2012 BMW X3 SAV Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other X3 SAV years
- Not enough data 6th of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW X3 SAV. That ranks 6th out of 6 X3 SAV model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 50%), typically at around 59,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 6owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 BMW X3 SAV problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 50% | 59,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 17% | 45,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 17% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 17% | 77,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 17% | 40,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 BMW X3 SAV recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2012 BMW X3 SAV.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The problem started out as an intermittent 'tpms malfunction warning'. First trip to bmw service center i was told nothing was wrong. Intermittent tpms warnings continued. Second visit to dealership service center resulted in one tpm sensor being replaced. Unfortunately the intermittent tpms…
When accelerating from low speeds, the transmission bucks and jerks, searching around for the right gear. After googling this, it is a well-known problem that costs thousands to fix. We've already spent approximately $1,500 on it, and it's still hasn't gone away. Next would be the transfer unit…
I was driving 60 miles an hour on a highway and the engine in my 2012 bmw x3 35i seized and went into neutral. I had to glide off to the side of the road into the grass. I have been told by the bmw dealer (laurel bmw westmont) that the car needs a new engine which would cost $22k. Bmw usa offered…
When driving on the highway for more than 10 minutes in warm weather, the steering feels "sticky" and is hard to keep in the lane. It feels as though you are fighting to make the small corrections necessary to keep the car from drifting outside the lane, and that the steering is "locked" into…
Bolts holding the variable camshaft timing vanos housing are defective. This is a known issue and bmw notified nhtsa of a recall in 2014 for 156000 vehicles. However, i have the same exact problem and bmw says i must pay almost $4,000.00 because it is not part of the recall...even though this is a…
Other BMW X3 SAV years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 X3 SAV | 13 | 1 |
| 2010 X3 SAV | 23 | 3 |
| 2009 X3 SAV | 16 | 2 |
| 2008 X3 SAV | 56 | 2 |
| 2007 X3 SAV | 160 | 2 |
See all BMW X3 SAV problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW X3 SAV?
Owners most often report engine, power train, service brakes problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 BMW X3 SAV?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2012 BMW X3 SAV a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other X3 SAV model years, the 2012 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.