FaultScore

BMW 550I transmission problems

34 of the 386 complaints filed about the BMW 550I are about the transmission — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2011.

34

Complaints

9%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

2007 550I 3 8.8%

Median failure at 2,800 miles

2008 550I 4 11.8%

Median failure at 18,003 miles

2010 550I 3 8.8%

Median failure at 74,000 miles

2011 550I 14 41.2%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

2012 550I 4 11.8%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

2013 550I 3 8.8%

Median failure at 62,127 miles

2015 550I 2 5.9%

Median failure at 73,000 miles

2016 550I 1 2.9%

Median failure at 36,343 miles

What owners said

2011 BMW 550I Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle displays Transmission Malfunction & DSC and xDrive malfunction, this vehicle is available upon request for inspection. Currently been to two dealerships and all I got from the first dealership is to replace transmission at 59k mile. I purchased a used transmission same problem exist in the replacement transmission. As I was driving on highway, the transmission began displaying message above and caused the vehicle suddenly slow down without warning lights causing me to avoid an accident by pulling over to avoid being rear ended. The problem has been reproduced by dealer: tech and service advisors manager( authorized to drive) and he charge me for a tow even after I mention to him I have AAA if he needs it. Service manager stated that it may need the mechatronics unit which $4k for part but they’re unsure because they didn’t take it apart but it’s a known issue. They mention that it’s a known problem for the TCM (mechatronic valve throttle body control module to go bad). Manufacturer has not inspected vehicle. So currently it’s at BMW of Owings Mills get a second opinion.

NHTSA complaint #11583551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 BMW 550I Joliet, IL Crash

POWER TRAIN

I have been having issues , not sure what the problem is but the car doesn’t seem like it’s getting proper gas , & it shakes when I drive . I had to park it in the garage after having it towed home due to an unknown issue .

NHTSA complaint #11560998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 BMW 550I New Providence, NJ

POWER TRAIN

The transmission's automatic gear selector indicator lights are no longer working properly. Without the indicator lights, it is difficult to determine if the vehicle is in Park, Drive or Reverse which is a MAJOR safety issue. This is apparently a well known issue with this vehicle model and no recall has been issued as of yet. There are no warning lights, the issue is confirmed by an independent repair facility and the full shifter assembly requires replacement. The part cost is over $1000.00 plus installation cost. This appeared on my vehicle last week at mileage of roughly 58,000 miles.

NHTSA complaint #11486644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 550I Dover, DE

POWER TRAIN

I started my car to drive to an appointment and noticed that the car was jerking/bucking as I pulled out of my driveway onto the main road. I was unable to accelerate appropriately for oncoming traffic behind me because the car was jerking violently and it was a bit scary since this had not happened before. This continued for several days, primarily when I would attempt to drive the car in the morning. On one occasion the drive train malfunction light illuminated as I was making my way to an appointment at the Veterans Administration and I had to gingerly turn the car around and head back home. Someone could have ran into me because the car didn't have much power. What followed next was the inability to get my car to move when it was placed in reverse. I took the car to the dealership and was told that the car's transmission needs to be replaced ($11,000) because the car is trying to drive in reverse and first gear at the same time. What?!! In over 20 years of servicing BMW's, they have never seen a situation like this. I don't believe I should bear the cost for this when I bought a pretty expensive car in good faith, which has only 80,000 miles.

NHTSA complaint #11477624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 550I Las Vegas, NV

POWER TRAIN

DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION COMES ON DASH, DUE TO TIMING CHAIN BEING OUT OF "TIME" MEANING THAT THE CRANSHAFT AND CHAIN HAS MOVE OUT OF PLACE, THIS REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT 10K, OTHER VEHICLES OF THE THIS TYPE ARE ALSO INCLUDED, THE RECALL FROM BMW IS CALL THE "N63 CUSTOMER SERVICE PACKET", N63 IS THE KIND OF ENGINE THAT THIS CAR AND OTHER IN SIMILAR SERIES AND YEARS ARE KNOWN AND INNEVIDATABLE TO PREVENT SINCE ITS A MANUFACTURER MISTAKE. I PERSONALLY LOST OUT ON A LOT OF MONEY DUE TO THE PROBLEM THAT LANDED IN MY HANDS.

