Total Complaints
14 filings
BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO · model year
2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO
14 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011BMW550I GRAN TURISMO carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 550I GRAN TURISMO is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by engine (2) and power train (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2011 550I GRAN TURISMO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recalls (2)
18V24800018/04/2018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Coo
17V06700002/02/2017
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012
Recent Complaints
20190723ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I FEEL THAT IS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON MY CAR. FROM THE START WAS TOLD THE CAR CHECKED OUT HOWEVER HAD TO GET ANOTHER STARTER, TRANSMISSION CASE, BLOCKS ETC. I SPENT OVER 14K AND STILL HAVE PROBLEM WITH REPAIRS THAT I THOUGHT WAS COVERED. NOW AC BLOWER GONE AFTER PICKING UP FROM THE DEALER LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. BAD PURCHASE NOW OUT OF MONEY AND CAR STILL NEEDS REPAIR.
Mileage: 109,000
20190723POWER TRAIN
I FEEL THAT IS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON MY CAR. FROM THE START WAS TOLD THE CAR CHECKED OUT HOWEVER HAD TO GET ANOTHER STARTER, TRANSMISSION CASE, BLOCKS ETC. I SPENT OVER 14K AND STILL HAVE PROBLEM WITH REPAIRS THAT I THOUGHT WAS COVERED. NOW AC BLOWER GONE AFTER PICKING UP FROM THE DEALER LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. BAD PURCHASE NOW OUT OF MONEY AND CAR STILL NEEDS REPAIR.
Mileage: 109,000
20190716ENGINE
N 63 ENGINE FAILURE: THIS ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS PART OF THE BANG SETTLEMENT. I GOT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR WHICH I SPENT ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SO CALLED NEW ENGINE CONTINUES TO CONSUME OIL. BASICALLY BMW REPLACED THE ENGINE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE KN OWN IS DEFECTIVE. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS ENGINE AND THIS CAR LING TIME AGO. BMW IS GETTING AWAY KNOWINGLY REPLACING DEFECTIVE E ENGINE WITH DEFECTIVE ONES.
Mileage: 900,000
20190716POWER TRAIN
N 63 ENGINE FAILURE: THIS ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS PART OF THE BANG SETTLEMENT. I GOT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR WHICH I SPENT ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SO CALLED NEW ENGINE CONTINUES TO CONSUME OIL. BASICALLY BMW REPLACED THE ENGINE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE KN OWN IS DEFECTIVE. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS ENGINE AND THIS CAR LING TIME AGO. BMW IS GETTING AWAY KNOWINGLY REPLACING DEFECTIVE E ENGINE WITH DEFECTIVE ONES.
Mileage: 900,000
20190716UNKNOWN OR OTHER
N 63 ENGINE FAILURE: THIS ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS PART OF THE BANG SETTLEMENT. I GOT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR WHICH I SPENT ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SO CALLED NEW ENGINE CONTINUES TO CONSUME OIL. BASICALLY BMW REPLACED THE ENGINE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE KN OWN IS DEFECTIVE. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS ENGINE AND THIS CAR LING TIME AGO. BMW IS GETTING AWAY KNOWINGLY REPLACING DEFECTIVE E ENGINE WITH DEFECTIVE ONES.
Mileage: 900,000
20181005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STEERING FAILURE DUE TO THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO WORK AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (BMW CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED & SERVICE CENTER NASHVILLE, 4040 ARMORY OAKS DR, NASHVILLE, TN 37204, 1-(855) 838-7142) DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY AND SVL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT INDICATOR FROM ILLUMINATING. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS UNABLE TO COVER THE REPAIRS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V832000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
20181005STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STEERING FAILURE DUE TO THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO WORK AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (BMW CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED & SERVICE CENTER NASHVILLE, 4040 ARMORY OAKS DR, NASHVILLE, TN 37204, 1-(855) 838-7142) DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY AND SVL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT INDICATOR FROM ILLUMINATING. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS UNABLE TO COVER THE REPAIRS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V832000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
20180712ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). BMW OF SOUTH ATLANTA (4171 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (678) 228-8373) AND GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW (500 INTERSTATE NORTH PKWY SE, ATLANTA, GA 30339, 1-800-294-1853) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO WAIT TO RECEIVE A SECOND NOTICE TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE WITH THE BATTERY CABLES. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN CONCERNING THE BATTERY CABLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
20180712ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). BMW OF SOUTH ATLANTA (4171 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (678) 228-8373) AND GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW (500 INTERSTATE NORTH PKWY SE, ATLANTA, GA 30339, 1-800-294-1853) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO WAIT TO RECEIVE A SECOND NOTICE TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE WITH THE BATTERY CABLES. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN CONCERNING THE BATTERY CABLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
20180323WHEELS
THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL (RIM) DEVELOPED HAIRLINE CRACK. THE CRACK IS ON THE INSIDE SIDE OF THE RIM. THE CRACK RESULTED IN A SLOW LOSS OF THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE.
Mileage: 68,000
20170501FireSTRUCTURE:BODY
THE CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS AND IS A COMPLETE LOSS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVINE 30 MILES ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE.
Mileage: 100,000
20170501FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS AND IS A COMPLETE LOSS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVINE 30 MILES ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE.
Mileage: 100,000
20170501FireENGINE
THE CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS AND IS A COMPLETE LOSS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVINE 30 MILES ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE.
Mileage: 100,000
20170320FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE INTERIM RECALL NOTICE DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 06/23/17*LJ UPDATED 08/22/2017*JS
Compare 2011BMW550I GRAN TURISMO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO have?▼
The 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO has 14 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO?▼
Yes, the 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO?▼
The most-complained component for the 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.