2011 Bmw 550I

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw 550I has 144 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: i have prepared a pdf document that i would like to submit as well. i can supply it at any time. here is the short version. 10/17/13: i have the family come with me for a ride and then the vehicle begins to malfunctions and the check engine light comes back on. the vehicle is struggling to even dr. ⚠️ 18 fire reports filed.

18 fire reports 1 crash report

144

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

35 complaints

24%

• I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DR
• ADD OIL LIGHT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY EVERY 4000-5000 MILES STARTING AT 5000 MILES. OIL LEAKED ONTO GARAGE FLOOR. BMW DEALERSHIP REPEATEDLY CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AROUND 25,000 THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED A DATA SHEET SAYING THEY WERE CHANGING THE MAXIMUM OIL FILL CAPACITY
• I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENTIRE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I GET MULTIPLE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS AND THEN GET A "REDUCED POWER" ALERT ON MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP-MODE", WHICH MEANS IT'S INCAPABLE OF GOING PAST 40-45 MPH AND GOING ANYTHING ABOVE 25 RESULTS IN VIOLENT SHA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports

“I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

20 complaints

14%

• I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DR
• MY 2011 BMW 550IGT DRIVEN FOR 43200 MILES WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH IGNITION TURNED OFF (FOR AT LEAST 45 MINUTES). NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE TRUNK, WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED. *TR
• I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO STOP THE BUCKING. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE THEN INDICATED THAT IT HAD A DRIVETRAIN MA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

16 complaints

11%

• I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DR
• I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO STOP THE BUCKING. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE THEN INDICATED THAT IT HAD A DRIVETRAIN MA
• I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENTIRE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I GET MULTIPLE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS AND THEN GET A "REDUCED POWER" ALERT ON MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP-MODE", WHICH MEANS IT'S INCAPABLE OF GOING PAST 40-45 MPH AND GOING ANYTHING ABOVE 25 RESULTS IN VIOLENT SHA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

14 complaints

10%

• I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO STOP THE BUCKING. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE THEN INDICATED THAT IT HAD A DRIVETRAIN MA
• I BOUGHT THE CAR ON MAY 6, 2015 WITH ABOUT 53K MILES ON IT. DROVE IT FOR ONLY ABOUT 45 DAYS AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND HAD THE CAR JUMPED BUT THAT DIDN'T WO
• I AM CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AND THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER/SERVICE CENTER, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT WITH THEIR ACTIONS TO MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED, INCLUDING THE REPAIR AND INSPECTION PERTAINING TO A RECALL OF THE N63 ENGINE VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MUL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO STOP THE BUCKING. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE THEN INDICATED THAT IT HAD A DRIVETRAIN MA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

12 complaints

• MY 2011 BMW 550I X GRAN TURISMO WAS PURCHASED IN 3/11. IN 10/11 I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AND TOPPED OFF WITH NITROGEN. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 10,500 MILES. ON SATURDAY, 3/17/12 THE IPM SYSTEM SAID THE TIRES HAD LOW PRESSURE. ALL TIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, DROP IT OFF AND, WITH A LOAN CAR, DI
• AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2011, AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY GOODYEAR P245/40R19 RUN FLAT TIRES SIX (6) TIMES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED 4 SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS, SOME ON INTERSTATE SOME ON REGULAR ROADS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO TIRES DUE TO SIDEWALL BUBBLES, DUE TO TIRE SIDEWALL BREAKDOWN. THIS AUTOMOB
• TIRE BUBBLE ON SIDEWALL FRONT RIGHT TIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY TIRES 3 TIMES. THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR RUN FLAT EXCELLENCE 245/40R19 98Y. *JS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY 2011 BMW 550I X GRAN TURISMO WAS PURCHASED IN 3/11. IN 10/11 I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AND TOPPED OFF WITH NITROGEN. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 10,500 MILES. ON SATURDAY, 3/17/12 THE IPM SYSTEM SAID THE TIRES HAD LOW PRESSURE. ALL TIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, DROP IT OFF AND, WITH A LOAN CAR, DI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 144 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO STOP THE BUCKING. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE THEN INDICATED THAT IT HAD A DRIVETRAIN MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)