2018 BMW M550i Problems

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Complaints Reported

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Complaints by Component

AIR BAGS

4 complaints

Passenger restrain system mail function

Apr 20, 2025

Passenger restrained seatbelt signal. There is bulletin in google: SIB 72 04 17. There are recalls for this vehicle but dealer want accept it.

Oct 25, 2024

The passenger restraint malfunction continues to alarm and the dealership states that it is a seat-pad sensor and want over $2000.00 to replace. From a number of BMW forums, it appears that this was a common problem with earlier models and a subsequent 15-year warranty extension was granted because of the safety concerns. My car is well cared for and has very few miles on it, so I truly believe that BMW needs to either recall this faulty SAFETY component or replace it free of charge. Please protect me and my family by holding BMW accountable.

Oct 19, 2023

My old 5 series 2017 had this same problem, now my 2018 m550i has the airbag problem. A warning light for no reason pops up saying “passenger restraint system malfunction” and turns off the passengers airbag, BMW will not fix it out of warranty and charges 3,000$. Many people are driving around without airbags in a new car because of this.

Jan 26, 2023

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS

3 complaints

Vehicle reported a Passenger Restraint Failure intermittently and upon getting diagnosed is related to a faulty seat occupancy sensor. If this sensor can fail ~4yrs of ownership with < 30k miles driven and it is critical to passenger restraint, it would seem that this should be fixed by BMW. With quick search, the problem doesn't seem isolated: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jun 29, 2024

Passenger restraint system malfunction. I took it to the dealership and was told it will cost $3785.91 to replace the passenger seat mat. Looking online, this problem appears to be widespread with many individual car owners complaining of the issue. Given that this is a life safety system and its apparent prevalence, it seems appropriate to consider this for a mandatory recall.

May 29, 2024

The passenger seat occupancy mat is faulty - same as in many other BMW models for which BMW has issued a 15 year warranty. The car chimes and states "fasten safety belt" for the passenger seat when the passenger seat is entirely empty. This error comes and goes, and stops when the belt is buckled.

Apr 30, 2024

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

2 complaints

I’m getting a passenger restraint system malfunction message on my infotainment. Says: “Passenger restraint system limited. Increased risk of injury in case of a collision. Continue wearing safety belt.” This is the second time this has occurred on this specific vehicle. First time was in 2021 and was repaired. Now it came up again.

Aug 15, 2025

Passenger Restraint Warning Light has been coming on off and on and now stays on all the time. Dealer has confirmed car needs to have the OC3 mat replaced at a very high price. Car is a 2018 BMW M550ix. Apparently this has been a common problem with the BMWs.

Sep 08, 2023

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

Sunroof on 2018 BMW M550i "exploded" while driving home from work. Weather was cloudy, light rain in the 50's, late March in northern California, USA. Sunroof was in closed position and cars HVAC was not being used to create temperature or pressure difference. Heated seat was being used. Had been parked outdoors under an awning during the day and had been on the road for less than 15 minutes. The automobile will be taken to the nearest dealership in the morning. Pictures were taken. Significant safety risk to occupants if glass shatters when the "slider" is in the open position.

Mar 29, 2022

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT OF NO WHERE, BMW SAID A ROCK HIT IT OR SOMETHING BUT I AM 90% SURE A ROCK DIDN'T HIT IT. DID NOT SEE ANYTHING FLY UP TOWARDS THE CAR. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WENT OFF IN THE CAR AND GLASS SHOWERING ALL OVER YOU BECAUSE I HAD THE SHADE OPEN. LUCKILY IT DID NOT GET INTO MY EYES TO CAUSE ANOTHER ACCIDENT. GLASS SHATTERED UPWARDS AND FROM DOING RESEARCH IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM

Sep 06, 2020

WHEELS

2 complaints

? THIS IS MY FOURTH CAR(BMW) BECAUSE I BIG FUN OF IT. HOPING FOR YOUR KIND CONSIDERATION. THANKS,

Oct 14, 2019

VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEED AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE CREATING A 3 INCH CUT WHERE TIRE AND RIM LIP MEETS. DAMAGE TO TIRE WAS NOT NOTICEABLE UNTIL ONE DAY LATER WHEN TIRE WAS DEFLATED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED POTENTIAL DANGER TO DRIVER,PASSANGER AND TO OTHER ONCOMING VEHICLES.

