What 165 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 550i Xdrive

My 2011 BMW 550i experienced an unexpected fire in my driveway while my wife and I were sleeping. The fire nearly caused our house to catch fire and also resulted in damage to my BMW Z4. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with someone regarding this matter. For your reference, the last seven digits of my VIN are [XXX] . You can reach me at [XXX] or via email at [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11695616

Vehicle was parked while running errands, returned to leave and it would not start. Went to trunk to check battery connection and found that the positive battery cable had burnt in two where it connects to cable that runs to the engine compartment. Carpet cover and sound deadening coating had burnt and cable fell through trunk floor on top of gas tank. Car was towed and insurance refused to replace what caused fire, only what burnt from source ie. carpet cover and floor but not wiring. BMW dealer reports they don’t know what caused cable to overheat.

NHTSA ODI 11564024

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325399

ON JULY 19, 2019, I DROVE MY CAR 2.5 MILES FROM MY OFFICE AND PARKED THE CAR AT MY RESIDENCE. THE CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND NEXT DAY THE CAR FAILED TO START. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPEN THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE OVERNIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, LUCKY THE FIRE WAS SELF CONTAINED AND DID NOT SPREAD TO NEARBY HOMES. I CONTACTED MR. MIKE DISCEPOLO WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA AND AFTER 30 DAYS OF INVESTIGATION HE TOLD ME THAT THE FIRE WAS BECAUSE I FAILED TO MAINTAIN MY CAR, I SEARCHED THE NET AND HIS ANSWER WAS CONSISTENT WITH ANSWERS TO OTHER BMW CARS THAT START FIRE WHILE PARKED. ABC NIGHTLINE AND OTHER TV STATIONS INVESTIGATED PARKED BMW CARS FIRE AND BMW DENY THE PROBLEM. SEE ATTACHED HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=US56C7YQAYY HTTPS://WWW.10NEWS.COM/NEWS/TEAM-10/SAN-DIEGO-BMW-OWNERS-SAY-THEIR-USED-BMWS-SUDDENLY-CAUGHT-FIRE HTTPS://ABC7CHICAGO.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/BMW-CAR-FIRES-MORE-FIRES-REPORTED-IN-PARKED-CARS-WHILE-ENGINES-OFF/5121834/

NHTSA ODI 11254334

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.

NHTSA ODI 11142514

VEHICLE STATIONARY FOR OVER 3 HOURS, PARKED IN A PARKING LOT (WORK LOCATION) AND BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. 8-22-18; 12:30 PM. BEAVERTON, OREGON FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT FIRE OUT. SEE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT

NHTSA ODI 11121721

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, A FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS SMOKE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRITZ BMW SAVANNAH (7009 ABERCORN ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31406) WHERE IT WAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED WITH A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11083997

OUR CAR'S ELECTRICAL PANEL LIT UP BEFORE THE CAR STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, BMW REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME, BMW REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. 12 DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED BY BMW, OUR HOUSE BURNED DOWN DUE TO A FIRE ORIGINATING ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE BMW. THAT AFTERNOON, MY HUSBAND HAD COME HOME FROM WORK, PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND TURNED IT OFF. THE FIRE STARTED WITHIN 30MINUTES OF BEING SHUT OFF AND PARKED. WE RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL INFORMING US OUR BMW WAS UNDER RECALL FOR A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP INJECTOR.

NHTSA ODI 11045596

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 HAD ONE OF THE N63 ENGINES IN IT WHICH BMW HAD THREE VOLUNTEER RECALLS TO "CORRECT" THE FUEL INJECTOR ISSUE. 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, A CERTIFIED BMW DEALERSHIP EXECUTED THE THIRD ATTEMPT AT THIS RECALL. THIS BMW WAS ALSO UNDER A FULL COVERAGE MAINTENANCE WARRANTY, THUS IT HAD ONLY BEEN TO CERTIFIED BMW SERVICE CENTERS. DURING THE LAST RECALL UNDER CAMPAIGN 0013480200 SIB 11 16 14 IN CONJUNCTION WITH SIB 11 06 14 AND 61 30 14, THE OIL LIFE MILEAGE WAS REDUCED FROM 15,000 MILES TO 10,000 MILES WITH THE BMW SERVICE CENTER EXPLAINING THAT WAS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN BMW NA REQUESTED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLES MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN I ASKED THE BMW REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY AT THE FIRE INVESTIGATION HE SAID IT WAS DUE TO "EPA REQUIREMENTS". HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE KNOWN ENGINE ISSUES THAT BMW HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS SINCE 2013.

