2012 BMW X5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
10 safety recalls list the 2012 BMW X5, and owners have filed 271 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
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10 safety recalls for the 2012 BMW X5
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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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2012 X5 xDrive35d, 2008-2012 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2007-2012 X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may…
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Inflator module (air bags)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may…
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M vehicles, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019.…
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2013 X5 xDrive 35d diesel vehicles. The engine idler pulley bolt may loosen over time and break.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the idler pulley bolt with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Engine (engine and engine cooling) and turbo/supercharger (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time.…
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, 2009-2010 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2009-2013 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March…
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Driveshaft (power train)
BMW of North America, LLC, (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2013 X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M and X5 xDrive35d vehicles, 2011-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles, and 2011 x6 ActiveHybrid Vehicles. Water and debris may enter the front driveshaft's universal joint, causing excessive wear and possibly resulting in the…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2012 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters…
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Steering
BMW is recalling certain model year 2012 x5 vehicles equipped with a diesel engine and 2013 x5 and x6 vehicles. Due to a machining error of the steering gear surface, power steering fluid may leak.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the steering gear free of charge. The safety recall began on july 20, 2012. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services at…
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Automatic transmission (power train)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2012 x5 xdrive 35i sports activity vehicles, manufactured from december 19, 2011, through december 21, 2011. Due to a manufacturing error, engagement of the transmissions parking lock may not occur even if the p position has been selected and is displayed.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the automatic transmission free of charge. The safety recall began on february 2, 2012. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.
271 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 BMW X5 have filed 271 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,754 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 84 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I own a 2012 BMW X5 that is experiencing a Footwell Module (FRM) failure. BMW issued an Extended Limited Warranty for the FRM extending coverage to 15 years or 186,000 miles. My vehicle falls within t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 15, 2026 · Electrical system
“Two nights ago I was at Domino’s Pizza. I put my car in reverse and the car died and the steering wheel locked up like the power steering was giving out I was able to start the car again, but still wi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 1, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 BMW X5 (X5 xDrive35d, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDriveM). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–19 / 17–26 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Premium |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3/4.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Automatic (S8) |
Compare BMW X5 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW X5 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 BMW X5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 BMW X5 | 6 | 29 |
| 2001 BMW X5 | 12 | 160 |
| 2002 BMW X5 | 3 | 102 |
| 2003 BMW X5 | 3 | 99 |
| 2004 BMW X5 | 4 | 64 |
| 2005 BMW X5 | 2 | 82 |
| 2006 BMW X5 | 2 | 168 |
| 2007 BMW X5 | 8 | 71 |
| 2008 BMW X5 | 10 | 215 |
| 2009 BMW X5 | 12 | 138 |
| 2010 BMW X5 | 14 | 124 |
| 2011 BMW X5 | 14 | 263 |
| 2012 BMW X5 | 10 | 271 |
| 2013 BMW X5 | 6 | 149 |
| 2014 BMW X5 | 8 | 99 |
| 2015 BMW X5 | 6 | 152 |
| 2016 BMW X5 | 5 | 74 |
| 2017 BMW X5 | 6 | 75 |
| 2018 BMW X5 | 5 | 72 |
| 2019 BMW X5 | 13 | 191 |
| 2020 BMW X5 | 11 | 113 |
| 2021 BMW X5 | 12 | 108 |
| 2022 BMW X5 | 1 | 70 |
| 2023 BMW X5 | 4 | 33 |
| 2024 BMW X5 | 8 | 145 |
| 2025 BMW X5 | 5 | 62 |
| 2026 BMW X5 | 2 | 25 |
Checking a specific 2012 BMW X5
How do I know if my 2012 BMW X5 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. 10 campaigns currently list the 2012 BMW X5; 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 12V019000).
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
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 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.