2012 BMW 320i Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
No verdictComplaint Index
0/100
#7 most-complained of 7 320i years
The 2012 BMW 320i has a complaint index of 0 and ranks 7th of 7 model years, meaning it has the fewest reported problems of any 320i year. It carries 3 complaints and 3 recalls, with airbags as the top complaint area.
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2012 BMW 320i problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags2 (67%)
- Brakes1 (33%)
- Electrical System1 (33%)
What owners report
- Owners report that headlights on newer BMWs seem too bright and blind drivers approaching from the opposite direction.
- One owner mentioned receiving notice of an airbag-related recall but said the replacement part was unavailable for an extended period.
- One owner reported the airbag warning light illuminating and staying lit while driving at 40 mph, with the failure occurring at 130,000 miles.
2012 BMW 320i recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V520000Aug 17, 2015Electrical System7,727 vehicles
Exterior lighting
BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at [email protected].
- NHTSA 14V627000Oct 7, 2014Brakes8,988 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- NHTSA 13V454000Sep 26, 2013Brakes76,191 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
2012 compared with other 320i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 BMW 320i reliable based on complaints?
- NHTSA lists a complaint index of 0 for the 2012 320i, and it ranks 7th of 7 model years, making it the year with the fewest reported problems among 320i model years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 320i?
- Airbags account for 67% of reported problems, with brakes and the electrical system each accounting for 33%. NHTSA lists 3 complaints total for this year.
- Does the 2012 BMW 320i have recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 320i covering the electrical system (software update) and brakes (camshaft seal disk retaining ring and vacuum pump lubrication fix).
- Should I avoid the 2012 BMW 320i?
- No. Compared to other 320i model years, 2012 has the lowest complaint index (0) and ranks best of the 7 years with available data.
- At what mileage do 2012 BMW 320i airbag problems occur?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 130,000 miles for airbag-related complaints on the 2012 320i.