2012 Bmw X6

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Bmw X6 has 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: engine malfunction. engine operating at reduced output. engine has malfunctioned numerous times. shuts down to reduced output, without warning and without allowance for traffic conditions, only allowing for 4-5 mph travel. extreme danger! bmw has a "customer care package" that is a recall, altho.

3 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

15 complaints

32%

• ENGINE MALFUNCTION. ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT. ENGINE HAS MALFUNCTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES. SHUTS DOWN TO REDUCED OUTPUT, WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ALLOWANCE FOR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ONLY ALLOWING FOR 4-5 MPH TRAVEL. EXTREME DANGER! BMW HAS A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" THAT IS A RECALL, ALTHO
• WAS SLOWING VEHICLE WHILE ENTERING ONTO INTERSTATE RAMP AT A SHARP LEFT. VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT DOWN ENGINE. NO ABILITY TO STEER OR BRAKE. ALSO HAPPENED WHILE SITTING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR
• VEHICLE HAS BEEN SMOKING, BURNING OIL AND LEAVING A BLACK RESIDUE ON TAIL PIPES AND ON PAINT AROUND TAILPIPES SINCE APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS OLD. BMW SERVICE ADVISED OIL USAGE WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE AND REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. OIL CONSUMPTION HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE TO AS MUCH AS 6 QUARTS

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

“ENGINE MALFUNCTION. ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT. ENGINE HAS MALFUNCTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES. SHUTS DOWN TO REDUCED OUTPUT, WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ALLOWANCE FOR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ONLY ALLOWING FOR 4-5 MPH TRAVEL. EXTREME DANGER! BMW HAS A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" THAT IS A RECALL, ALTHO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

9 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X6. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT TO THE LOWER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCED A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRIC A
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X6. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (SOUTH MOTORS BMW, 16215 S. DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL 33157) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X6. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT TO THE LOWER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCED A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRIC A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

7 complaints

15%

• ENGINE MALFUNCTION. ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT. ENGINE HAS MALFUNCTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES. SHUTS DOWN TO REDUCED OUTPUT, WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ALLOWANCE FOR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ONLY ALLOWING FOR 4-5 MPH TRAVEL. EXTREME DANGER! BMW HAS A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" THAT IS A RECALL, ALTHO
• I WAS RECENTLY ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING AND MY CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT, SHAKING AND VIBRATING WHILES OTHER CARS WERE BEHIND ME. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE IN ACCIDENT WITH A TRAILER TRUCK WHO QUICKLY MANEUVERED FROM BEHIND ME. I DROVE THE CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS CRE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE "SERVICE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

11%

• THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUDIBLE OR VISUAL WARNING THAT ANY OF THE DOORS OR HATCH BACK IS OPEN PRIOR TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP AT PRINCETON NEW JERSEY BMW, THE VEHICLE HAS TO REACH 5 MPH BEFORE THERE IS A WARNING. THIS IS TOO LATE. I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GAR
• ENGINE MALFUNCTION. ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT. ENGINE HAS MALFUNCTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES. SHUTS DOWN TO REDUCED OUTPUT, WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ALLOWANCE FOR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ONLY ALLOWING FOR 4-5 MPH TRAVEL. EXTREME DANGER! BMW HAS A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" THAT IS A RECALL, ALTHO
• INCREASED BATTERY DISCHARGE REPEATEDLY SINCE APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE. BMW SERVICE SAYS NEED TO DRIVE CAR MORE THAN 20-30 MILES PER DAY TO KEEP BATTERY CHARGED AND DRIVING SHORT, IN CITY TRIPS IS NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS GOING. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD COME WITH

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

“THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUDIBLE OR VISUAL WARNING THAT ANY OF THE DOORS OR HATCH BACK IS OPEN PRIOR TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP AT PRINCETON NEW JERSEY BMW, THE VEHICLE HAS TO REACH 5 MPH BEFORE THERE IS A WARNING. THIS IS TOO LATE. I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

3 complaints

• LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID. IF THE FLAMMABLE LIQUID SPRAYS ONTO HOT ENGINE EXHAUST PARTS, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE MAY OCCUR. ACCORDING TO NHTSA, THE LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID IS A RESULT OF A "MACHINING ERROR" IN THE STEERING GEAR SURFACE DURING THE PRODUCTION OF THE BMW X5 AND BMW X6 "ACTIV
• CAR IS JUMPING FORWARD WHEN IM COMING TO A STOP AT LIGHTS. ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ONE TIME. IT ALSO SHIVERS WHEN TURNING SLOW OR BACKING UP AND SLOWLY ACCELERATION. I CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING SO THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A BAD TIRE BUT REALIZED UPON RESEARCH IT COULD BE DRIVE TRAIN OR POWER
• MY CAR PULLS HARD AND SHUDDERS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT OR REVERSING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SHOPS HAVE TOLD ME BUT THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING WHAT ISSUE IS. MY BROTHER SAID IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSFER CASE OR ALL WHEEL DRIVE NOT WORKING. SHAKES HARD AT EVERY TURN LIKE WHE

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

“LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID. IF THE FLAMMABLE LIQUID SPRAYS ONTO HOT ENGINE EXHAUST PARTS, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE MAY OCCUR. ACCORDING TO NHTSA, THE LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID IS A RESULT OF A "MACHINING ERROR" IN THE STEERING GEAR SURFACE DURING THE PRODUCTION OF THE BMW X5 AND BMW X6 "ACTIV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 47 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ENGINE MALFUNCTION. ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT. ENGINE HAS MALFUNCTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES. SHUTS DOWN TO REDUCED OUTPUT, WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ALLOWANCE FOR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ONLY ALLOWING FOR 4-5 MPH TRAVEL. EXTREME DANGER! BMW HAS A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" THAT IS A RECALL, ALTHO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X6. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT TO THE LOWER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCED A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRIC A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: ENGINE MALFUNCTION. ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT. ENGINE HAS MALFUNCTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES. SHUTS DOWN TO REDUCED OUTPUT, WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ALLOWANCE FOR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ONLY ALLOWING FOR 4-5 MPH TRAVEL. EXTREME DANGER! BMW HAS A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" THAT IS A RECALL, ALTHO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUDIBLE OR VISUAL WARNING THAT ANY OF THE DOORS OR HATCH BACK IS OPEN PRIOR TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP AT PRINCETON NEW JERSEY BMW, THE VEHICLE HAS TO REACH 5 MPH BEFORE THERE IS A WARNING. THIS IS TOO LATE. I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)