RoadVitals

2007 BMW 650I

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
22
Latest Apr 9, 2022
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 12, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
2 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 BMW 650I, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 45 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags516.7%
  • Electrical516.7%
  • Brakes310.0%
  • Seat belts310.0%
  • Steering310.0%
  • Powertrain (other)26.7%
  • Engine26.7%
  • Interior & seats26.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Oct 12, 2007
29,250 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.
The risk: IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE AND THE POWER STEERING COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL ATTACH TWO GROUND CABLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 9, 2022
Fire reported

My bmw start smoking from the inside then caught on fire it was a electric fire on the light module

NHTSA ID
11460289
Incident
Mar 14, 2022
Airbags
Filed Jan 20, 2022

2007 BMW 650I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER STATED THE OUTLINE OF THE AIRBAG WAS VISIBLE THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. THIS WAS CREATING MOISTURE AND A CRACK WAS FORMING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11448197
Incident
Jan 20, 2022
AirbagsEngine
Filed Jan 25, 2020

NOVEMBER 2019 I WAS DRIVING DOWN NORTH TRYON AN MY CAR JUST SHUT DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE, AND I ALSO HAVE A COOLANT PROBLEM . MY CONTACT # IS [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
11301755
Incident
Nov 13, 2019
Mileage
103,000 mi
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Mar 19, 2019

DASHBOARD COMPLETELY CRACKED! SAME PROBLEM WITH CAR NOT STARTING LIGHTS ON DAS FLASHING ! BOUGHT IT USED 4 YRS AGO ON 3RD BATTERY SEVERS THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER I JUST PICKED UP AT SERVICE CENTER AGAIN . DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO WITH THIS, PLEASE HELP!!! THANKS

NHTSA ID
11190027
Incident
Dec 7, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 15, 2017
Fire reported

ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2017, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM, I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM HOME WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I WAS ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY, IN A 55 MPH ZONE (E. COLONIAL HWY, GOING FROM LEESBURG TO HAMILTON). I LOOKED AROUND ME, INSIDE THE CAR, AND SAW NOTHING THAT WOULD PRODUCE THAT KIND OF SMELL. I WONDERED IF I WAS SMELLING SOMETHING OUTSIDE. THEN, WITHIN SECONDS OF THAT THOUGHT, I STARTED TO SEE SMOKE RISING, ORIGINATING FROM UNDER MY LEFT ELBOW. I WAS STILL DRIVING, AND COULD NOT SEE THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. BUT, THE SMELL OF BURNING AND THE STREAM OF SMOKE CONTINUED TO GROW STRONGER. AT THIS POINT, I WAS APPROXIMATELY A MILE FROM MY HOME AND I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT (THE HARMONY PARK AND RIDE LOT). I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW A BURN MARK IN THE LOWER THIRD OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK, IN THE PANEL OF THE SEAT NEAREST TO THE WINDOW. THE MARK WAS SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE BURN MARK A CIGARETTE MIGHT MAKE. INSIDE THE BURN MARK, I COULD SEE A SMALL, RED, EMBER-LIKE LIGHT GLOWING. I THEN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I COULD NO LONGER SEE THE EMBER-LIKE LIGHT, AND EVENTUALLY, THE SMOKE STOPPED. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN FAIRFAX FOR GUIDANCE. THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I FOLLOWED THEIR ADVICE. THOUGH THE TECHNICIAN THAT I SPOKE WITH HADN'T HANDLED OR HEARD OF A SITUATION LIKE THIS, HE SUSPECTED THE LUMBAR HEATING PAD IN THE SEAT BACK HAD MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA ID
10954641
Incident
Feb 11, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 12, 2016

ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE UNLOCKED/LOCKED. ENGINE STALLED, STEERING WHEEL TEMPORARILY LOCKED. ENGINE CANNOT BE RESTARTED. THE CAR WAS MOVING WHEN WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE PULLING INTO SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. CALLED AAA AND HAD CAR TAKEN BY FLATBED TO HUDSON VALLEY BMW IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601 AT ABOUT 14:30 HRS 11/12/2016.

NHTSA ID
10925620
Incident
Nov 12, 2016
Mileage
69,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 8, 2016

MY BMW HAD 2 SEAT BELTS LATCHING MECHANISMS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE MAKE AND/OR MODEL THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. ONE WAS FOR A REAR SEAT BELT SEVERAL YEARS AGO (APPROX 2011) AND THE OTHER WAS A DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT THAT HAPPENED IN 2016.

NHTSA ID
10904767
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Mileage
34,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 650I. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THERE WOULD BE THROTTLE LAG AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO MOVE AFTER THE INDEPENDENT ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,250.

NHTSA ID
10816722
Incident
Nov 16, 2015
Mileage
117,250 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

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

B611305

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 “discharged battery” complaints.

B340414

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC; STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: 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 "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.

B012417

EQUIPMENT

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT: 6 SERIES (E64) CONVERTIBLE TOP FUNCTION AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES. INFORMATION BULLETIN PROVIDES THE DCSNET CLAIM SUBMISSION INFORMATION.

B650709

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 650I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018001
2017111
2016001
2015311
2014601
2013160137.7
2012202151.8
2010500
2009400
2008600
2007Viewing221044.1
2006201147.9

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.