2011 BMW 550i Engine Problems
The Engine area accounts for 36 of 84 total complaints (43%) on the 2011 BMW 550i, including 6 fires. NHTSA recall 18V248000 covers a failing electric auxiliary water pump on this engine, tied to reported fires. Median mileage at failure is 71,500.
- Engine complaints
- 36
- 43% of 84
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 6
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 71,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Engine compartment fires reported while the vehicle was parked and turned off, sometimes hours after the last drive, with several owners linking the fire to the water pump named in recall 18V248000.
- Excessive oil consumption with the oil warning light illuminating repeatedly, in one case every two weeks, and dealers reportedly unable to resolve it after multiple visits.
- Sudden loss of power and entry into limp mode accompanied by violent shaking and multiple malfunction lights, limiting the car to low speed.
- Check engine light returning along with hesitation and struggling acceleration on the highway.
- Complete engine shutdown while driving, with no response from the engine and dashboard warning lights on, shortly after purchase of a used vehicle.
When 2011 BMW 550i engine complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 7, 2013, latest Oct 25, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2011 BMW 550i
- NHTSA 18V248000Apr 18, 2018Engine47,806 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
Engine complaints by 550i model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
- 20104 (36%)
- 201136 (43%)
- 201213 (37%)
- 20138 (53%)
- 20141 (17%)
- 20151 (17%)
- 20161 (100%)
Frequently asked questions
- Does the 2011 BMW 550i have an engine recall?
- Yes. Recall 18V248000, reported April 18, 2018, covers the electric auxiliary water pump on the 2011-2012 550i and related BMW models; dealers replace the pump free of charge.
- How common are engine complaints on the 2011 BMW 550i?
- Engine complaints make up 36 of the 84 total complaints filed for the 2011 550i, or 43% of all complaints for the year.
- Are the engine fires dangerous?
- NHTSA lists 6 fires among the 36 engine complaints for this year, with several occurring while the vehicle was parked and turned off, in some cases spreading to attached structures.
- At what mileage do engine problems typically appear on the 2011 550i?
- The median mileage at failure for engine-area complaints on the 2011 550i is 71,500 miles.
- How does 2011 compare to other 550i model years for engine complaints?
- The 2011 550i has the highest engine complaint share among these model years at 43%, compared to 36% in 2010, 37% in 2012, and lower shares in 2013-2016.