2014 BMW 550I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 BMW 550I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags233.3%
- Fuel system233.3%
- Engine116.7%
- Steering116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
This is for a 2014 BMW 550i. Getting a red warning light indicating the passenger airbag is malfunctioning. The driver side had a recall but not the passenger. This is very dangerous and should be addressed. The dealership wants over $2,700 to fix it. Doesn't feel right. Reading on the message boards and sounds to be a common problem with these cars. Could use your help.
Passenger restraint system malfunction
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED NEARLY CAUSING A HUGE ACCIDENT, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL PUMP. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE ON PRIOR YEAR BMW MODELS SO CALLED BMW DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID THAT AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO RECALL IN EFFECT, IT SEEMS TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND FEEL VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE NOTHING.
THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL INJECTOR EITHER FAILS OR IS INCAPACITATED BY THE ECU FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. IN EITHER CASE THE DRIVE TRAIN IS PUT INTO A DIMINISHED MODE WHICH RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNDER POWERED AND ALSO EVENTUALLY EMIT WHITE SMOKE. ONCE IN THIS DEMINISHED MODE ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE AS IT CAN BARELY KEEP UP WITH THE SPEED LIMIT AND IN SOME SITUATION WILL NOT ALLOW FOR EMERGENCY MANUVERS DUE TO LACK OF POWER. IN MY CASE THERE WERE TWO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS THAT WERE RESET BY THE DEALERSHIP WHICH INDICATED IMPENDING FAILURE UNTIL THE 3RD INCIDENT IN WHICH THE PUMP LEAKED FUEL INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE WHITE SMOKE. THIS SMOKE IN ACCESS CAN ALSO BLIND THE CAR BEHIND YOU. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I ALSO CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICES AND ENQUIRED ABOUT ANY RECALLS AND THAT ALL FUEL INJECTORS SHOULD BE REPLACED. THEY REPLIED IN THE NEGATIVE AND SUGGEST I TALK TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
My engine keeps burning oil. Have to refill every 2 months. Needs repair or replaced engine. Purchased vehicle in 2023. Class action N63TU1
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLICKING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, THEY SAY WITH THE INTERACTIVE STEERING SYSTEM, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX. SYMPTOMS ARE GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY AND I BELIEVE SAFETY IS AN ISSUE HERE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .