2012 BMW 3 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2012 BMW 3 Series, and owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2012 BMW 3 Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
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…
Remedy: 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…
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Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)
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…
Remedy: 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…
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Head restraint (seats)
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.…
Remedy: 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…
7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 BMW 3 Series have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 38,736 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 19, 2017 · Air bags
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 13, 2016 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 BMW 3 Series (328ci Convertible, 328i, 328i Coupe, 328i Coupe xDrive, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–27 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–23 / 23–34 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Automatic (S7); Automatic (S8); Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW 3 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 3 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 5 |
| 1998 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 6 |
| 2000 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 88 |
| 2001 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 36 |
| 2002 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 26 |
| 2003 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 73 |
| 2004 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 77 |
| 2005 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 25 |
| 2006 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 202 |
| 2007 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 115 |
| 2008 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 68 |
| 2009 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 53 |
| 2010 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 30 |
| 2011 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 7 |
| 2013 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 21 |
| 2023 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2012 BMW 3 Series
How do I know if my 2012 BMW 3 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 BMW 3 Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 12V176000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.