BMW M550i - NHTSA record changes

New NHTSA complaint: STEERING

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Subject: Safety Complaint – 2018 BMW M550i Driver Assistance System I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a dangerous malfunction of the driver assistance systems in my 2018 BMW M550i. These systems behave unpredictably and cannot be reliably disabled, creating an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle’s driver assistance featu

New NHTSA complaint: LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: AIR BAGS

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I’m getting a passenger restraint system malfunction message on my infotainment. Says: “Passenger restraint system limited. Increased risk of injury in case of a collision. Continue wearing safety belt.” This is the second time this has occurred on this specific vehicle. First time was in 2021 and was repaired. Now it came up again.

New NHTSA complaint: SEAT BELTS

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: AIR BAGS

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Passenger restrain system mail function

New NHTSA complaint: POWER TRAIN

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The front differential and rear drive train has been problematic and has failed in model years starting 2019. My car is a April 2020 car with 34,000 miles and has already failed. There are numerous cars that share the same V8 engine and drive train, has similar front differential failures at very low mileage. BMW USA seems to not car and address the issue after it being brought to their attention.

New NHTSA complaint: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: POWER TRAIN

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The guibo (flex disc) in the powertrain has multiple visible cracks, posing a safety risk due to its potential to disrupt power transmission to the wheels. This malfunction could impact vehicle control, particularly at higher speeds, thus putting passengers and other road users at risk. A certified BMW service center has confirmed the problem, with BMW technicians recommending a replacement; howev

New NHTSA complaint: AIR BAGS

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Passenger restrained seatbelt signal. There is bulletin in google: SIB 72 04 17. There are recalls for this vehicle but dealer want accept it.

New NHTSA complaint: TIRES:SIDEWALL

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In the last 8 months, I have experienced 3 blowouts on the same side of the car. The tires were Continental Procontact SSR 245/40R19. In each instance, the sidewall failed and blew out. This has occurred on the highway as well as at low city speeds.

New NHTSA complaint: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Excessive amounts of water accumulated at interior floors from the A/C drain unit. Water damage to all sensors and bad odor. Worried car may catch fire while driving. A/C will sometimes work.

New NHTSA complaint: LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Excessive amounts of water accumulated at interior floors from the A/C drain unit. Water damage to all sensors and bad odor. Worried car may catch fire while driving. A/C will sometimes work.

New NHTSA complaint: LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Excessive amounts of water accumulated at interior floors from the A/C drain unit. Water damage to all sensors and bad odor. Worried car may catch fire while driving. A/C will sometimes work.

New NHTSA complaint: WHEELS

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I have had two separate incidents of cracked wheels. I drive the vehicle on normal roadways and have had no impacts with curbs, debris or significant road hazards. The wheels show no signs of any impact or damage, just a crack. Of course the cracked wheels result in a rapid loss of tire pressure. BMW will not warranty the wheels and replacement of each has cost me $800. I feel the wheels

New NHTSA complaint: STRUCTURE:BODY

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The rear driver door will not open. It seems the door handle does not open the door from the exterior of the vehicle. The door will also not open from the interior of the vehicle. It feels like the handle has come lose from the door latch mechanism to open the door of the vehicle. This is a big safety concern if there is a passenger sitting behind the driver and they cannot exit the vehicle.

New NHTSA complaint: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The rear driver door does not open from the outside or inside of the vehicle. I had someone sitting behind the driver and they could not exit the vehicle, we had to assist so they can exit out the other side (passenger rear door). The handle on the outside of the car seems like if it is not connected to the door mechanism. This is a huge safety issue. I also took the car to the dealer to have

New NHTSA complaint: SEATS

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Vehicle reported a Passenger Restraint Failure intermittently and upon getting diagnosed is related to a faulty seat occupancy sensor. If this sensor can fail ~4yrs of ownership with < 30k miles driven and it is critical to passenger restraint, it would seem that this should be fixed by BMW. With quick search, the problem doesn't seem isolated: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM

New NHTSA complaint: SEAT BELTS

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: AIR BAGS

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: AIR BAGS

Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Passenger restraint system malfunction. I took it to the dealership and was told it will cost $3785.91 to replace the passenger seat mat. Looking online, this problem appears to be widespread with many individual car owners complaining of the issue. Given that this is a life safety system and its apparent prevalence, it seems appropriate to consider this for a mandatory recall.

New NHTSA complaint: SEAT BELTS

Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: SEATS

Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: SEATS

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The passenger seat occupancy mat is faulty - same as in many other BMW models for which BMW has issued a 15 year warranty. The car chimes and states "fasten safety belt" for the passenger seat when the passenger seat is entirely empty. This error comes and goes, and stops when the belt is buckled.

New NHTSA complaint: SEAT BELTS

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: AIR BAGS

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: STRUCTURE:BODY

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The car was purchased new in July 2023. On or about [XXX], while the car was parked the front license plate holder separated suddenly and unexpectedly from the front bumper of the car and fell to the ground. Incidental to the failure of the front license plate holder, the separation of the holder caused damage to the front bumper. There was no external force applied to the front license plate h

New NHTSA complaint: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

New NHTSA complaint: AIR BAGS

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The passenger restraint malfunction continues to alarm and the dealership states that it is a seat-pad sensor and want over $2000.00 to replace. From a number of BMW forums, it appears that this was a common problem with earlier models and a subsequent 15-year warranty extension was granted because of the safety concerns. My car is well cared for and has very few miles on it, so I truly believe

New NHTSA complaint: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT