KnownCarProblems2012 BMW 328i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 130 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 328i, most often about the engine (55% of complaints, typically around 99,500 miles). It is 8th of 12 328i model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2012 BMW 328i problems
Engine
71 complaints · 55%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles.
Failing timing chain. Manufacturing defect but not covered by BMW because "the VIN doesn't show as covered in our system". Some other vehicles had extended warranty for this issue until 70,000 miles but for some reason not all VIN's are covered. Please see other issues with the n20 engine across the 3 series, 5 series…
I was cruising on the highway when my idrive displayed 'low oil pressure warning' and 'drivetrain malfunction,' the engine weird noises before it shutdown and went into neutral while I was still around traffic. I barely made it a safe place to stop as I had to coast up a hill and then turn with whatever momentum I…
Air bags
26 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles. Parts named most often: sensor.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 328i. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Drive train malfunction, rear right break light warning light is on will not go off, had the bulb changed and still not working. Drive train go on when trying to go into speed on all functions such as eco mode, normal mode and sport mode. Indicator light goes back to normal after car is completely off and upon start…
Electrical
23 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 328i. The contact stated that the temperature sensor on the instrument panel had initially failed to operate as needed; over time, the entire instrument panel had gone blank while the vehicle was being driven. In addition, the battery would continue to run while the vehicle was turned off…
My car was parked I started it ran back in house to get phone got in car smelt plastic but it wasn't coming from vent got out car to smell around car and when I got to trunk the smell was louder opened trunk and a small fire came up like a barbecue fire on the passenger side a man rode by in a truck and help put it…
Transmission
20 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles.
While driving this afternoon I started to accelerate from a stop light and the car just stuttered out of no where and had trouble accelerating. A warning popped up that said drivetrain malfunction. I took it to the closest repair shop and they ran diagnostics on it and cannot figure out what is wrong. The car is still…
I was driving on a busy highway and the vehicle randomly stalled and lost power. Drivetrain malfunction trouble lights lit up the dash. I was barely able to get out of traffic before coasting to a stop. I had the vehicle towed to BMW south austin and it was diagnosed with a faulty fuel transfer pump, and a faulty fuel…
Other or unspecified
11 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
Recently my girlfriend and I had purchased and financed a 2012 BMW 328i. The mileage when we bought the car was at 48,000. Withen the first 2 weeks of having the car I had to bring it back due to the parking lamp being out. I didn't get no warning from the car that the light was out either. I brought it in they…
My car was parked I started it ran back in house to get phone got in car smelt plastic but it wasn't coming from vent got out car to smell around car and when I got to trunk the smell was louder opened trunk and a small fire came up like a barbecue fire on the passenger side a man rode by in a truck and help put it…
Fuel system
10 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles.
I was driving on a busy highway and the vehicle randomly stalled and lost power. Drivetrain malfunction trouble lights lit up the dash. I was barely able to get out of traffic before coasting to a stop. I had the vehicle towed to BMW south austin and it was diagnosed with a faulty fuel transfer pump, and a faulty fuel…
Sudden complete loss of power while underway on interstate 476 north of philadelphia. Car stopped in the middle of 4 lanes of high speed traffic at 4:10 pm.it would not restart. There was no warning of an issue prior. I am sole operator of car. Car was in dealers shop for 7 days. No obvious cause found, but bosch…
Seats
8 complaints · 6%Passenger side air bag disengages if passenger sits on any type cushion. Passenger side air bag disengaged light is on if passenger is in the passenger seat sitting on any type of cushion or padding. The air bag can disengage if passenger wears a padded winter coat. This BMW 328i originally was delivered with the air…
Every so often I get an error message that says 'passenger restraint system malfunction'. I know this is a common error message for BMW vehicles & their owners. I have taken it to the dealership and been told that it could be repaired at my expenses...why?! When so many vehicles have the same issue and it's not user…
Speed control
6 complaints · 5%Unable to accelerate safely, engine gives out intermittently at varying speeds. Called every dealership around alpharetta, ga; gwinnette BMW told me they wouldn't work on it or help me and then hung up-all on a recorded line. Still waiting for a manager to call me. Called another dealer and they said to wait a few…
Engaged cruise control on interstate and the vehicle immediately and aggressively accelerated. As the vehicle speed indicator approached the cruise control pipper, the pipper began to increase, staying about 5mph ahead of the speedometer needle. At approximately 95mph I disengaged the system using the control in the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 BMW 328i recalls
Electrical: connectors/plugs/receptacles
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on march 28, 2025. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc. (bmw) is recalling certain 2012-2015 x1 sdrive28i, x1 xdrive28i, 2012-2016 z4 sdrive28i, 528i, 528i xdrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 x5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xdrive, 328xi gran turismo, 2013-2017 x3 sdrive28i, x3 xdrive28i, 2015-2018 x4 xdrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 30, 2024. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 series sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 series sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 series sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or m-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On x5 and x6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began march 11, 2020. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i convertibles, 128i, 135i, and m coupes, 2007-2010 x3 30si and x3 xdrive30i, 2013-2015 x1 sdrive28i, x1 xdrive28i and x1 xdrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xdrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xdrive and m3 coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xdrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xdrive and m3, 2009-2011 335d, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xdrive, 2010-2011 x6 activehybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, m3 coupes, x5 30si, x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 48i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i and x5 m, 2009-2013 x5 xdrive35d and 2008-2014 x6 xdrive35i, x6 xdrive50i and x6m vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradat
Lights: exterior lighting
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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].
Full defect summary
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."
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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].
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of power assist braking
Summary
In a letter dated september 26, 2013, bmw group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (my) 2012 through 2014 bmw 3-series, 5-series, x1 sav, x3 sav, and z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA recall 13v-454).according to bmw, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in improper pump operation and loss of power assist braking.on july 11, 2013, bmw initiated a change to the camshaft geometry that prevented the seal disk from blocking the oil port.bmw has not received any bra
Questions about the 2012 BMW 328i
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 328i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (71 complaints, typically around 99,500 miles); air bags (26 complaints, typically around 64,500 miles); electrical (23 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 BMW 328i have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 13, 2024 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the BMW 328i?
- It is 8th of 12 328i model years by number of complaints, with 130 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.