The Used Car Index

2018 BMW M550I problems

NHTSA lists 23 complaints for the 2018 BMW M550I, 0 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW M550I.

At a glance

Complaints
23
With crash
0
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
257,473
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
285

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
AIR BAGS1043.5%
SEAT BELTS626.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM417.4%
SEATS313.0%
ENGINE28.7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE28.7%
LANE DEPARTURE28.7%
STRUCTURE28.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER28.7%
WHEELS28.7%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL2
LANE DEPARTUREASSIST2
STRUCTUREBODY2
AIR BAGSSENSOR1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING1
LANE DEPARTUREBLIND SPOT DETECTION1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESDOORS1
TIRESSIDEWALL1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
restraint or airbag939.1%0.76
mechanical failure834.8%0.82
electrical electronic417.4%0.68
fire or overheating14.3%1.00
unclear14.3%1.00
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate1773.9%0.80
low313.0%0.67
none28.7%0.76
high14.3%0.99

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 23 tagged complaints of 23 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

1 recalls.

19V684000

Date: 2019-09-27. Systems: BACK OVER PREVENTION.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50 (excerpt)

Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

285 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM119
EQUIPMENT103
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING27
ENGINE18
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY18
STEERING16
BACK OVER PREVENTION14
EXTERIOR LIGHTING14

11017101

Date: 2025-04-18. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Front Passengera s Seat Occupancy Capacitive Interior Sensor (CIS) Mat for defects in materials and/or workmanship that causes a false seat occupancy alert to occur has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the vehicle's original in-se

10252031

Date: 2024-03-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.

10249437

Date: 2024-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY.

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10244237

Date: 2023-10-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop. CAUSE Material-

10242691

Date: 2023-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.

?Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction.

10242694

Date: 2023-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEATS.

?The front seat will not calibrate/initialize, and the stored faults cannot be deleted.

10242698

Date: 2023-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY.

?The sunroof will not operate in either direction.

10239611

Date: 2023-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Headlight check control (CC) message 128 "High beam headlight failure" is displayed. The following fault codes are stored during a vehicle test: 80419A - Left high-beam headlight: Short circuit and/or 8041A5 - light outputs: Number of permitted short circuit cycles exceeded

10239614

Date: 2023-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.

The air conditioning cycles from cold to warm air while driving or while at a stand still. The vent outlet temperatures vary by 25 degrees Fahrenheit or more (38 F to 60 F +) without changing any climate control settings.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
M550I23

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2018

  • X3: 76 complaints
  • X5: 72 complaints
  • X1: 59 complaints
  • K1600B: 44 complaints
  • 430I: 36 complaints
  • 330I: 32 complaints
  • 540I: 31 complaints
  • 530E: 27 complaints

Sources

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