NHTSA ODI 10984964

WHILE DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES WITH SEAT WARMERS ON MY HUSBAND (DRIVER) TURNED IT OFF. WE WERE TRAVELLING ON SUBURBAN ROADS AROUND 40 MPH. THEN AT A STOP LIGHT HE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. WE CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THEN I NOTICED THE SMELL A FEW SECONDS LATER, SO I OPENED A WINDOW EXPECTING TO FIND SMELL A FIRE NEARBY OR HEAR SIRENS. AT THAT POINT WE SAW A PLOOM OF SMOKE COME FROM UNDER HIS SEAT TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OPEN WINDOW. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND TURNED EVERYTHING OFF. THE SMOKE TOOK SOME TIME TO CLEAR BUT DID STOP. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WE DROVE 1 MILE TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD COST $1,700 TO FIX. I DECLINED TO PAY $1,700 TO FIX AND REQUESTED THEY DISCONNECT SEAT HEATER. BMW PERSONNEL INFORMED ME IT COULD NOT DISCONNECT POWER TO SEAT HEATER WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE ENTIRE AC/HEAT SYSTEM. THIS IS A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE, NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. FOR A SEAT HEATER TO CAUSE SMOKE IT CAUSED A FIRE AND THIS IS A DEFECT. THE CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE IF THE SEAT WARMER IS ACTIVATED. I ASKED DEALERSHIP WHAT IF I LOAN MY CAR TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THE DEFECT, THEY SUGGESTED PUTTING TAPE OVER THE BUTTON. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE SAFETY MEASURE TO PREVENT BURNS, FIRE, OR EVEN DEATH. CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT PEOPLE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE. ON A COLD MORNING I COULD HAVE BUCKLED KIDS IN, TURNED ON CAR, SEAT HEATER, AND TALK TO A NEIGHBOR FOR 2 MINUTES, OR TEACHER AT THE CARPOOL LINE.... WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE CHILDREN? THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE BUT BMW PERSONNEL DID AGREE THERE WAS SMOKE SMELL IN VEHICLE CAUSED BY SEAT WARMER.

NHTSA ODI 10870649

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 CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIRRORED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 10808373

INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. OTHER VEHICLE GOING SOUTHBOUND CROSSED OVER MEDIAN STRIP OF HIGHWAY, HIT THREE CARS GOING NORTHBOUND, MINE WAS THIRD CAR TO BE STRUCK. OFFENDING CAR DID A 360 IN FRONT OF ME, I SLOWED TO ABOUT 25 AND HE MOVED INTO ME. I STRUCK HIS REAR PASSENGER SIDE CORNER. I HAD FRONT END DAMAGE OVER $5K. NO AIRBAG, BUT DEFAULT MESSAGES AND AN AIRBAG ICON CAME ON THE VIDEO SCREEN AND THE FRONT INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT STATES "DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OR RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION." *JS

NHTSA ODI 10661924

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

NHTSA ODI 10566247

I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE LEFT SIDE EXITING THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR SPUN TO THE RIGHT INTO A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON AND CONTINUED INTO A 360 DEGREE MOTION. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. AFTER MY VEHICLE STOPPED SPINNING MY VEHICLE HAD A MESSAGE STATING RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT OF HITTING THE GUARD RAIL WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE SHOULD'VE DEPLOYED MY AIRBAGS. MY BUMPER, WHOLE FRONT GRILL, AND HEADLIGHTS WERE SHATTERED ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. MY WHOLE BACK LEFT SIDE IS DENTED IN AND MY WHEEL IS TILTED. I WOULD LOVE TO POST PICTURES IF POSSIBLE AND YOU WILL WONDER HOW COULD THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM BMW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558040

JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. EXITED THE VEHICLE, OBSERVED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FLAMES FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, MOSTLY ON THE TOP LEFT OF THE ENGINE NOW. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN THEIR LOT WAITING FOR THEIR INVESTIGATORS TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST COMMENT OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, MAYBE AN ANIMAL BUILT A NEST IN THE ENGINE AREA. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3000 MILES ON IT, PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2011, AND IS GARAGE KEPT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10456604

THERE ARE 3 MAJOR ISSUES. 1. VEHICLE TENDS TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. FEELING IS QUITE LIKE A VEHICLE THAT HASN'T BEEN ALIGNED FOR A WHILE. 2. THE MOST DANGEROUS. UPON ACCELERATION AND/OR AT LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKS FORWARD WITHOUT ANY NOTICE- MAKING IT TOO LATE FOR THE DRIVER TO SLAM THE BRAKES. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS STANDING THREE FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, YOU CAN EASILY CRASH AND REAR END INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. AND OF COURSE, YOU WILL BE SUED FOR NOT KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE. THIS CAN EASILY CAUSE SOME SERIOUS INJURIES. 3. VEHICLE WOBBLES AS IF THE TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED. THERE ARE CLEARLY UNKNOWN DEFECTS THAT CAN NOT BE LOCATED. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER, THEY KEEP ASCRIBING IT TO "NORMAL" CHARACTERISTICS AND THEY KEEP INFORMING ME THAT BMWS ARE BUILT THAT WAY, THEY ARE NOW SPORTIER. HOWEVER, TO ANY NEW OWNER, IT IS NOW DEADLIER. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER ALSO STATE UNLESS THEY VEHICLE DOESN'T INFORM THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. ITS MORE LIKE, UNTIL SOMEONE DOESN'T SUE THEM IS WHEN THEY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BMW SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BEGINS AGAINST THEM.

NHTSA ODI 10418816