Home · 2012 BMW 550i · Complaints

What 45 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 550i

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (45)Crash / fire / injury (1)Engine (16)Fuel system (13)Tires (11)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Electrical system (4)Wheels (4)Steering (2)Visibility & wipers (2)Airbags (1)Brakes (1)

4 of 45 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Nov 17, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

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 ODI 11440813

Sep 27, 2020Electrical systemLightsEngine

VEHICLE STOPS SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11361395

Jun 7, 2019Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE, THE CONTACT FELT EXTREME HEAT COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED BURNING WIRES. ORANGE COUNTY BMW (101 MAHER LN, HARRIMAN, NY 10926, (845) 782-4269) STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,287.

NHTSA ODI 11218438

Jan 19, 2015Electrical systemEngineFuel system

THE CAR THREW A DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION CODE WHICH HAPPENS WEEKLY ON THESE ENGINES AND THE CAR JUMPED A LANE AS IT MISFIRED AND WENT INTO LIMP DRIVING MODE. IF THERE WAS CARS NEXT TO ME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH. SINCE THEN BMW HAS ISSUED A CUSTOMER CAMPAIGN ON THE N63 ENGINE EFFECTING THOUGHTS OF CARS. THEY ARE CHANGING TONS OF PARTS FROM INJECTORS TO FUEL RAILS. IT SHOULD BE A FULL BLOWN RECALL AND THE NHTSA SHOULD GET INVOLVED ON THIS. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 12/23 AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED CORRECTLY. I HAVE A FEELING YOU ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS AGAINST BMW. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676388

Working with the data? Download all 45 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 BMW 550i verdict →