Jun 13, 2019

STEERING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Subject: Safety Complaint – 2018 BMW M550i Driver Assistance System I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a dangerous malfunction of the driver assistance systems in my 2018 BMW M550i. These systems behave unpredictably and cannot be reliably disabled, creating an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle’s driver assistance features (including steering and braking interventions) activate or restrict themselves unexpectedly while driving, sometimes without clear warnings. At other times, the system disables itself mid-drive. Despite repeated attempts, these features cannot be fully turned off, leaving me forced to rely on a computer system that makes erratic decisions affecting vehicle control. BMW dealerships acknowledge the issue but state no permanent fix exists unless I pay out of pocket. BMW corporate has declined goodwill repairs and claims the behavior is “normal,” despite the clear safety implications. I believe I should not be required to pay to correct a defect that impacts safe operation of the vehicle. This issue is especially concerning given prior BMW recalls involving driver assistance and steering sensor systems. An unpredictable or uncontrollable ADAS system undermines driver authority and increases crash risk. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue to determine whether it represents a broader safety defect and require BMW to provide a full repair at no cost. If the defect cannot be reliably repaired, I believe a buyback or vehicle replacement should be considered. This vehicle does not operate in a consistently safe manner, and I fear continued use places me and others at risk. Thank you for your attention to this serious safety concern.

Jan 16, 2026

TIRES

1 complaint

In the last 8 months, I have experienced 3 blowouts on the same side of the car. The tires were Continental Procontact SSR 245/40R19. In each instance, the sidewall failed and blew out. This has occurred on the highway as well as at low city speeds.

Oct 21, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

Excessive amounts of water accumulated at interior floors from the A/C drain unit. Water damage to all sensors and bad odor. Worried car may catch fire while driving. A/C will sometimes work.

Aug 22, 2024

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

The rear driver door will not open. It seems the door handle does not open the door from the exterior of the vehicle. The door will also not open from the interior of the vehicle. It feels like the handle has come lose from the door latch mechanism to open the door of the vehicle. This is a big safety concern if there is a passenger sitting behind the driver and they cannot exit the vehicle.

Aug 01, 2024

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

1 complaint

The rear driver door does not open from the outside or inside of the vehicle. I had someone sitting behind the driver and they could not exit the vehicle, we had to assist so they can exit out the other side (passenger rear door). The handle on the outside of the car seems like if it is not connected to the door mechanism. This is a huge safety issue. I also took the car to the dealer to have the door covered under my extended warranty and they did not cover it under warranty.

Aug 01, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

Passenger side sensor is faulty. BMW has issued Technical Service Bulletin to repair when found in warranty. The sensor will errantly warn airbag disable when person is not in seat.

Aug 22, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

On vacation road trip driving for about 3 hours. Instrument cluster completely shuts off and goes to black. Screen, vehit speed and rpm and all adas systems stop working. Sometimes turning the car off and on will address the issue other times it will constantly restart the instrument cluster when driving.

Nov 27, 2022

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

DUE TO WEATHER CHANGE THE SUNROOF CAN SHATTER. THIS COULD HAD INJURED TO PASSENGER AND INFANTS IN CAR. BMW TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY ON FIXING IT

Aug 18, 2020

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE

1 complaint

ON 4/10/2018 VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAUGHT FIRE TOTTAL LOSE

Apr 21, 2018

Fire: 1

4.2/5.0

69 reviews

Where to Find VIN for Problems Check

To check for problems and complaints on your 2018 BMW M550i, you'll need the VIN number. Find your VIN in one of these 4 common locations.

Where to Find VIN Number on 2018 BMW M550i for Problems Lookup - Dashboard, Door Jamb, Engine Bay, Documents

Understanding VIN Structure for Problem Reports

Each character in your 2018 BMW M550i 17-digit VIN helps identify specific complaints and problems affecting your vehicle model.

2018 BMW M550i VIN Structure for Complaint Verification - WMI, VDS, Check Digit, Model Year, Plant Code

How to Check 2018 BMW M550i Problems in 3 Steps

Locate Your VIN

Find the 17-character VIN on your 2018 BMW M550i dashboard (visible through windshield), door jamb, engine bay, or vehicle documents.

Review by Component

Browse owner-reported complaints organized by vehicle component (engine, transmission, brakes, electrical) to identify common issues and problem patterns for this model year.

Check Safety Issues

Review crash and fire incidents for each component to assess safety concerns. Contact your BMW dealer or report problems to NHTSA at SaferCar.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2018 BMW M550i have?

The 2018 BMW M550i currently has 22 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2018 BMW M550i?

The most common problems reported for the 2018 BMW M550i are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2018 BMW M550i problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2018 BMW M550i comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.

How do I report problems with my 2018 BMW M550i?

You can report safety problems with your 2018 BMW M550i directly to NHTSA at SaferCar.gov or call 1-888-327-4236. Your complaint helps identify patterns and may lead to recalls or investigations.

Where can I find my VIN to check problems?

Your 2018 BMW M550i VIN is located in 4 places: (1) Dashboard near windshield on driver's side, (2) Driver's door jamb sticker, (3) Engine bay, (4) Vehicle registration and insurance documents.

Is the 2018 BMW M550i reliable?

Reliability can be assessed by reviewing the number and severity of owner complaints for the 2018 BMW M550i. Check complaints by component, crash reports, and fire incidents above to evaluate potential issues and problem patterns.