2012 BMW M3 Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

3 safety recalls on file

The 2012 BMW M3 has 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA.

The most-reported problem area is Air Bags (4 reports).

3Recalls
6Owner complaints
0Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your M3?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

2012 BMW M3 recalls

Driver Airbag Inflator May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments

Recall 20V017Jan 15, 202059,965 vehicles affected

The driver-side frontal airbag inflator in certain vehicles contains an ammonium nitrate propellant that was not properly dried.

Battery Cable Can Degrade, Causing Sudden Power Loss and Stalling

Recall 19V472Jun 19, 201916,641 vehicles affected

The positive battery cable connection at the fuse box terminal may degrade over time.

Driver air bag inflator may rupture in a crash

Recall 16V071Feb 5, 2016840,000 vehicles affected

BMW is recalling certain vehicles because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can rupture when the air bag deploys.

Most common 2012 BMW M3 problems

Problem areas named in the 6 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Air Bags4
Engine2

What owners report

2019-08-08, Engine
APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE THE ROD BEARINGS AND CRANK SUFFERED COMPLETE FAILURE. I WAS IN MOTION AROUND 60MPH ON A RURAL HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. AFTER AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT I SAFELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE SEIZED ENGINE WAS DIAGNOSED BASED ON AN IMMOBILE CRANK AND OIL CONTAMINATION BY THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP. I THEN HAD THE OIL PAN COMPLETELY REMOVED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP TO CONFIRM THE MANUFACTURER'S DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS CONFIRMED. ALL PREVIOUS OIL CHANGES WERE DONE AT THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP BY THEIR TECHNICIANS MORE OFTEN THAN THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS. THE MOST ALARMING PART IS THE VEH
2017-10-02, Air Bags
WHEN I CALLED BMW TO HAVE MY DEFECTIVE AIRBAG REPLACED THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE. THE DEFECT CAN APPARENTLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH SO I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THEY DO THIS IMMEDIATELY.
2017-07-26, Air Bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 ( AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH OF 2016. THE DEALER ( BRAMAN MOTORCARS 2901 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL, 33409) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR, AND RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRI
2017-02-03, Air Bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
2016-12-09, Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL IS TAKING TOO LONG TO REPLACE MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2012 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE. I CALLED RUSNAK BMW IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA IN NOVEMBER 2016 FOR A STATUS UPDATE AS TO WHY THEY STILL HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME TO REPLACE MY DRIVER'S SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG DESPITE A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH OF 2016. THEY INDICATED THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO MY MODEL YEAR AND THAT REPLACEMENT TAKATA AIRBAGS ARE NOT COMING AS QUICKLY AS THEY SHOULD.

2012 BMW M3 questions

Does the 2012 BMW M3 have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 BMW M3: Driver Airbag Inflator May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments; Battery Cable Can Degrade, Causing Sudden Power Loss and Stalling; Driver air bag inflator may rupture in a crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW M3?

Based on 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (4), Engine (2).

How do I check if a recall on my 2012 BMW M3 has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

Other BMW M3 years

Other 2012 BMW models