2018 Bmw M550I
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Bmw M550I has 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: my old 5 series 2017 had this same problem, now my 2018 m550i has the airbag problem. a warning light for no reason pops up saying “passenger restraint system malfunction” and turns off the passengers airbag, bmw will not fix it out of warranty and charges 3,000$. many people are driving around with. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
41
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
11 complaints- • My old 5 series 2017 had this same problem, now my 2018 m550i has the airbag problem. A warning light for no reason pops up saying “passenger restraint system malfunction” and turns off the passengers airbag, BMW will not fix it out of warranty and charges 3,000$. Many people are driving around with
- • Passenger side sensor is faulty. BMW has issued Technical Service Bulletin to repair when found in warranty. The sensor will errantly warn airbag disable when person is not in seat.
- • Passenger Restraint Warning Light has been coming on off and on and now stays on all the time. Dealer has confirmed car needs to have the OC3 mat replaced at a very high price. Car is a 2018 BMW M550ix. Apparently this has been a common problem with the BMWs.
“My old 5 series 2017 had this same problem, now my 2018 m550i has the airbag problem. A warning light for no reason pops up saying “passenger restraint system malfunction” and turns off the passengers airbag, BMW will not fix it out of warranty and charges 3,000$. Many people are driving around with”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
9 complaints- • Passenger side sensor is faulty. BMW has issued Technical Service Bulletin to repair when found in warranty. The sensor will errantly warn airbag disable when person is not in seat.
- • Passenger Restraint Warning Light has been coming on off and on and now stays on all the time. Dealer has confirmed car needs to have the OC3 mat replaced at a very high price. Car is a 2018 BMW M550ix. Apparently this has been a common problem with the BMWs.
- • The passenger seat occupancy mat is faulty - same as in many other BMW models for which BMW has issued a 15 year warranty. The car chimes and states "fasten safety belt" for the passenger seat when the passenger seat is entirely empty. This error comes and goes, and stops when the belt is buckled.
“Passenger side sensor is faulty. BMW has issued Technical Service Bulletin to repair when found in warranty. The sensor will errantly warn airbag disable when person is not in seat.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
4 complaints- • ON 4/10/2018 VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAUGHT FIRE TOTTAL LOSE
- • On vacation road trip driving for about 3 hours. Instrument cluster completely shuts off and goes to black. Screen, vehit speed and rpm and all adas systems stop working. Sometimes turning the car off and on will address the issue other times it will constantly restart the instrument cluster when dr
- • Passenger side sensor is faulty. BMW has issued Technical Service Bulletin to repair when found in warranty. The sensor will errantly warn airbag disable when person is not in seat.
“ON 4/10/2018 VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAUGHT FIRE TOTTAL LOSE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
4 complaints- • On vacation road trip driving for about 3 hours. Instrument cluster completely shuts off and goes to black. Screen, vehit speed and rpm and all adas systems stop working. Sometimes turning the car off and on will address the issue other times it will constantly restart the instrument cluster when dr
- • Excessive amounts of water accumulated at interior floors from the A/C drain unit. Water damage to all sensors and bad odor. Worried car may catch fire while driving. A/C will sometimes work.
- • Excessive amounts of water accumulated at interior floors from the A/C drain unit. Water damage to all sensors and bad odor. Worried car may catch fire while driving. A/C will sometimes work.
“On vacation road trip driving for about 3 hours. Instrument cluster completely shuts off and goes to black. Screen, vehit speed and rpm and all adas systems stop working. Sometimes turning the car off and on will address the issue other times it will constantly restart the instrument cluster when dr”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
2 complaints- • ON 4/10/2018 VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAUGHT FIRE TOTTAL LOSE
- • The rear driver door will not open. It seems the door handle does not open the door from the exterior of the vehicle. The door will also not open from the interior of the vehicle. It feels like the handle has come lose from the door latch mechanism to open the door of the vehicle. This is a big
“ON 4/10/2018 VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAUGHT FIRE TOTTAL LOSE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 41 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: My old 5 series 2017 had this same problem, now my 2018 m550i has the airbag problem. A warning light for no reason pops up saying “passenger restraint system malfunction” and turns off the passengers airbag, BMW will not fix it out of warranty and charges 3,000$. Many people are driving around with
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SEATS/RESTRAINTS: Passenger side sensor is faulty. BMW has issued Technical Service Bulletin to repair when found in warranty. The sensor will errantly warn airbag disable when person is not in seat.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: ON 4/10/2018 VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAUGHT FIRE TOTTAL LOSE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: On vacation road trip driving for about 3 hours. Instrument cluster completely shuts off and goes to black. Screen, vehit speed and rpm and all adas systems stop working. Sometimes turning the car off and on will address the issue other times it will constantly restart the instrument cluster when dr
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw M550I — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 41
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Bmw M550I