RoadVitals

2012 BMW 550I Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Sep 2, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
37%
of 35 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 BMW 550I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 2, 2023

I was driving when the vehicle engine randomly shut down with out warning I was on the freeway at the time and could have been hit by a car. I took thr car to an auto repair shop, had the problem inspected snddiagnosed and was told the engine was faulty. I had the engine replaced and the same issue occurred. There were no warning lamps, messages, or alerts prior to the problem occurring. The drivetrain malfunction light came on as soon as the engine cut off.

NHTSA ID
11542232
Incident
Sep 1, 2023
Fuel system
Filed Jun 23, 2021

2012 F10 had issues while running as car installed and stopped completely multiple times in traffic. Fuel supply sign came on. Diagnosed as low pressure fuel pump degraded and need replacement. Same recall took place for 2007-2011 5 series model as well via recall campaign No. 16v-746: In-Tank Fuel Pump. 2012 have same issue and very dangerous to drive on road when vehicle stalls and stops while driving in traffic

NHTSA ID
11421987
Incident
May 7, 2021
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 4, 2021
Fire reported

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND TOTALED THE CAR WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT

NHTSA ID
11399068
Incident
Feb 16, 2021
Mileage
58,200 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED A SINGULAR COIL AND A SPARK PLUG. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED ALL THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OIL PUMP TIMING CHAIN WAS LOOSENED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT ALSO EMAILED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

NHTSA ID
11361593
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Mileage
118,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed May 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CLASSIC BMW LOCATED AT 6800 DALLAS PKWY, PLANO, TX 75024, (214) 778-2600, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11325994
Incident
May 21, 2020
Mileage
50,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 19, 2020

WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE CAR ON IT SOUNDS VERY LOUD FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES (LOUDER THAN NORMAL). WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WILL START SHAKING AND THE CAR COMPUTER POPS UP SAYING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER TO RESTART. HESITATE BEOFRE TAKING OFF AT A RED LIGHT OR WHEN TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION. COMPUTER ERROR MASSAGE COMES AND GOES.

NHTSA ID
11321577
Incident
Apr 8, 2020
Mileage
87,900 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 3, 2020

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WILL START SHAKING AND THE CAR COMPUTER POPS UP SAYING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER TO RESTART THE CAR. BUT IT DOES IT AGAIN 5-10 MINUTES LATER

NHTSA ID
11315757
Incident
Feb 29, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 31, 2019

WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE THE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" ERROR COMES ON. MY CAR ONLY HAVE 51,000 MILES. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A MINUTE TO RESUME DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11277330
Incident
Oct 15, 2019
Mileage
51,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 13, 2019

CAR WILL STALL JERK AND STALL LOSSES POWER WHILE ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ID
11255451
Incident
Sep 6, 2019
Mileage
89,359 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 12, 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" OUR CAR STARTED FLASHING "INCREASED BATTERY DISCHARGE" AND "ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES WILL SHUT OFF" WE TOOK IT TO THE BMW HOUSE. THEY DIAGNOSED IT, AS NEEDING A NEW BATTERY. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND 1 WEEK LATER THE SAME MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN "INCREASED BATTERY DISCHARGE' "ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES WILL SHUT OFF" . WE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE BMW HOUSE AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT THIS TIME AS NEEDING THE EXTERNAL DOOR HANDLE REPLACED, THEY SAID THE DOOR HANDLE HAD GONE OUT AND THAT SOME PART IN THAT HANDLE PUTS THE CAR TO SLEEP BUT IT WAS NOT ALLOWING THE CAR TO GO TO SLEEP AND THIS PULLED THE BATTERY DOWN. WE REPLACED THAT. THAT LASTED 2 WEEKS AND AGAIN THIS SAME MESSAGE CAME "INCREASED BATTERY DISCHARGE" "ELECTRICAL DEVICES ARE SHUTTING DOWN. I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE BMW HOUSE ONCE AGAIN IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE WIRES BURNING AND UNDER THE CONSOLE WHERE THE GEAR IS STARTED TO SMOKE BAD!! TO THE POINT THAT I PARKED THE CAR THEN I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OUR CAR HAD TO BE HAULED TO THE BMW HOUSE. IT IS UNKNOWN WHY ALL THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID
11139976
Incident
Oct 11, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 29, 2018

FUEL PUMP DISENGAGES WHEN THE CAR GETS TOO HOT. IT'S HAPPENED THREE TIMES FORTUNATELY EACH TIME I WAS GOING 20 MPH OR LESS. THE CAR ESSENTIALLY STALLS OUT AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS COULD BE AN ISSUE. BMW HAS MADE A FUEL PUMP RECALL BUT THE 2012 550I DID NOT QUALIFY AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD.

NHTSA ID
11090889
Incident
Apr 27, 2018
Mileage
35,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 19, 2015

THE CAR THREW A DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION CODE WHICH HAPPENS WEEKLY ON THESE ENGINES AND THE CAR JUMPED A LANE AS IT MISFIRED AND WENT INTO LIMP DRIVING MODE. IF THERE WAS CARS NEXT TO ME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH. SINCE THEN BMW HAS ISSUED A CUSTOMER CAMPAIGN ON THE N63 ENGINE EFFECTING THOUGHTS OF CARS. THEY ARE CHANGING TONS OF PARTS FROM INJECTORS TO FUEL RAILS. IT SHOULD BE A FULL BLOWN RECALL AND THE NHTSA SHOULD GET INVOLVED ON THIS. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 12/23 AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED CORRECTLY. I HAVE A FEELING YOU ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS AGAINST BMW. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676388
Incident
Dec 22, 2014
Mileage
40,800 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 14, 2012

I HAVE A 2012 BMW 550I, CROSSTRACK, V-8, AND WITH ONLY 5500 MILES (PURCHASED IN JULY 2012). WHEN INITIALLY STARTING MY CAR ON A FLAT PLAIN, THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE FIERCELY, REPEATED LOSS OF POWER, AND THE I-DRIVE REPORTED THE CHASSIS WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ONLY MODERATE DRIVING WAS PERMITTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND NO MATTER HOW FAR THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE CAR WOULD NOT GAIN POWER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO UP THE HILL TO MY HOME. WHEN THE CAR STALLED, THE GEARS WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP IMMEDIATELY. THIS EXPERIENCED WAS CLOSE CALL TO CRASHING THE CAR AND POSSIBLE SUSTAINING SIGNIFICANT INJURIES. AFTER WAITING FOR THREE HOURS, THE CAR STARTED UP NORMALLY. SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHATTED WITH REGARDING THE 2012 BMW 550I CROSSTRACK, V-8 HAVE REPORTED THESE SAME EXPERIENCES. APPARENTLY THE REPORTS ALL LINK BACK TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. (E.G., FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL SENSORS, ETC.) *TR

NHTSA ID
10484582
Incident
Nov 12, 2012
Mileage
5,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .