2011 BMW 550I problems
The 2011 BMW 550I has 144 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (24%) concerns engine. After that come electrical system (14%) and fuel system (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 144 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 21
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 54,000 miles 106 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 18 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 20 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 23 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 16 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 10 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 106 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 54,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 72,000 miles (28 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 21 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the BMW 550I with enough data (77 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 BMW 550I. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle would not shift back into park. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed that the wiring that connected to the fuse box and battery was not properly attached to the trunk floor panel, which caused the fuse box and battery to melt. The carpet in the trunk was scorched and needed to be replaced.
The 2011 BMW 550I had just recently been parked and turned off. After no more than 10 minutes after it was parked, it burst into flames coming from the engine compartment on the passenger side. Then very quickly spread throughout the entire car. The car was parked in an attached garage thus not only completely burning the car to the ground but also partially burning the home down as well. Resulting in over $250,000 in damage.
This vehicle has had multiple recalls. The latest one was campaign no. 18v-248. BMW has yet to do anything for my vehicle, even after it burnt itself to the ground and a portion of my home. They did not add any explanation or attempt to investigate this situation. It is still undefined how this vehicle lit itself on fire as it was parked and turned off sitting in my garage, after just being driven 5-10 minutes before the fire started.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 BMW 550I. The contact stated that the oil and drive train warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and stated that they would call the contact back. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.