2012 BMW X5: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 BMW X5: 10 recalls, 271 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
10 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #12V019000 · 2012 · 6 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a manufacturing error, engagement of the transmissionâs parking lock May not occur even if the âpâ position has been selected and is displayed.
Why it matters: If the driver believes that the transmission is in park and does not use the parking brake, the vehicle could roll away after exiting the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the automatic transmission free of charge. The safety recall began on February 2, 2012.
Steering Vehicle recall #12V267000 · 2012 · 2,642 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a machining error of the steering gear surface, power steering fluid May leak.
Why it matters: Leaking power steering fluid can spray onto hot exhaust parts, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the steering gear free of charge. The safety recall began on July 20, 2012.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V020000 · 2017 · 48,951 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, BMW is recalling certain 2009 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i, and x5 m vehicles, 2008-2009 x6 xdrive 35i, x6 xdrive50i, x6 m, and 2009 x5 xdrive35d vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed March 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become…
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #17V138000 · 2017 · 121,909 vehicles
What's wrong: Water and debris May enter the front driveshaft's universal joint, causing excessive wear and possibly resulting in the joint's failure.
Why it matters: If the front universal joint fails, the front wheels would not be driven, affecting vehicle traction. Additionally, continued driving of the vehicle with a broken front universal joint May damage other components. Either condition May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V030000 · 2018 · 41,808 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." BMW is also recalling certain 2007-2010 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i, x5 m, x5 xdrive35d, x6 xdrive35i, x6 xdrive50i and x6m vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018.
Engine & cooling, Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #18V248000 · 2018 · 47,806 vehicles
What's wrong: The electric auxiliary water pump May fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Why it matters: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive…
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #18V336000 · 2018 · 33,214 vehicles
What's wrong: The engine idler pulley bolt May loosen over time and break.
Why it matters: If the idler pulley bolt breaks, the vehicle May unexpectedly lose power-assisted steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the idler pulley bolt with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V017000 · 2019 · 83,016 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V016000 · 2020 · 4,007 vehicles
What's wrong: These inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V017000 · 2020 · 59,965 vehicles
What's wrong: These inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On x5 and x6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 10 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (92): the most common themes are warning light on (32), stalls / loses power (18).
- Airbags (83): the most common themes are deploys unexpectedly / inflator (3), warning light on (3).
- Transmission & drivetrain (53): the most common themes are noise or vibration (12), warning light on (9).
- Electrical (29): the most common themes are electrical failure (13), warning light on (10), fire / smoke (7).
The 2012 BMW X5 has 271 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 28 X5 model years for complaints (2.4× the average X5 year). Complaints peaked in 2017 (84 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 69,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (263 complaints, 14 recalls), 2013 (149 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 21 | Diesel |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 17 | 14 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 BMW X5.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 BMW X5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 vehicle recalls for the 2012 BMW X5. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 BMW X5 problems?
Owners have filed 271 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (92), airbags (83), transmission & drivetrain (53).
What gas mileage does the 2012 BMW X5 get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic (S6)), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 BMW X5 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.