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Bmw

2012 Bmw X3 SAV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Bmw X3 SAV has 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: in 3 occasions (within 2 years duration) when i braked the car (brand new 2012 x3 2.8i) gently to stop it, it slowed down firstly but all in a sudden it accelerated with engine revved up (with noticeable engine noise), the brake seemed losing power at all. the first two times i could be able to sto.

2 crash reports

7

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

3 complaints
43%
  • • IN 3 OCCASIONS (WITHIN 2 YEARS DURATION) WHEN I BRAKED THE CAR (BRAND NEW 2012 X3 2.8I) GENTLY TO STOP IT, IT SLOWED DOWN FIRSTLY BUT ALL IN A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE REVVED UP (WITH NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE), THE BRAKE SEEMED LOSING POWER AT ALL. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I COULD BE ABLE TO STO
  • • BOLTS HOLDING THE VARIABLE CAMSHAFT TIMING VANOS HOUSING ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND BMW NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A RECALL IN 2014 FOR 156000 VEHICLES. HOWEVER, I HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND BMW SAYS I MUST PAY ALMOST $4,000.00 BECAUSE IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL...EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A K
  • • I WAS DRIVING 60 MILES AN HOUR ON A HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE IN MY 2012 BMW X3 35I SEIZED AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I HAD TO GLIDE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE BMW DEALER (LAUREL BMW WESTMONT) THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $22K. BMW USA OFFERED
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“IN 3 OCCASIONS (WITHIN 2 YEARS DURATION) WHEN I BRAKED THE CAR (BRAND NEW 2012 X3 2.8I) GENTLY TO STOP IT, IT SLOWED DOWN FIRSTLY BUT ALL IN A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE REVVED UP (WITH NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE), THE BRAKE SEEMED LOSING POWER AT ALL. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I COULD BE ABLE TO STO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

1 complaints
14%
  • • IN 3 OCCASIONS (WITHIN 2 YEARS DURATION) WHEN I BRAKED THE CAR (BRAND NEW 2012 X3 2.8I) GENTLY TO STOP IT, IT SLOWED DOWN FIRSTLY BUT ALL IN A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE REVVED UP (WITH NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE), THE BRAKE SEEMED LOSING POWER AT ALL. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I COULD BE ABLE TO STO
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“IN 3 OCCASIONS (WITHIN 2 YEARS DURATION) WHEN I BRAKED THE CAR (BRAND NEW 2012 X3 2.8I) GENTLY TO STOP IT, IT SLOWED DOWN FIRSTLY BUT ALL IN A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE REVVED UP (WITH NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE), THE BRAKE SEEMED LOSING POWER AT ALL. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I COULD BE ABLE TO STO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

1 complaints
14%
  • • WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES IN WARM WEATHER, THE STEERING FEELS "STICKY" AND IS HARD TO KEEP IN THE LANE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE THE SMALL CORRECTIONS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE CAR FROM DRIFTING OUTSIDE THE LANE, AND THAT THE STEERING IS "LOCKED" INTO POSITI
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES IN WARM WEATHER, THE STEERING FEELS "STICKY" AND IS HARD TO KEEP IN THE LANE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE THE SMALL CORRECTIONS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE CAR FROM DRIFTING OUTSIDE THE LANE, AND THAT THE STEERING IS "LOCKED" INTO POSITI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

1 complaints
14%
  • • WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION BUCKS AND JERKS, SEARCHING AROUND FOR THE RIGHT GEAR. AFTER GOOGLING THIS, IT IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COSTS THOUSANDS TO FIX. WE'VE ALREADY SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1,500 ON IT, AND IT'S STILL HASN'T GONE AWAY. NEXT WOULD BE THE TRANSFER UNIT, WHI
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION BUCKS AND JERKS, SEARCHING AROUND FOR THE RIGHT GEAR. AFTER GOOGLING THIS, IT IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COSTS THOUSANDS TO FIX. WE'VE ALREADY SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1,500 ON IT, AND IT'S STILL HASN'T GONE AWAY. NEXT WOULD BE THE TRANSFER UNIT, WHI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

1 complaints
14%
  • • THE PROBLEM STARTED OUT AS AN INTERMITTENT 'TPMS MALFUNCTION WARNING'. FIRST TRIP TO BMW SERVICE CENTER I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. INTERMITTENT TPMS WARNINGS CONTINUED. SECOND VISIT TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER RESULTED IN ONE TPM SENSOR BEING REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY THE INTERMITTENT TPMS MALFUNC
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE PROBLEM STARTED OUT AS AN INTERMITTENT 'TPMS MALFUNCTION WARNING'. FIRST TRIP TO BMW SERVICE CENTER I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. INTERMITTENT TPMS WARNINGS CONTINUED. SECOND VISIT TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER RESULTED IN ONE TPM SENSOR BEING REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY THE INTERMITTENT TPMS MALFUNC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
STEERING(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
WHEELS(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 7 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    ENGINE: IN 3 OCCASIONS (WITHIN 2 YEARS DURATION) WHEN I BRAKED THE CAR (BRAND NEW 2012 X3 2.8I) GENTLY TO STOP IT, IT SLOWED DOWN FIRSTLY BUT ALL IN A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE REVVED UP (WITH NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE), THE BRAKE SEEMED LOSING POWER AT ALL. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I COULD BE ABLE TO STO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    BRAKES: IN 3 OCCASIONS (WITHIN 2 YEARS DURATION) WHEN I BRAKED THE CAR (BRAND NEW 2012 X3 2.8I) GENTLY TO STOP IT, IT SLOWED DOWN FIRSTLY BUT ALL IN A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE REVVED UP (WITH NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE), THE BRAKE SEEMED LOSING POWER AT ALL. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I COULD BE ABLE TO STO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    STEERING: WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES IN WARM WEATHER, THE STEERING FEELS "STICKY" AND IS HARD TO KEEP IN THE LANE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE THE SMALL CORRECTIONS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE CAR FROM DRIFTING OUTSIDE THE LANE, AND THAT THE STEERING IS "LOCKED" INTO POSITI

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    TRANSMISSION: WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION BUCKS AND JERKS, SEARCHING AROUND FOR THE RIGHT GEAR. AFTER GOOGLING THIS, IT IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COSTS THOUSANDS TO FIX. WE'VE ALREADY SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1,500 ON IT, AND IT'S STILL HASN'T GONE AWAY. NEXT WOULD BE THE TRANSFER UNIT, WHI

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Bmw X3 SAV — Year Comparison

How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2012
7Excellent Reliability
2011
18Excellent Reliability
2010
27Above Average
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
2
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Bmw X3 SAV

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