AI Damage2010 BMW 550I Gran Turismo reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2010 BMW 550I Gran Turismo filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 44% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 22% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 22% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 11% of all complaints
- 7 Wheels 11% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (44% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed as a fuel leak at the connection on the high line to injectors on bank 2. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnosis.
There is a recall on all bmw n63 vehicles for excessive oil consumption bulletin b001314) customers care package. My bmw is consuming oil and white smoke is coming out the tailpipe.
Using coolant and burning a quart of oil every 400 miles with a lot of white smoke. Need valve stem seals which is extremely expensive $5,000.00. Can't afford, so car is just sitting. Any help will be a blessing.
In my specific case, the vehicle experienced total electrical power loss while driving after 20 miles on highway. All warnings went off and engine shut down while car was moving. Battery is only 6 months old and tests to have no trouble. I am afraid this could happen while at speed and cause an accident.
I received a letter in early december about a recall, however 6 months later, no other information provided.
The engine caught fire while the vehicle was parked. The fire department extinguished the fire, but a report was not filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the auxiliary water pump failed and needed to be replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 bmw 550i gran turismo. When the vehicle was purchased, the drive train malfunction light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power train software needed to be reprogrammed.
It has the star spoke wheels and run flat tires. The tires and wheels are original from the factory. The low tire indicator came on so we took the tire in to have it repaired. The right rear tire had an industrial staple in the middle the tread.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,595 of 32,261 model years in the NHTSA data (top 33% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 550I Gran Turismo has 6 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 9, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 BMW 550I Gran Turismo?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%), fuel system, fuel smell (11%), oil leak or consumption (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 BMW 550I Gran Turismo?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2010 BMW 550I Gran Turismo from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2010 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-07.