TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING THAT CONNECTED TO THE FUSE BOX AND BATTERY WAS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAUSED THE FUSE BOX AND BATTERY TO MELT. THE CARP…
2011 bmw 550i electrical problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
OUR CAR'S ELECTRICAL PANEL LIT UP BEFORE THE CAR STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, BMW REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME, BMW REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. 12 DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED BY BMW, OUR HOUSE BURNED DOWN DUE TO A FIRE ORIGINATING ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE BMW. THAT AFTERNOON, MY HUSBAND HAD COME HOME FROM WORK, PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND TURNED IT OFF. THE …
I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DRIVE AT THIS POINT AND I AM ON THE FREEWAY TRYING TO MAKE IT TO AN EXIT. THE HESITATION BECOMES WORSE…
My 2011 BMW 550i experienced an unexpected fire in my driveway while my wife and I were sleeping. The fire nearly caused our house to catch fire and also resulted in damage to my BMW Z4. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with someone regarding this matter. For your reference, the last seven digits of my VIN are [XXX] . You can reach me at [XXX] or via email at [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACT…
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS. THE LATEST ONE WAS CAMPAIGN NO. 18V-248. BMW HAS YET TO DO ANYTHING FOR MY VEHICLE, EVEN AFTER IT BURNT ITSELF TO THE GROUND AND A PORTION OF MY HOME. THEY DID NOT ADD ANY EXPLANATION OR ATTEMPT TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. IT IS STILL UNDEFINED HOW THIS VEHICLE LIT ITSELF ON FIRE AS IT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF SITTING IN MY GARAGE, AFTER JUST BEING DR…
THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2014. FIRST, IT WAS UNKNOWN ISSUES THAT RESULTED IN THE INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS, AND BATTERY BEING REPLACED. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT WENT BACK TO THEM SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE THEY EVENTUALLY BROUGHT AN ENGINEER IN THAT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN. THIS RESULTED IN A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND ALL PARTS ASSO…
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2011 bmw 550i?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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