What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 BMW 3 Series

Typical pattern

3.8% of complaints about the 2012 BMW 3 Series came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (65 complaints), typically at 8.3 yr or about 73,000 miles.

Covers 4 variants: 328I (198), 335I (30), 328 (10), 320I (5)
Complaints
265
Median age at failure
7.4 yr
Median mileage
63,595 n=159
Crash / fire / tow
9.4% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
65 reports · 73,000 mi
8.3 yr
12.3%
Air bags
56 reports · 69,000 mi
5.4 yr
3.6%
Electrical system
28 reports · 81,000 mi
12.0 yr
7.1%
Power train
20 reports · 68,000 mi
8.8 yr
10%
Other
17 reports · 60,000 mi
6.3 yr
17.6%
Engine cooling
16 reports · 125,000 mi
13.1 yr
18.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

23V707000 2023-10-20
Engine and engine cooling:engine

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.

Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

22V119000 2022-03-02
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Engine 51,279 mi 3.8 yr in service
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.
Engine 25,989 mi 4.8 yr in service
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.
Engine 8,682 mi 1.8 yr in service
WENT TO START CAR AND GOT A DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. HAD IT TOWED TO A BMW DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL REPLACE THE INTAKE VANOS SOLENOID SENSOR. *TR
Other 51,279 mi 3.8 yr in service
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.

Other 3 Series model years

20212020201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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