2012 BMW 550I problems
The 2012 BMW 550I has 53 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (26%) concerns engine. After that come fuel system (25%) and tires (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 53 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 26% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 59,000 miles 43 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 | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 11 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 13 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 43 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 59,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 60,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a fire. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 85% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the BMW 550I with enough data (17 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 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.
After driving only a few thousand miles the tires on the car failed. The two front tires "bubbled. Within one month after, the left front failed by "blowing". In the next two months all four "new" tires failed, with the same "bubbling" issue. 4 months, 7 tires - something is very wrong with the engineering of the car as it related to the run-flat tires used by BMW creating a very dangerous riding condition. BMW service in the one service center I visited claims to change up to 15 tires per day.
1. New 2012 BMW 550xi m sport package w/approx. 6,700 miles on four oem goodyear eagle ls2 rof 245/40r19 98v (DOT ne66 jp1r 3411) tires. No recollection of hitting any potholes, speedbumps, curbs, etc. 2. Noticed approx. 2.5" x 1" bubble on front driver side tire sidewall after parking at workplace. No crashes or injuries. 3. Vehicle driven directly to BMW dealer at low speed. Service rep said tire must be replaced due to safety concerns and that he had seen several similar incidents.
We were traveling on a highway, hit a small pothole and immediately our low tire pressure warning went off. My husband who was driving the car, pulled to safe location, got out to inspect the passenger front tire to find that the goodyear tire had actually blown out. We had a 4 inch tear in the tire just above the rim. This is the third dunlop tire that we have had to replace with the same issues in the last three months.
Son was driving car and car just shut off in the middle of the road without any warning. Car was towed to BMW dealership and they want to charge $3000 to tear down engine to see why engine locked up. Car was bought 31 may 2019 and shut down after driving a little over 3,000 miles 12 october 2019. Just a complete runaround with BMW offices.