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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Bmw X3: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

42 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

70,155 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 42 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior716.7%
Steering behavior716.7%
Engine operation37.1%
Transmission and shifting12.4%
Fuel system concerns12.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
12
Engine
8
Power Train
7
Steering
7
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Service Brakes
5
Unknown Or Other
5
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags12
Engine8
Power Train7
Steering7
Vehicle Speed Control6
Service Brakes5
Unknown Or Other5
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification4

Air Bags: 12; Engine: 8; Power Train: 7; Steering: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011
1
2013
5
2014
3
2016
3
2017
5
2018
5
2019
3
2020
7
2021
1
2022
3
2023
2
2024
3
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20111
20135
20143
20163
20175
20185
20193
20207
20211
20223
20232
20243
20261

2011: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 3; 2016: 3; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 7; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10433288 · 2011-10-23 (October 23, 2011)

ON 19 OCTOBER MY WIFE AND I DROVE OUR NEW BMW X3 TO A SHOPPING CENTER AT THE CORNER OF GOSNELL AND VIRGINIA ROUTE 7 NEAR TYSONS CORNER VIRGINIA. WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE X3 OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED USING BOTH HANDS. THE X3 WOULD GO FORWARD. IT WOULD GO BACKWARDS. HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER 30 TO 45 MINUTES THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE X3 WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS ATT…

Owner-reported narrative. 19 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433288 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10495149 · 2013-01-29 (January 29, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HOWEVER, THE TEST RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,200.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495149 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10507342 · 2013-04-06 (April 6, 2013)

ELECTRONIC STEERING SUDDENLY FAILS AND CAR BECOMES INSTANTLY NOT DRIVABLE. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,494 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507342 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10508349 · 2013-04-15 (April 15, 2013)

WE STOPPED FOR A LIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. THE RPM GAUGE WENT UP TO AROUND 3500 AND THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO KEEP FROM GOING FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT HAPPENED RECENTLY AND WE ARE TAKING THE CAR IN AGAIN TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508349 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10515147 · 2013-06-05 (June 5, 2013)

OUR X3 NEW X3 HAS SURGED VIOLENTLY AHEAD ON TWO OCCASIONS NOW, ON ONE OCCASION WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BMW ARE DENYING ANY OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM EXIST, WHICH BY VIEWING THIS WEBSITE CLEARLY IS NOT THE CASE. I ENCOURAGE ALL THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM TO LODGE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO CAUSE A FULL RECALL OF THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE IN AUSTRALIA, AND THAT BMW IN GERMANY ARE DENYING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515147 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10545478 · 2013-09-26 (September 26, 2013)

2012 BMW X3. AT A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR UNCONTROLLABLY SUDDENLY SURGES FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING CRASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS BOTH TIMES AND CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF CAR. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS IN FRONT OF CAR OR THE UNTHINKABLE WOULD HAPPEN. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM NO OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE THIS HAVE HAPPENED. THE LEAD TECHNICIAN ALSO SAID THERE WERE NO TSB'S RELATING TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND WILL ADVISE WITHIN …

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545478 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10618998 · 2014-08-05 (August 5, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X3. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REVERSED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES TO THE FACE, INCLUDING SWELLING AND NERVE DAMAGE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10621604 · 2014-08-12 (August 12, 2014)

IN A SINGLE SITTING VEHICLE IN PARK, ENGINE REVVED TO 2500 THEN TO 3500 AND THEN TO REDLINE (APPROX 7500RPM). I SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND WAITED 5 MINUTES. STARTED ENGINE AND SHIFTED TO REVERSE. ENGINE REVVED TO 2500 AND I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ENGINE. WAITED 10 MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. AFTER A PERIOD OF IDLING PROCEEDED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND ALL WAS NORMAL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 24,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621604 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V333000 · Child Seat:Latch Strap

Reported: 2016-05-23 (May 23, 2016)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

Consequence: Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V495000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2017-08-08 (August 8, 2017)

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