2012 BMW 550I Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 BMW 550I.

20112013
Complaints
53
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2012 BMW 550I Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#113 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:62,104 mi
Fires:1
#211 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:56,418 mi
Fires:1
#38 complaints

Tire Defects

Avg mileage:15,963 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 BMW 550I.

Engine Problems
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
62,104
Fuel System
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
56,418
Tire Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
15,963
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 BMW 550I. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 BMW 550I

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~183,994 vehicles.

18V248000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~47,806 affected

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.

16V746000Fuel Pump
~136,188 affected

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

2012 BMW 550I — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 BMW 550I reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2012 BMW 550I has 53 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 13 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 BMW 550I?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (13 complaints, avg 62,104 mi); Fuel System (11 complaints, avg 56,418 mi); Tire Defects (8 complaints, avg 15,963 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 BMW 550I?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 48,614 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
Does the 2012 BMW 550I have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 183,994 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 BMW 550I?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

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.

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