Worst 2011 BMW 550I Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Fuel System
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 BMW 550I.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 32 | — | 6 | 71,475 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 20 | — | 8 | 66,162 mi | |
| Fuel System | 14 | — | 4 | 57,801 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 13 | — | — | 55,589 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 12 | — | — | 10,986 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | — | — | 11,198 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | 1 | — | 65,167 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Driveline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 BMW 550I. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2011 BMW 550I
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~184,085 vehicles.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been incorrectly programmed and, as a result, the SCU may not accurately determine if activation and deployment of the air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and head restraints is necessary in the event of a crash.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.
Other BMW 550I Years
2011 BMW 550I — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 BMW 550I reliable?
What are common problems with the 2011 BMW 550I?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 BMW 550I?
How safe is the 2011 BMW 550I?
Does the 2011 BMW 550I have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2011 BMW 550I?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full BMW 550I reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2011 BMW 550I
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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