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2010 BMW 550iProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 11 owner complaints about the 2010 BMW 550i, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 13V-407 the manufacturer reports only 75% of affected cars repaired.

2010 BMW 550i
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 75%Owner complaints111 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage36kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 19, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2010 BMW 550i has problems

11 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine41
Power train31
Electrical system30
Wheels20
Fuel/propulsion system21
Service brakes, hydraulic10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2010 BMW 550i recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

75%repaired · 2015 Q1

Exterior lighting: tail lights

Recall 13V-407 · Sep 11, 2013 · 134,100 vehicles · 100,735 repaired

Risk. Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.

Best & worst years

2010 vs. every other 550i year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 550i median. How we score

'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What 550i owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I have been having issues, not sure what the problem is but the car doesn’t seem like it’s getting proper gas, & it shakes when I drive. I had to park it in the garage after having it towed home due to an unknown issue.
Complaint 11560998 · Dec 19, 2023
On 11/10/21 I was advised by Long Beach BMW (Long Beach, CA) that my car needs a new engine. The car smells of gas (both when running and when sitting) and burns excessive amounts of oil. The car requires a quart of oil every 200 - 400 miles. The first engine was replaced after only 77,000 miles…
Complaint 11456105 · Mar 10, 2022
FROM A VERY SLOW ROLL THERE IS A DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE OF 1-2 SECONDS. THERE IS ALSO A DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE IN THE 10-30 MPH RANGE OF THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME. THE SLOW ROLL EVENT CAN CAUSE CONFUSION TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO BELIEVE YOU ARE YIELDING THE RIGHT AWAY WHEN YOU DO NOT ACCELERATE IN A…
Complaint 10551165 · Nov 6, 2013 · 15,000 miles

Own a 2010 550i?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.