on 9/13/21) and now there is a recall & so the NHTSA is aware of the problem

Power Train
Filed Jul 27, 201891,000 milesCA

WHEN DRIVING FREEWAY OR STREET, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING IT TO DROP INTO A LOW GEAR AND REDUCE SPEED SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON THE TRANSMISSION. UNFORTUNATELY WILL NEED REPLACEMENT AT 8 YRS & 90K ON ODOMETER. BMW SHOULD RECALL AND FIX.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 12, 2018NY

LETTER FROM SENATOR GILLIBRAND ON BEHALF OF MADELINE SINGAS, WHO IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF NASSAU COUNTY, SEEKING ASSISTANCE WITH A DOUBLE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT IN HER COUNTY; *LD *JS *JS

Wheels
Filed Feb 25, 201840,000 milesCA

WHEEL CRACKED - RUN FLAT TIRES WOULD NOT HOLD AIR DUE TO UNEXPLAINED CRACK IN WHEEL

Electrical System
Filed Sep 27, 201770,000 milesNJ

PURCHASED CAR TWO YEARS AGO AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION CONTINUES TO LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON, VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. I'VE HAD DRIVEN LEXUS VEHICLES FOR THE PRIOR 30 YEARS AND NEVER SPENT SO MUCH TIME AT THE DEALER TRYING TO RESOLVE THE SAME PROBLEM OR ANY MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. SWITCHING TO BMW WITHIN THESE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE LITERALLY INTERRUPTED MY LIFE, COST ME TIME AND MONEY AS THIS VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP (DEALER) FOR MORE THAN 70 DAYS WITHIN TWO YEARS (DEALER SPENT JUST AS MUCH TIME WITH THE CAR AS I). AFTER ALL THE REPAIRS THE FAITHFUL DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ENTERS MY LIFE YET AGAIN. CAN YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MAJOR COMPONENT IN THIS CAR. AFTER PURCHASING FOR CASH I THOUGHT I WOULD NOT NEED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR FOR AT LEAST 5-6 OR MORE YEARS BUT ONCE AGAIN I FIND MYSELF HAVING TO NOW BUY A RELIABLE CAR. IF I KNEW BMW VEHICLES WERE THIS MUCH TROUBLE, I WOULD HAVE SAVED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF CASH BY FINANCING INSTEAD EXPENDING THAT AMOUNT UPFRONT ONLY TO FIND MYSELF "LIVING" AT THE DEALERSHIP. SADDEST PART IS YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY THE 2011-12 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMOS AND I HAVE THE 2010. I GUESS "AFTER" I PAY FOR THE REPAIR THEN YOU WILL INITIATE A RECALL TO INCLUDE THIS YEAR AS WELL (SAME CAR AS OTHERS, EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT ONE YEAR MAKING THE DIFFERENCE). CAN YOU PLEASE HELP.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 12, 201690,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 550I. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. BEFORE THE FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PANEL AND ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Engine
Filed Oct 11, 201557,000 milesDC

LOST OF POWER WHILE DRIVING, 2 INCIDENT: BAD VIBRATIONS WHILE AT A IDLE.

Engine
Filed Nov 6, 201315,000 milesCA

FROM A VERY SLOW ROLL THERE IS A DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE OF 1-2 SECONDS. THERE IS ALSO A DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE IN THE 10-30 MPH RANGE OF THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME. THE SLOW ROLL EVENT CAN CAUSE CONFUSION TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO BELIEVE YOU ARE YIELDING THE RIGHT AWAY WHEN YOU DO NOT ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY MANNER GOING FORWARD OR MAKING A TURNING MOVEMENT. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT IF A PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLIST OR ANOTHER CAR TAKES THE DELAY AS A SIGN THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE DELAYED ENGINE RESPONSE IN THE 10-30 MPH RANGE IS OF GREAT CONCERN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO A FREEWAY FROM A SHORT ON-RAMP IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE RESPONSE DELAY IS VERY PRONOUNCED UNDER HARD THROTTLE AND HAS CAUSED HEAVY BRAKING BY CARS UNSURE IF I'M GOING TO BE AT SPEED WHEN MERGING. *TR

Wheels
Filed Jun 1, 201220,120 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 550GT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ALERTED LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESUMED OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL EXHIBITED TWO HAIRLINE CRACKS ON THE INNER PORTION. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,120.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 17, 20101,137 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SQUEAKY NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE WEEKS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE SERVICE REPAIRS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IN WHICH THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,137.

11 of 11 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2011
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20161200Routine
20156000Routine
20146200Routine
201315100Routine
201235210Routine
2011843110Routine
2010 — this page11100Routine
20092100Routine
200832230Routine
200737210Routine
200623300Routine

Compare every 550i year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 11, 2013. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.