2012 BMW 1 Series Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2012 BMW 1 Series has zero reported complaints in NHTSA data and a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any 1 Series year. It has one recall, for VANOS bolts in the engine, ranking it 8th out of 8 years (worst-first ranking, meaning least problematic).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #8 of 8 1 Series years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 0
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- —
Top 2012 BMW 1 Series problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
No component data.
2012 BMW 1 Series recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V707000Oct 20, 2023Engine157,796 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
Risk: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
2012 compared with other 1 Series years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 BMW 1 Series reliable?
- NHTSA shows zero owner complaints for the 2012 BMW 1 Series and a complaint index of 0, the lowest among all model years of the 1 Series. It carries one recall covering the engine's VANOS bolts.
- Does the 2012 BMW 1 Series have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 23V707000) covers the engine. BMW is replacing four VANOS bolts free of charge because of a safety risk shared with several other BMW models built in the same years.
- How does the 2012 BMW 1 Series compare to other years?
- The 2012 model ranks 8th out of 8 years worst-first, meaning it has the fewest reported complaints of any 1 Series year. By contrast, 2011 and 2009 are rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 100 and 86.
- What year BMW 1 Series should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2009 and 2011 are rated Avoid, with complaint indexes of 86 and 100. The 2012 model has a complaint index of 0 and is not rated Avoid.