2009 BMW 650I 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 2009 BMW 650I, 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
- Airbags116.7%
- Exterior lighting116.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
- Powertrain (other)116.7%
- Steering116.7%
- Suspension116.7%
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 650I. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WANTED TO ALERT PEOPLE TO THE FACT THAT USE OF PARKING LIGHTS WILL LEAD TO BATTERY FAILURE. BMW WILL REFUSE TO REPLACE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY IF PARKING LIGHTS WERE USED AND SO PEOPLE WILL STOP USING THEM LEADING TO SOME UNSAFE SITUATIONS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT CAR FROM DEALER W/18K MILES, TEST DROVE AND NOTICED NOISE/VIBRATION UNDER FEET, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, (SAID IT WAS THE "SPORT PACKAGE, RAIN, TIRES".) THEY HAD EXCUSE FOR EVERYTHING. THIS IS THE THIRD CAR I HAVE OWNED LIKED THIS AND NO ISSUES OF THIS KIND. FINALLY TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID IT WAS THE RIMS BENT, TIRES DAMAGED. RETURNED TO 1ST DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO RIMS/NEW TIRES. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE GOING OVER A "ROCKY ROAD" BUT THIS IS CONSTANT & HAPPENS ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. THE VIBRATIONS CAN BE FELT UNDER THE PASSENGER AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. THE CAR HAS HAD ALIGNMENTS. THE DEALER SAID THEY REPAIRED THE BENT RIMS, REPLACED THE TIRES. SINCE THEN, I HAVE MYSELF REPLACED THE RIMS, 2 SETS OF TIRES, ALIGNMENT, MULTIPLE BALANCING. I HAVE BEEN AT THE DEALER REPEATEDLY REQUESTING A RESOLUTION. THE RESPONSE IS " UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT". THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. THE CAR NOW HAS 75K MILES. SURELY, THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF AND CHECK THE CONTROL ARMS, RACK & PINION, BUSHINGS, SOMETHING IS MAKING THIS CAR SHAKE AND GO THROUGH TIRES. I CANNOT AFFORD $1800 EVERY 6 MONTHS IN TIRES. NOT TO MENTION I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE RIMS AND TIRES. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? WAIT UNTIL I AM IN A DITCH? THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE FROM GERMANY, THEN REPLACED WITH CONTINENTAL, I AM ON SECOND SET OF BRIDGESTONE POTENZAS RUN FLAT 19 INCH 245/40/19 ON FRONT, 275/30/19 ON BACK. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL BMW RIMS THAT WERE ON THE CAR, I REPLACED WITH 19 INCH M5 RIMS. THE STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAS COME ON IN PAST BUT NO CODE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE, AND IT IS DANGEROUS....EXAMPLE IS WHEN I WAS AT A STOP SIGN FOR EXAMPLE, AND I WOULD ACCELERATE TO NAVIGATE THE INTERSECTION THE GEAR WOULD JUMP INTO NEUTRAL FOR NO REASON, AND LEAVE ME STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION, ANY ONCOMING VEHICLE COULD HAVE EASILY STRUCK ME, UPON NOTIFYING BMW OF THIS SITUATION THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS EITHER A SENSOR OR RELAY ISSUE. IT WAS CORRECTED FOR A WHILE....THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN FAILED AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE HAD 85,000 MILES....AND WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED AT A BMW DEALERSHIP AND WAS NEVER ABUSED IN ANY WAY. BMW HAS ALSO HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE ENGINES ON THESE MODELS AS I HAVE
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
BOUGHT CAR FROM DEALER W/18K MILES, TEST DROVE AND NOTICED NOISE/VIBRATION UNDER FEET, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, (SAID IT WAS THE "SPORT PACKAGE, RAIN, TIRES".) THEY HAD EXCUSE FOR EVERYTHING. THIS IS THE THIRD CAR I HAVE OWNED LIKED THIS AND NO ISSUES OF THIS KIND. FINALLY TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID IT WAS THE RIMS BENT, TIRES DAMAGED. RETURNED TO 1ST DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO RIMS/NEW TIRES. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE GOING OVER A "ROCKY ROAD" BUT THIS IS CONSTANT & HAPPENS ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. THE VIBRATIONS CAN BE FELT UNDER THE PASSENGER AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. THE CAR HAS HAD ALIGNMENTS. THE DEALER SAID THEY REPAIRED THE BENT RIMS, REPLACED THE TIRES. SINCE THEN, I HAVE MYSELF REPLACED THE RIMS, 2 SETS OF TIRES, ALIGNMENT, MULTIPLE BALANCING. I HAVE BEEN AT THE DEALER REPEATEDLY REQUESTING A RESOLUTION. THE RESPONSE IS " UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT". THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. THE CAR NOW HAS 75K MILES. SURELY, THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF AND CHECK THE CONTROL ARMS, RACK & PINION, BUSHINGS, SOMETHING IS MAKING THIS CAR SHAKE AND GO THROUGH TIRES. I CANNOT AFFORD $1800 EVERY 6 MONTHS IN TIRES. NOT TO MENTION I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE RIMS AND TIRES. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? WAIT UNTIL I AM IN A DITCH? THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE FROM GERMANY, THEN REPLACED WITH CONTINENTAL, I AM ON SECOND SET OF BRIDGESTONE POTENZAS RUN FLAT 19 INCH 245/40/19 ON FRONT, 275/30/19 ON BACK. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL BMW RIMS THAT WERE ON THE CAR, I REPLACED WITH 19 INCH M5 RIMS. THE STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAS COME ON IN PAST BUT NO CODE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT CAR FROM DEALER W/18K MILES, TEST DROVE AND NOTICED NOISE/VIBRATION UNDER FEET, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, (SAID IT WAS THE "SPORT PACKAGE, RAIN, TIRES".) THEY HAD EXCUSE FOR EVERYTHING. THIS IS THE THIRD CAR I HAVE OWNED LIKED THIS AND NO ISSUES OF THIS KIND. FINALLY TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID IT WAS THE RIMS BENT, TIRES DAMAGED. RETURNED TO 1ST DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO RIMS/NEW TIRES. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE GOING OVER A "ROCKY ROAD" BUT THIS IS CONSTANT & HAPPENS ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. THE VIBRATIONS CAN BE FELT UNDER THE PASSENGER AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. THE CAR HAS HAD ALIGNMENTS. THE DEALER SAID THEY REPAIRED THE BENT RIMS, REPLACED THE TIRES. SINCE THEN, I HAVE MYSELF REPLACED THE RIMS, 2 SETS OF TIRES, ALIGNMENT, MULTIPLE BALANCING. I HAVE BEEN AT THE DEALER REPEATEDLY REQUESTING A RESOLUTION. THE RESPONSE IS " UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT". THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. THE CAR NOW HAS 75K MILES. SURELY, THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF AND CHECK THE CONTROL ARMS, RACK & PINION, BUSHINGS, SOMETHING IS MAKING THIS CAR SHAKE AND GO THROUGH TIRES. I CANNOT AFFORD $1800 EVERY 6 MONTHS IN TIRES. NOT TO MENTION I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE RIMS AND TIRES. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? WAIT UNTIL I AM IN A DITCH? THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE FROM GERMANY, THEN REPLACED WITH CONTINENTAL, I AM ON SECOND SET OF BRIDGESTONE POTENZAS RUN FLAT 19 INCH 245/40/19 ON FRONT, 275/30/19 ON BACK. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL BMW RIMS THAT WERE ON THE CAR, I REPLACED WITH 19 INCH M5 RIMS. THE STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAS COME ON IN PAST BUT NO CODE. *TR
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 .