2013 BMW 550XI recalls & problems

The 2013 BMW 550XI has 1 safety recall and 7 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (2 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints7filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lighting

NHTSA recall 15V188000 · Mar 31, 2015 · 13,443 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Unknown or other	2	—
Fuel/propulsion system	2	—
Engine	2	—
Structure Body	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	—
Electrical system	1	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Aug 18, 2018 · 67,500 milesEngine
I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 550 XI ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN I HAD WHAT WAS TERMED BY THE BMW SERVICE TECHNICIAN AS A "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE". AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IS DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO GET STOPPED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BMW OF ORLAND PARK WHERE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DISMANTLED MY ENGINE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE DETERMINATION WAS MADE THAT INDEED THE ENGINE HAD A "ROD BEARING FAILURE" WHICH CAUSED THE…
Aug 30, 2018Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 550XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN PROMPTED. DURING THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE REMOTE AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND, OVER TIME, THE REMOTE BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. CONSEQUENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WIDE WORLD OF CARS BMW (124 NY-59, SPRING VALLEY, NEW YORK 10977, (845) 425-2600). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLE THAT THE ACTUATOR MAY BE FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE…
Jun 15, 2018 · 115,000 milesEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 550XI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE EMITTED SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BMW OF ROANOKE DEALER (2824 FRANKLIN RD SW, ROANOKE, VA 24014, 540-274-2475) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE STEM SEAL IN THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE OCCURRENCE WAS A KNOWN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Jan 31, 2018 · 76,050 milesFuel/propulsion system
I WOULD BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND AT A RANDOM TIME IT WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY AND THEN SLOW WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WOULD GO INTO 'LIMP MODE" AND GIVE A 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION' ERROR. I RESEARCHED THIS ERROR ONLINE AND IT SEEMED IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES IT HAPPENED IT WENT AWAY UPON THE CAR BEING OFF. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES BEFORE THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION' ERROR ON THE CAR'S INFO CENTER. EACH TIME IT INVOLVED A VIOLENT JERKING OF THE CAR AND IMMEDIATE SLOWING DOWN OF THE CAR IN TRAFFIC. I DROVE IT TO NELSON'S AUTOMOTIVE CENTER IN PEWAUKEE, WI AFTER A FEW TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING. THEY DIAGNOSED…
Sep 2, 2017 · 64,000 milesFuel/propulsion system
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THE CAR STARTED SHAKING WHILE DRIVING LOST POWER CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND KEPT SHAKING. THE CAR WOULD NOT EXCEED 10 MPH AND CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE
Aug 11, 2017 · 35,000 milesUnknown or other
SUNROOF EXPLODED. SHATTERED WITH GLASS PIECES EVERYWHERE. NO STONE OR EXTERNAL OBJECT HIT THE SUNROOF.
Jan 5, 2017 · 30,000 milesStructure › Body
BMW 550 XI WAS TRAVELING ON PA TURNPIKE WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED INTO TINY SHARDS OF GLASS. THE CAR WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 24 DEGREES, THE SHADE WAS OPEN WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO ROCKS OR DEBRIS THAT HIT THE SUNROOF. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS NOT TRAVELING UNDER AN OVERPASS.

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