YearToAvoid

2012 BMW 135i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#2 most-complained of 4 135i years

The 2012 BMW 135i has a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 2nd-worst among 4 model years, with a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 19 complaints and 6 recalls, led by Engine issues at 58% of complaints and a median failure mileage of 45,000 miles.

Complaints
19
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2012 BMW 135i problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine11 (58%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain6 (32%)
  3. Fuel System5 (26%)
  4. Airbags4 (21%)
  5. Electrical System3 (16%)
  6. Brakes2 (11%)
  7. Other1 (5%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (5%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the DCT transmission causing the car to stall or hesitate for several seconds when coming to a stop before lunging forward without warning.
  • Several complaints describe the engine revving unexpectedly to about 2500 rpm on its own, dropping the clutch, and causing sudden unintended acceleration.
  • Dealers reportedly reprogrammed the ECM in some cases, but owners said the surging and stalling problem returned afterward.
  • Owners with the Takata airbag recall said replacement parts were unavailable for extended periods, leaving the driver frontal airbag inflator unresolved.
  • One owner reported a transmission oil pan and gasket leak caused by heat deforming the part, which was not detectable until the transmission failed and left the car stranded.
  • A passenger seat occupancy sensor was reported to misread whether a passenger was present, which owners flagged as a safety concern.
2012 BMW 135i complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2013May 2014Feb 2017Jun 2018Mar 2019Feb 2020May 2023
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2013 to May 2023; peak Feb 2013 (3).

2012 BMW 135i recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V017000Jan 15, 2020Airbags59,965 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 19V579000Aug 6, 2019Electrical System41,981 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.

    Risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of an earlier recall number 17V-676.

  3. NHTSA 17V067000Feb 2, 2017Transmission & Powertrain8,752 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:constant velocity joint

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.

    Risk: If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

See all 6 recalls for the 2012 BMW 135i →

2012 BMW 135i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,825
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other 135i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Good3315420
2011Avoid10027621
2012Caution6719621
2013Best012221

All BMW 135i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 BMW 135i reliable?
Relative to other 135i model years, the 2012 is rated Caution, with a Complaint Index of 67 and a rank of 2nd-worst out of 4 years tracked. NHTSA lists 19 complaints, mostly Engine-related (58%).
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 135i?
Engine problems make up 58% of complaints, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 32% and Fuel System at 26%. Median mileage at failure for Engine complaints was 45,000 miles.
Does the 2012 BMW 135i have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2012 135i, covering Airbags, Electrical System, Engine, and Transmission & Powertrain components, including the Takata airbag inflator recall and a wiring harness overheating recall.
How does the 2012 135i compare to other years?
The 2012 model (Complaint Index 67) ranks better than the 2011 (Complaint Index 100, rated Avoid) but worse than the 2010 (33, rated Good) and 2013 (0, rated Best).
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 BMW 135i?
EPA rates the 2012 135i at 21 mpg combined (18.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,825.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.