The 2012 BMW 3 Series has 3 safety recalls and 7 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (3 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints7filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
NHTSA recall 23V707000 · Oct 20, 2023 · 157,796 vehicles
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
Risk: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
NHTSA recall 22V119000 · Mar 2, 2022 · 917,106 vehicles
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
Fix: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Problem: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 19, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 18, 2012, THAT HAVE FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS THAT EXCEED THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT LIMIT OF 25MM IN THE HIGHEST POSITION. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202A,"HEAD RESTRAINTS."
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE HEAD RESTRAINT MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE DOWN SLIGHTLY IF IT WAS ADJUSTED TO THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL ATTACH A CLAMP TO THE FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT POSTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine
3
0
0
0
51,279 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
2
0
0
0
—
Seats
1
0
0
0
—
Structure Body
1
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
—
Steering
1
0
0
0
—
Air bags
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 1, 2016 · 55,000 milesAir bags TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED COGGIN BMW FT. PIERCE FL. SEVERAL TIMES TO GET MY AIRBAG FIXED. OVER A YEAR NOW AND STILL THEY CLAIM THAT THE PARTS HAVE NOT COME IN YET. IS THIS TRUE AND WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS RECALL TAKEN CARE OF.
Aug 6, 2016 · 71,000 milesEngine AUGUST 6, 2016 - CAR STALLED AT ABOUT 50MPH, JUST WHEN ABOUT TO GO UPHILL. I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER LEAVING THE CAR BLOCKING TRAFFIC WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN IT. ONCE IT STOPS, IT PUTS ITSELF IN PARK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH ASIDE. WE CREATED A TRAFFIC JAM AND POLICE BARRICADED WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR. EVENTUALLY, IN ABOUT 30 MINS, THE CAR TURNS ON. HAPPENED AFTER AN HOUR OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. CAR SEEMED FINE AFTER THAT. AUGUST 17, 2016 - ON ANOTHER LONG TRIP, THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN ON. ALMOST EXHAUSTED THE BATTERY. CALLED A TOW TRUCK BUT BY THE TIME IT GOT THERE, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR RESTARTED. HAD MY ODB-II…
Nov 10, 2016 · 24,000 milesFuel/propulsion system I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY ROAD IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WON'T MOVE. OF COURSE CAME CLOSE TO BEING CRASHED FROM BEHIND. I AM GRATEFUL AND LUCKY THAT THE CARS BEHIND WERE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND MANEUVER AROUND ME TO AVOID COLLISION. THE BMW DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND ITS CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY. I HAVE ATTACHED THEIR DIAGNOSIS AS WELL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A LESS THAN 4 YEAR OLD CAR WITH UNDER 25K MILES ON IT HAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE, UNLESS IT WAS FAULTY TO BEGIN WITH. I CHECKED INTO THE RECALLS FOR BMW 328I MODELS FOR FAULTY FUEL PUMPS AND IT SEEMS BMW…
Jul 31, 2016 · 25,989 milesEngine WHILE IN LINE IN A DRIVE THRU THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF SUDDENLY LOSING ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND POWER STEERING. UPON TRYING TO START "CHARGING MALFUNCTION" APPEARED ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN IN WITH A RED WARNING SIGN. TRIED 2-3 TIMES TO TURN OVER STARTER. WHEN VEHICLE TURNED ON IT WAS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. WHEN TRYING TO EXIT DRIVE THRU DRIVE WAY VEHICLE WAS VERY HEAVY AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL BACK AND FORTH ATTEMPTS VEHICLE WAS MOVED ABOUT 50 FEET TO A SAFE PARKING LOCATION.
Jul 23, 2015 · 51,279 milesEngine VANOS BOLT FAILURE. 4 VANOS BOLT BROKEN. CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE TURNING. NO POWER AT ALL. IT IS A 2011 328I.
Jan 4, 2013 · 5,150 milesStructure › Body THIS CAR HAS NO "SAFETY CATCH" ON THE HOOD LATCH THAT THE OWNER OPENS AFTER FIRST RELEASING THE HOOD FROM INSIDE THE CAR. INSTEAD, THE OWNER OPENS THE HOOD BY PULLING TWICE ON THE HOOD RELEASE LEVEL INSIDE THE CAR IN THE DRIVER'S FOOTWELL. THE HOOD THEN OPENS FREELY WITHOUT FURTHER UNLATCHING OUTSIDE THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS LATCH SYSTEM FAILS TO CLOSE THE HOOD PROPERLY. OFTEN ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER WILL NOT LATCH FIRMLY INTO PLACE. SO, INSTEAD OF TWO LATCHES HOLDING THE HOOD DOWN, ONLY ONE DOES. I TOOK MY CAR TO A DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHO DIAGNOSED IT HAS BEING CAUSED BY "LEAVES" IN THE MECHANISM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED ON BOTH THE SIDE THEY CLEANED (THE PASSENGER'S…
Apr 26, 2012Seats WHEN I PURCHASED 328I SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY PULL UP THE DRIVER-SIDE HEADREST FROM DOWN POSITION. BUT I AM SHORT AND MY HEAD IS PROTECTED WHEN THE HEADREST(CONSTRAINT) IS IN ORIGINAL DOWN POSITION. I WANTED IT TO BE PUT DOWN IN ORIGINAL POSITION. NO ONE INCLUDING SERVICE DEPT TECHNICIAN COULD DO IT. AND DURING THE PROCESS THEY PULL THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST UP TOO. NOW BOTH SIDES COULD NOT BE PUT DOWN (BY THE WAY BOTH COULD NOT BE PULLED OUT NEITHER), EVEN THOUGH MANUAL SAID THEY COULD BE PUT DOWN AND OUT TOO. AND I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWER NOR RELATED INFORMATION. I'M CONCERNED SINCE IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. MAY I ASK YOUR HELP IF IT…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
PE13030 · opened Sep 6, 2013 · closed Oct 25, 2013 · led to recall 13V454000Loss of power assist braking In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in improper pump operation and loss of power assist braking.On July 11, 2013, BMW initiated a change to the camshaft geometry that prevented the seal disk from blocking the oil port.BMW has not received any braking complaints related to loss of power assist after the design change was implemented in production.The owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to…