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What 15 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 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 (15)Crash / fire / injury (1)Engine (8)Fuel system (5)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Seats (2)Brakes (1)Electrical system (1)Lights (1)Suspension (1)Tires (1)Wheels (1)

2 of 15 complaints match · Seats · clear filters

Jan 25, 2019SeatsBrakesEngine

PULLED A NHTSA REPORT ON THIS VEHICLE AND SAW NOTHING DANGEREOUS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE UNTIL WE GOT IT INSPECTED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ATHENS BMW IN ATHENS,GEORGIA AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD US THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW THE VEHICLE MADE IT TO THEIR SHOP. THERE WERE OVER 30 BOLTS AND SCREWS MISSING FROM THE ENGINE AND IN THEIR WORDS, "THE ENGINE WAS RAISING UP LIKE A HEART BEATING OUT OF ITS CHEST." WE GOT A 2ND OPINION FROM, EURO AUTO PRO IN LILBURN, GEORGIA AND THEY CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED VALVE SEALS AND THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WRECKED IN THE FRONT. NEITHER WAS DISCLOSED TO US FROM THE NHTSA NOR THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD BY ATHENS BMW THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THAT CONDITION. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WE JUST PURCHASED IT ON DECEMBER 13, 2018. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11172045

Mar 19, 2018Seats1 injury

I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS AND WENT INSIDE. I CAME BACK OUT A FEW MINUTES LATER AND SAT DOWN. I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC AND COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT UNTIL MY BACKSIDE WAS BURNED BY THE HEATING ELEMENT. I HAD SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM THE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11080253

Working with the data? Download all 15 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 2013 BMW 550i verdict →