YearToAvoid

2012 BMW 5 Series Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#7 most-complained of 9 5 Series years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 BMW 5 Series has 10 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 25 out of 100 — #7 highest of 9 5 Series model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 30% of the total).

Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2012 BMW 5 Series problems

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

  1. Engine3 (30%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain3 (30%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (20%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers2 (20%)
  5. Airbags1 (10%)
  6. Other1 (10%)
2012 BMW 5 Series complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2012Aug 2013Aug 2014Jun 2017Feb 2019
12 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2012 to Jul 2019; peak Aug 2016 (2).

2012 BMW 5 Series recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 compared with other 5 Series years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010201120122023
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best1365—
2011Avoid88814—
2012Good25100—
2023No verdict001—

All BMW 5 Series years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 BMW 5 Series a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 BMW 5 Series ranks #7 of 9 among 5 Series model years (Complaint Index 25/100, verdict: Good). It has 10 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 5 Series?
The most reported problem areas are engine (3 complaints), transmission & powertrain (3 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 40,000 miles.
Does the 2012 BMW 5 Series have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2012 BMW 5 Series in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.

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.