NHTSA complaint #11454313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 BMW 550I Deer Park, TX

POWER TRAIN

My car died in an intersection unexpectedly as if my battery had died. My infant was in the backseat. This was suck a busy intersection that police dept had to park behind me to keep me from being hit. The car could not be put in neutral to move it out of the way. After over an hour we were able to restart the car and excessive battery discharge message displayed. This is on top of me taking it to the dealership for excessive oil consumption and BMW was aware my motor would eventually give out.

NHTSA complaint #11440813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 BMW 550I at 73,000 miles Tipp City, OH

POWER TRAIN

OIL LEAK BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMMONLY KNOWN AS BELL HOUSING

NHTSA complaint #11414310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 550I Hesperia, CA

POWER TRAIN

BMW SAID THEY REPLACED THE STEM SEAL OR VALVE SEAL AROUND 50K MILES I GOT THE CAR AROUND 69K MILE AND AFTER IT HIT 90K MILE I STARTED TO SEE SOME SMOKE I REALLY DIDNT PAY ATTENTION UNTIL ONE DAY I WAS COIMING OUT OF MY HOUSE THEN THAT'S WHEN I SEEN THE BLUISH SMOKE I CALLED BMW AND SAID IF THE SHOP THAT DID THE WORK REALLY REPLACED THE SEAL CAUSE IF THEY DID AND FOR IT TO SMOKE AGAIN THE CAR HAS NOW 143K MILES AND I CAN'T SMOG IT CAUSE OF THE SMOKE IT WON'T PASS SMOG CHECK HERE IN CALIFORNIA

NHTSA complaint #11399205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 BMW 550I at 62,127 miles Willow Street, PA

POWER TRAIN

GUIBO FLEXIBLE DISC FAILED DURING ROUTINE PA INSPECTION. TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS CRACKED AND FAILED THE INSPECTION. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 62000 MILES ON IT AND THE CV JOINT FAILED. I BELIEVE THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR 2011 AND 2012 MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE.I WAS CHARGED MORE THAN 1000 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FLEXIBLE DISK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT SO IT WOULD PASS STATE INSPECTION. I DID NOT WANT THE DRIVE AXLE TO FALL OFF THE CAR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE.

NHTSA complaint #11395492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW 550I at 6 miles LOS Angeles, CA

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE A LOT OF POWER THEN WHEN I PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD THE CAR TURNED OF AND WOULD NOT START UNTIL SEVERAL ATTEMPTS . I WAITED ABOUT 8 MIN THEN STARTED TO DRIVE . AND IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME NOW . THEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND DRIVES FINE . BUT THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS . AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. I'VE BEEN IN SOME TIGHT SITUATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #11340211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 BMW 550I at 50,000 miles Plano, TX

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CLASSIC BMW LOCATED AT 6800 DALLAS PKWY, PLANO, TX 75024, (214) 778-2600, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #11325994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 550I at 120,000 miles Kansas City, MO

POWER TRAIN

I OWN MY BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO SEDAN 2011 F10(N63). THERE IS A RECALL ON MY EXACT MODEL. NHTSA NUMBER: 18V248000/ ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES THAT THE RECALL SHOWS. I HAVE PROOF OF DOCUMENTS SHOWING MY WATER PUMP FAILING, GETTING SERVICE WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR REPAIR. AUGUST 24, 2019 SHOWS SMALL EVAPORATIONS LEAK, CYLINDER MISFIRES AND HAS BAD HEAD GASKET. WATER PUMP FAILURE CAUSED MY ENGINE TO OVER HEAT AND BAD HEAD GASKETS.I ALSO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM AS OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE TURBO COOLANT HOSES, MY HOSES CRACKED LIKE GLASS, EJECTING COOLANT ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND ALTERNATOR, WHICH CAUSED SMOKE REALLY BAD ALMOST LEADING TO AN CAR CRASH BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE ALTERNATOR WAS BURNING UP. I HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND I HAVE THE SAME EXACT ENGINE THAT IS RECALLED(N63/F10) I AM NEEDING MY CAR ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST, THIS MISTAKE NEARLY COST ME AND MY FAMILY LIFE. APRIL 12TH, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, IN KANSAS CITY,MO ON THE HIGHWAY 435, BIG CLOUDS OF WHITE SMOKE, ENGINE LOSS POWER, CAUSING A CAR TO ALMOST CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR. I AM NOW LOCATED IN KANSAS CITY, MO. I CAN BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL: [XXX] OR CELL: [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11322775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 BMW 550I at 85,000 miles Philadelphia, PA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON VARIOUS OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA complaint #11322413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 BMW 550I at 36,343 miles Knox, IN

