2012 Bmw X5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Bmw X5 has 374 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: i leased my 2012 bmw x5 35i in may 2011. i was driving on the interstate with 2 toddlers at around 65 mph, when the car suddenly lost power and the message displayed "engine malfunction, reduced power". i pulled over on the shoulder, and tried to re-start the car, but it won't start. when it did sta. ⚠️ 13 fire reports filed.

13 fire reports 6 crash reports 6 injuries

374

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

104 complaints

28%

• I LEASED MY 2012 BMW X5 35I IN MAY 2011. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH 2 TODDLERS AT AROUND 65 MPH, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER". I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR, BUT IT WON'T START. WHEN IT DID STA
• THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY SUFFERS FROM ENGINE FAILURE WHEN EXECUTING A SHARP TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO FAR ON THREE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT INSTANCES DURING ITS FIRST 1,000 MILES OF SERVICE, UNDER THE OPERATION OF TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS, WITH SEVERAL PASSENGER WITNESSES ON ONE OCCASION. WHEN THESE FAIL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE ROMS WOULD FLUCTUATE REPEATEDLY AS THE VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO STALL. THE DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED AND ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXHAUST WAS OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

“I LEASED MY 2012 BMW X5 35I IN MAY 2011. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH 2 TODDLERS AT AROUND 65 MPH, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER". I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR, BUT IT WON'T START. WHEN IT DID STA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

88 complaints

24%

• I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND PUSHED INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME ,BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR AND THE REAR END IS ALSO DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR THAT HIT ME DEPLOYED; AND THE TRUCK I
• I WAS HIT BY A CAR TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF ME. LEFT FRONT SIDE AND DOOR HIT. WHEEL KNOCKED AT ANGLE UNDER CAR. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG BURNED MY RIGHT HAND WHEN IT DEPLOYED.
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND PUSHED INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME ,BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR AND THE REAR END IS ALSO DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR THAT HIT ME DEPLOYED; AND THE TRUCK I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

54 complaints

14%

• ENGINE STALLED. I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, WHEN GREEN SIGNAL CAME ON, STARTED TO MOVE THE CAR, BUT INSTEAD OF GAINING SPEED WITH ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH WARNING SIGN STATING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, FUNCTIONING WITH REDUCED POWER". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING, INS
• CAR SUFFERS FROM TERRIBLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION FROM A ROLLING STOP. DESCRIBED AS TIP-IN ON DISCUSSION WEBSITES. I NOTE MANY HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS IN VARIOUS BMW MODELS AND BMW DOES NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
• WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE SPUTTERED WITH A MESSAGE DISPLAYING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED ALL HAPPENING WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. WE WERE ADVISED BY THEIR MASTER TECHNICIAN THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE RAIL SE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“ENGINE STALLED. I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, WHEN GREEN SIGNAL CAME ON, STARTED TO MOVE THE CAR, BUT INSTEAD OF GAINING SPEED WITH ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH WARNING SIGN STATING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, FUNCTIONING WITH REDUCED POWER". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING, INS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

30 complaints

• I LEASED MY 2012 BMW X5 35I IN MAY 2011. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH 2 TODDLERS AT AROUND 65 MPH, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER". I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR, BUT IT WON'T START. WHEN IT DID STA
• WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE SPUTTERED WITH A MESSAGE DISPLAYING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED ALL HAPPENING WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. WE WERE ADVISED BY THEIR MASTER TECHNICIAN THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE RAIL SE
• WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE SPUTTERED WITH A MESSAGE DISPLAYING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED ALL HAPPENING WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. WE WERE ADVISED BY THEIR MASTER TECHNICIAN THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE RAIL SE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

29 complaints

• DOOR LOCKED ITSELF WITH KEY INSIDE, AND CAN NOT OPEN. *TR
• CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING OR TURNED ON. HORN AND WIPERS STARTED GOING OFF. WENT OUTSIDE TO VEHICLE, TRIED TO DISABLE. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD (PASSENGER SIDE). COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL SHORT. SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES, ENTIRE DASH AREA CAUGHT ON FIRE, BY T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports

“DOOR LOCKED ITSELF WITH KEY INSIDE, AND CAN NOT OPEN. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 374 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I LEASED MY 2012 BMW X5 35I IN MAY 2011. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH 2 TODDLERS AT AROUND 65 MPH, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER". I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR, BUT IT WON'T START. WHEN IT DID STA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND PUSHED INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME ,BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR AND THE REAR END IS ALSO DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR THAT HIT ME DEPLOYED; AND THE TRUCK I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: ENGINE STALLED. I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, WHEN GREEN SIGNAL CAME ON, STARTED TO MOVE THE CAR, BUT INSTEAD OF GAINING SPEED WITH ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH WARNING SIGN STATING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, FUNCTIONING WITH REDUCED POWER". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING, INS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I LEASED MY 2012 BMW X5 35I IN MAY 2011. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH 2 TODDLERS AT AROUND 65 MPH, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER". I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR, BUT IT WON'T START. WHEN IT DID STA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)