2012 Bmw X5 SAV
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Bmw X5 SAV has 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: after replacement of brakes on my 2012 bmw x5, upon return, i started to feel a vibration while turning in the parking lot. after two visits to the dealership, i was informed that the transfer case box (associated with the transmission) has failed. this occurs 5000miles after the warranty on the t. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
29
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
9 complaints- • AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES ON MY 2012 BMW X5, UPON RETURN, I STARTED TO FEEL A VIBRATION WHILE TURNING IN THE PARKING LOT. AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BOX (ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED. THIS OCCURS 5000MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE T
- • PURCHASED NEW 2012 X 5 IN AUGUST 2011. IN JULY 2014 CAR VIBRATED ON TURNS IN STEERING COLUMN AND THOUGHT IS WAS THE NEW TIRES, THEY SAID IT WAS THE CIRCUMFERENCE ON ONE OF THE TIRES, INSTALLED NEW SET. STILL THE VIBRATION OCCURRED....TURNS OUT IS TRANSFER CASE AND $6200.00. THEY COVERED ALL BUT 13
- • THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT SHEERED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS OR NOTICEABLE VIBRATIONS BEFORE. TOWED VEHICLE TO SHOP & DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO "INSPE
“AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES ON MY 2012 BMW X5, UPON RETURN, I STARTED TO FEEL A VIBRATION WHILE TURNING IN THE PARKING LOT. AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BOX (ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED. THIS OCCURS 5000MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
6 complaints- • AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES ON MY 2012 BMW X5, UPON RETURN, I STARTED TO FEEL A VIBRATION WHILE TURNING IN THE PARKING LOT. AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BOX (ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED. THIS OCCURS 5000MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE T
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5 SAV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE ENGINE COOLANT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT AND COOLANT EXPANSION TANK NEEDED REPLACEMENT A
- • WHILE DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY APPROX 70 MPH, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON; "ENGINE TOO HOT. DRIVE MODERATELY". HAD TO BE TOWED. ELECTRIC AUXILIARY PUMP IS BAD. THE 6 CYLINDER MODEL SHOULD ALSO BE UNDER THE SAME RECALL/WARRANTY AS THE 8 CYLINDER X5. PLEASE INCLUDE IN RECALL! *TR
“AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES ON MY 2012 BMW X5, UPON RETURN, I STARTED TO FEEL A VIBRATION WHILE TURNING IN THE PARKING LOT. AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BOX (ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED. THIS OCCURS 5000MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
3 complaints- • WHILE IDLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, A ROARING NOISE ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR. AS I STARTED MOVING, THE NOISE SEEMED TO FOLLOW THE ENGINE ACCELERATION AND GOT LOUDER. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED GETTING HARDER TO MANIPULATE AND THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AT EACH STEER. I WAS IN A DIF
- • TRIED TO COMPLETE A 3-POINT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN PLACING VEHICLE FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE UNASSISTED IT ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT BRAKE NOR STEER; THUS CAUSING MYSELF TO CRASH HEAD ON INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER.
- • MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO GET CAR WASH. ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE LOST POWER STEERING AND THE CAR BATTERY WARNING CAME ON. THE IDLER PULLEY BOLT SNAPPED. LUCKILY MY WIFE DID NOT CRASH. SHE WAS DRIVING 60MPH AND LOST POWER STEERING. SHE IS PREGNANT AND HAD 2 KIDS IN CAR. NOW I'VE REPLACED THIS BOL
“WHILE IDLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, A ROARING NOISE ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR. AS I STARTED MOVING, THE NOISE SEEMED TO FOLLOW THE ENGINE ACCELERATION AND GOT LOUDER. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED GETTING HARDER TO MANIPULATE AND THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AT EACH STEER. I WAS IN A DIF”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
3 complaints- • TAKATA RECALL HAS STILL NOT BEEN PERFORMED
- • TAKATA RECALL - IT HAS BEEN OVER ONE YEAR SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS IDENTIFIED UNDER THIS RECALL AND I LIVE IN A ZONE A WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RISK AREA. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY IDEA OF WHEN MY CAR WILL BE REPAIRED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM THIS DEFECT AND
- • MY WIFE & I PURCHASED THIS 2012X5 2 YEARS AGO,LAST YEAR THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OFF THE DRIVEWAY WHERE THERE WAS A LOUD SNAP&BAN. THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. WE CALLED A TOW AND HAD IT BROUGHT TO JUPITER BMW FL .WE FOUND OUT THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED. MILEAGE WAS 45-48K MILES. WE CALLED BMW NA IT
“TAKATA RECALL HAS STILL NOT BEEN PERFORMED”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
3 complaints- • MY FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN FAILING TO CREATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN THE FUEL LINE, ON AND OFF, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OPERATING AT "REDUCED POWER" WHEN DRIVING. THIS THEN CAUSES ME A SAFETY ISSUE AS I CAN NO LONGER MAINTAIN PROPER SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON THE H
- • I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO SEEK HELPS ON MY 2012 BMW X5 35D (VIN#: [XXX]). I HAVE EXPERIENCED DIESEL SMELL IN THE CABIN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND I GOT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON LAST WEEK. WE CHECKED THE CODE IT SAYING THE EGR COOLER IS BAD AND EGR VALVE IS NOT OPERATING. I WANT TO KNOW IS
- • EXPERIENCE GLYCOL-LEAKAGE FROM THE EGR (EXHAUST-GAS-RECIRCULATION) VALVE CAN OCCUR. IN COMBINATION WITH TYPICAL SOOT DEPOSITS AND THE HIGH TEMPERATURES NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE EGR MODULE THIS MIGHT RESULT IN SMOLDERING PARTICLES. THIS COULD LEAD TO THE MELTING OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IN EXTREMELY
“MY FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN FAILING TO CREATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN THE FUEL LINE, ON AND OFF, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OPERATING AT "REDUCED POWER" WHEN DRIVING. THIS THEN CAUSES ME A SAFETY ISSUE AS I CAN NO LONGER MAINTAIN PROPER SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON THE H”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 29 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES ON MY 2012 BMW X5, UPON RETURN, I STARTED TO FEEL A VIBRATION WHILE TURNING IN THE PARKING LOT. AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BOX (ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED. THIS OCCURS 5000MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES ON MY 2012 BMW X5, UPON RETURN, I STARTED TO FEEL A VIBRATION WHILE TURNING IN THE PARKING LOT. AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BOX (ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED. THIS OCCURS 5000MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: WHILE IDLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, A ROARING NOISE ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR. AS I STARTED MOVING, THE NOISE SEEMED TO FOLLOW THE ENGINE ACCELERATION AND GOT LOUDER. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED GETTING HARDER TO MANIPULATE AND THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AT EACH STEER. I WAS IN A DIF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL HAS STILL NOT BEEN PERFORMED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw X5 SAV — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 29
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Bmw X5 SAV