POWER TRAIN

MY 2016 BMW 550I XDRIVE M SPORT IS USING/BURNING ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 750-800 MILES, THE ODOMETER READS 36,343 MILES, VERY LOW MILES FOR THIS CAR TO BE USING THAT MUCH OIL, I BOUGHT IT IN AUGUST OF 2019 WITH 34,654 MILES ON IT. YOU CAN SEE THAT I DON'T DRIVE IT THAT MUCH, HAVE NEVER HAD THE CAR ON ANY KIND OF TRACK. THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN SCHERERVILLE INDIANA SAYS THIS KIND OF OIL CONSUMPTION IS NORMAL.!!! THERE IS NO WAY THIS EXPENSIVE LUXURY CAR SHOULD BURN ANY KIND OF OIL WITH THIS LOW OF MILES. I REALLY WANT THIS COMPLAINT TO BE HEARD!! THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #11308861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 BMW 550I at 93,339 miles Dekalb, IL

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY A POP SOUND HAPPEN AND CAR STARTED TO DRIVE AND SHACKING OCCURRED AND SHIFTING OF GEARS WAS ERRATIC. TRANSFER CASE FAILED MADE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF WAY OF TRAFFIC BIT OF STALL AND HESITATION.

NHTSA complaint #11277847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 550I at 83,900 miles Waxahachie, TX

POWER TRAIN

ENGINE OVERHEATING,BURNING A LOT OF OIL,ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SPARK PLUG AND COILS,HAVING MISFIRES FOR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEAT EXPANDING GASKETS ALLOWING OIL TO REACH SPARK PLUGS LOOSING POWERTRAIN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING CAR TO SLOW DOWN,THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IN THE LAST 2 YEARS THAT WE HAVE THIS ISSUE,ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH WATER COMING INTO THE RIGHT SIDE BACK SEAT UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PLACE WHERE WATER IS COMING IN FROM.

NHTSA complaint #11141740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 BMW 550I at 113,665 miles Dunlap, IL

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVE BELOW 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT BROKE AND RUPTURED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE'S UPPER OIL PAN. THE FLEXIBLE JOINT OR UNIVERSAL JOINT SEIZED AND BROKE THE FRONT PART OF THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT. THEN THE VEHICLE HAD METAL IN THE ENGINE OIL AND THAT HAS DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND THE TURBOCHARGERS. THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO NEED A NEW ENGINE, NEW TURBOCHARGERS, AND A NEW FRONT DRIVESHAFT. THE REPAIR ESTIMATES ARE: NEW ENGINE - $3800.00 TURBO CHARGERS - $1100.00 FRONT DRIVESHAFT - $1500.00 AUXILIARIES PARTS - $1200.00 LABOR/REPAIR COST - $7000.00 TOTAL COST - $14,600.00

NHTSA complaint #11119363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 BMW 550I at 91,000 miles Duarte, CA

POWER TRAIN

WHEN DRIVING FREEWAY OR STREET, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING IT TO DROP INTO A LOW GEAR AND REDUCE SPEED SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON THE TRANSMISSION. UNFORTUNATELY WILL NEED REPLACEMENT AT 8 YRS & 90K ON ODOMETER. BMW SHOULD RECALL AND FIX.

NHTSA complaint #11114176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 550I Olymmpia, WA

POWER TRAIN

CAR PERFORMANCE GREATLY DECREASED, THEN FAILED TURBO, FUEL SMELL, AND DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING INTERMITTENTENTLY ON AND OFF, EITHER IN PARK OR IN MOTION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. BMW NORTHWEST IS CURRENTLY DENYING ANY RECALLS ARE IN PLACE AND.

NHTSA complaint #10949047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 550I at 101,000 miles Delano, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE DRIVE TRAIN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST MOMENTUM. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA complaint #10910587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other BMW 550I problems