2012 BMW X5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
374 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 BMW X5, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 91/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 73,500 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2012 BMW X5 sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2000.
Avoid
Where 2012 sits among all X5 years
What owners report
“My car is giving engine overheat warning when I am driving . I understand that this issue is with cooling system . Presently there is a open recall for this issue for the 2012 bmw x5. NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V248000 . But my car is not covered under this recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 X5
“Passenger seat belt and air bag occupancy sensor malfunction and need to replace sensor. ## vin passed ## 2012 bmw x5 drive35d ##”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 X5
“Transfer case failure at only 59,000 miles, manifested by extreme steering wheel vibration when turning wheel left or right at least 180”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 X5
“Right inner brake light assembly on hatchback is prone to water damage which resulted in corrosion of led contacts resulting in failure of the assembly. Loss of function was evident as this taillight went entirely dark and required replacement”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 X5
“Check engine light came on and bmw service center told me the sensors in the passive diesel exhaust fluid tank failed and entire tank needs to be replaced. Bmw extended the warranty on the active tank, but not passive. Think its ridiculous that only one tank is covered while the passive is not.…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 X5
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 214 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 72,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 49,200 and 95,300 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (10)
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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.
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,…
Fix: 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.…
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.
Fix: 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…
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 TRANSMISSION’S PARKING LOCK MAY NOT OCCUR EVEN IF THE “P”…
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 18V336000.
Technical service bulletins
279 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2012 BMW X5. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 BMW X5 reliable?
The 2012 BMW X5 drew 374 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 91/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).
What are the most common 2012 BMW X5 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 BMW X5 are engine (104 complaints), airbags (88), and transmission & drivetrain (54).
At what mileage do 2012 BMW X5 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 BMW X5 problems around 72,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 49,200 and 95,300 miles.
Does the 2012 BMW X5 have recalls?
10 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 BMW X5. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.