Reliability & cost of ownership
Bmw 550i Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Bmw 550i? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Bmw 550i problems by model year
8 recall entries and 252 owner complaints on file across 11 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 550i | 0 | 1 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2015 550i | 0 | 6 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2014 550i | 2 | 6 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2013 550i | 1 | 15 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2012 550i | 2 | 35 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2011 550i | 3 | 84 | 5.0 | Full reliability report → |
| 2010 550i | 0 | 11 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2009 550i | 0 | 2 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2008 550i | 0 | 32 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2007 550i | 0 | 37 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2006 550i | 0 | 23 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Bmw 550i, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine72 complaints
- electrical system43 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system37 complaints
- air bags34 complaints
- power train33 complaints
- tires31 complaints
- wheels20 complaints
- exterior lighting18 complaints