2015 BMW 550i recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Fuel/propulsion system

  Fuel pump failure causing engine to spontaneously shut down on road or freeway at any speed. This puts the safety of occupants in my car and the cars around me in danger as I need to put my hazards and safely move the car to the side of the road. No warning prior to failure. Warning and check engine light came on after problem occurred.

  Jul 10, 2025
• Fuel/propulsion system

  Fuel pump supply / drive train malfunction. Vehicle was driven in freeway and has sudden message pop up on display screen and abruptly shut down. Unable to exit the freeway lanes. Stuck on the inbound lanes of freeway. Unable to re start vehicle to exit freeway. Took vehicle to local repair shop for inspection/repair to be made to fuel pump supply , only to have the same problem return in matter of days of repairs made.

  Aug 9, 2022
• 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.

  Sep 19, 2022
• Fuel/propulsion system

  When driving in freeway , Vehicles display " Drivetrain malfunction " - fuel supply full drive performance not available and begins to shut off abruptly in lanes. Can not restart vehicles. Vehicles can not be towed off the freeway lanes due to not begin able to put vehicle in Neutral mode. Vehicle was taken to local repair shop and parts were repair / replaced relating to fuel supply system. Same problems has reoccurring after 2 weeks of repairs.

  Jun 26, 2022
• Engine

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

  Mar 10, 2021 · 73,000 miles
• Wheels

  GOODYEAR 245-45-19 2 TIRES TREAD SEPARATING. VERIFIED AT DISCOUNT TIRE NOT SAFE AT ANY SPEED.

  Jun 18, 2018 · 15,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen

  From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…

  EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021