CarRecallWatchThe 2012 BMW X3 SAV has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, including 1 crash.
The most-reported problem area is Engine (3 reports).
0Recalls
6Owner complaints
1Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your X3 SAV?
2012 BMW X3 SAV recalls
No safety recalls on file for the 2012 BMW X3 SAV.
Most common 2012 BMW X3 SAV problems
Problem areas named in the 6 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
What owners report
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 MALFUNCTION WARNINGS CONTINUED TO OCCUR EVERY SO OFTEN. DURING THE PAST YEAR THE MALFUNCTION WARNINGS OCCURRED WITH EVER INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL THE TPMS MALFUNCTION BECAME PERMANENT. AT MY LATEST VISIT TO MY BMW SERVICE CENTER I WAS TOLD THE TPMS CONTROLLER MODULE WAS BAD (RDC MODULE). I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $850 TO REPLACE. A COWORKER WITH A 2012 BMW X3 HAD THE SAME INTERMITTENT TPMS MALFUNCTI
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, WHICH IS UPWARDS OF $5,000. THE CAR ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. THE LACK OF ACCELERATION IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF DANGER, MERGE SAFELY INTO TRAFFIC, ETC. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED.
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 TO PAY 60% OF THE COST AND WOULD NOT DISCUSS THE SAFETY ISSUES. THE CAR HAS 59.5K MILES AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED.
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 POSITION. IT MAKES DRIVING THE CAR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD ON THE HIGHWAY UNBEARABLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED IN ONLINE BMW FORUMS BY MULTIPLE OTHER BMW X3 OWNERS. NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP CAN IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSES THE ISSUE, NOR HOW TO FIX IT. A NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN TRIED: NEW BATTERY, NEW STEERING MODULE SOFTWARE, A REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFT, AND AN ALIGNMEN
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 KNOWN PROBLEM.
2012 BMW X3 SAV questions
Does the 2012 BMW X3 SAV have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls on file for the 2012 BMW X3 SAV at this time.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW X3 SAV?
Based on 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (3), Service Brakes (1), Steering (1).
How do I check if a recall on my 2012 BMW X3 SAV 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.