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BMW 550IModel year report

2008 BMW 550I Problems

Compared with other BMW 550I years

Typical for this model

38/100 0.8× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
32filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
77,500miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.8L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 BMW 550I (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2008 BMW 550I. The part named most often is electrical system, with 9 complaints (28% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (7) and air bags (6). 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 29% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 77,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 55 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 27 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Exterior lighting complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 BMW 550I model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 38 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Brakes (1), Engine cooling (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Body and structure (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “I have been in contact with Bmw of north america for 8 weeks. My 2008 Bmw 550I caught fire while stationary at a gas station at the gas pump. The fire department was called out to contain the fire. The fire inspector and the fire chief both stated that it was a wiring issue. I have the fire report. I was finally able to get Bmw of north america to inspect the vehicle on feb. 5, 2018 and was told there 'looks like there could have been'work done to the wiring of the car. I have owned the vehicle since april 2017 (7 months) and have not done any work to the wiring. …”

NHTSA complaint #11072294, filed 2018-02, 85,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “I had a parking light go bad and while I was replacing it I noticed that the wiring inside the headlight assembly is no longer insulated. The insulation has become brittle and is flaking off. I removed the cover for the other headlight and the same thing has happened to that light. It would seem that these bare wires could cause a vehicle fire.”

NHTSA complaint #10881273, filed 2016-06, 125,312 miles

Air bags: “Pass restraint system error. Please help! I get this warning every so often when I get in my car and regardless of a passenger present or not. Several times the beeping signal will begin to make noise, to button the seat belt, even when nothing is in the seat. This is creating a very annoying driving experience.”

NHTSA complaint #10809938, filed 2015-12, 80,000 miles

Engine: “Vehicle parked for days, noticed smoke from passenger side engine bay, inspection found possible faulty electrical wiring or oil leak onto electrical wiring causing small fire on engine floor. Disconnected negative terminal to battery.”

NHTSA complaint #11387822, filed 2021-01, 110,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

29% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 90,000 miles.

25%0–100%10–254%25–5017%50–7529%75–10025%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 77,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

6’09’12’14’166’20’22’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 BMW 550I. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
5 Series · sedan AWDnot rated3 / 5——4 · 10.5% risk
5 Series · sedan RWDnot rated3 / 5——4 · 10.5% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2008 model year: forward collision warning not available, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 BMW 550I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
550i RWD4.8L 8-cyl6-speed manual152218$4,550
550i RWD4.8L 8-cyl6-speed automatic152318$4,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 BMW 550I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 55 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 55 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 550I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2015644,0000520—Not enough data
2014647,0002520—Not enough data
20131572,3431519—Falling
20123559,287251850 · TypicalFalling
20118454,000352096 · MoreFalling
20101148,5001—18—Not enough data
20083277,5002—1838 · TypicalStable
20073772,1002—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200623100,0003—16—Stable

All BMW 550I model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 BMW 550I have?

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2008 BMW 550I as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 BMW 550I is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 9 complaints (28% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 7.

Has the 2008 BMW 550I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 BMW 550I get?

The EPA rates the 2008 BMW 550I (550i, 4.8L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 BMW 550I reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 77,500 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 90,000 miles; 29% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.