Model year

2012 BMW 328

Sedan, gasoline, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from Feb 22, 2016 to Nov 27, 2018.

Recall campaigns covering this model year1840k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints7Below the median 2012 sedan
Severity index0.02012 sedans average 7.6
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2012 BMW 328 peaked in 2017, with 3 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

0123201620173201820192020202120222023202420252026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

43% of complaints about the 2012 BMW 328 name airbags

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Airbags
3
Engine and cooling
2
Seat belts
2
Electrical system
1
Steering
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

One recall campaign covers the 2012 BMW 328

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2012 BMW 328
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
16V-071Feb 5, 2016Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to ruptureAirbags840,000Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2012 BMW 328

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

7 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Nov 27, 2018Failure Oct 12, 201880,000 milesNorth Potomac, MDEngine

    THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ON THE STATE HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 09/08/2018 ON FOR MAJOR REPAIRS INCLUDING OIL CHANGE AND ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE WERE UP TO DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED THAT ENGINE IS JAMMED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID ALL THE MAINTENANCES AND I HAVE THE INVOICES TO DOCUMENT THE RECENT REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. THE CAR HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE PAST, STOPPING SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY. I THINK THE BMW ENGINE HAS PROBLEMS AND THE DEALER WHO DID THE LAST MAINTENANCE ALSO DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB. I REQUEST TO TAKE THIS ISSUE WITH THE BMW CORPORATION AND HAVE THEM COVER THE DAMAGES.

    NHTSA complaint 11154194
  2. Filed Feb 24, 2018Failure Feb 23, 2018Winfield, ILSteering

    WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE, A WARNING MESSAGE "CHASIS STABILIZATION: DRIVE MODERATELY" APPEARED ON THE DASH AND HAD NO POWER STEERING AND WAS MAKING WHIRRING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. STOPPED THE CAR AND WALKED BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND FOUND A SHEARED OFF BOLT ON THE FLOOR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND ALL THE THREE BOLTS ON THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR SHEARED OFF & MISSING AND THE STEERING MOTOR WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM ITS PLACE AND EXCESSIVE CORROSION WAS ALSO NOTICED. THE ONE BOLT FOUND ON THE GARAGE FLOOR MUST HAVE BEEN THE LAST ONE HOLDING THE MOTOR IN PLACE. GLAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OR WHEN MAKING A TURN.

    NHTSA complaint 11074676
  3. Filed Dec 28, 2017Failure Jul 17, 201771,978 milesBatavia, NYEngine

    IN JULY 2017 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CABIN COMPLETELY FILLED UP WITH SMOKE AND I INHALED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT , AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD AREA. MY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE SMOKE FILLING THE CABIN. AT NO POINT DID I RECEIVE ANY FORM OF NOTICE THROUGH THE MAIL, EMAIL, OR PHONE INFORMING ME OF SUCH A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO TOWNE BMW IN WILLIAMSVILLE, NY AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST 2017. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND THE VEHICLE WAS 'SAFE TO DRIVE'. HOWEVER ON THE DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED. I HAD NO LIGHTS, NO HORN, NO BRAKES, NO POWER WHATSOEVER. THIS APPARENTLY IS WHAT BMW CONSIDERS 'SAFE'. I HAD TO PAY TO TOW THE CAR BACK TO TOWNE BMW, AS THE SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT SEEM TO CARE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. A FEW DAYS LATER TOWNE BMW INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS ONCE AGAIN 'SAFE TO DRIVE'. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AGAIN AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN, IN ADDITION TO NOISES BEING EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. I CALLED TOWNE BMW ON AVERAGE TWICE A DAY LEAVING VOICEMAILS AS WELL AS MY CONTACT INFORMATION, AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER. AFTER MY SECOND CALL TO BMW CORPORATE TO COMPLAIN I FINALLY RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM BMW AFTER NEARLY A WEEK OF PHONE CALLS. I SUPPOSE THE SAFETY OF VEHICLES OR PROPER SERVICE ARE NOT BMW CORE VALUES. IT IS NOW DECEMBER AND BMW REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS, DESPITE NOT SENDING ME ANY RECALL NOTICE FOR SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS NOW.

    NHTSA complaint 11057144
  4. Filed Aug 8, 2017Failure Jul 24, 201741,000 milesWashington, DCUnknown or other

    WATER LEAKING INTO DRIVER SIDE OF CAR AND POOLING IN DRIVER FOOTWELL AND DRIVER-SIDE PASSENGER. WHEN PARKED ON SLOPE, NEARLY 3-4 INCHES OF STANDING WATER. AFTER PUMPING AND DRYING OUT WATER, MAJOR RAIN STORM RESULTED IN RETURN OF POOLING WATER. POSSIBLY RELATED TO BMW SERVICE BULLETIN: SIB 51 05 14 IT SAYS "REMOVE WATER DRAIN GROMMET OF UNITS COMPARTMENT"

    NHTSA complaint 11013596
  5. Filed Feb 17, 2017Failure Feb 17, 201749,450 milesAtascadero, CAAir bags, Seat belts

    PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. A WEEK LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR PAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG/RESTRAINT SYSTEM ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BEING ENGAGED. THESE WARNING APPEAR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR PARKED.

    NHTSA complaint 10955246
  6. Filed Aug 29, 2016Failure Mar 21, 2016SAN Francisco, CAAir bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 09/20/16 *BF

    NHTSA complaint 10899323
  7. Filed Feb 22, 2016Failure Jan 28, 201652,400 milesPortland, ORAir bags, Electrical system, Seat belts

    I BOUGHT MY CAR AT AROUND 50K MILES, AFTER MANUFACTURER' WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE. ONE DAY, AFTER DRIVING FROM THE STORE, MY CAR INDICATED I NEEDED TO FASTEN MY SEATBELT. I WAS FASTENED IN. SO I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THINKING IT WAS SOME WEIRD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I GOT HOME AND THE NEXT TIME I GOT INTO MY CAR TO DRIVE IT, THE DISPLAY NOW SHOWS" DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: CONTINUE WEARING SAFETY BELT. CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER." I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE WARRANTY I PURCHASED DOES NOT COVER SEATBELTS OR AIRBAG SENSORS. THE DEALER GAVE ME A COST OF REPLACEMENT: $820.52! I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. YET, THERE IS NO RECALL. WHY WOULD IT BE OKAY FOR SEATBELTS AND AIRBAG SENSORS TO STOP WORKING JUST AFTER 50K MILES?

    NHTSA complaint 10837580
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

1 NHTSA investigation on file

  • EA21002 Engineering analysis, Airbags
    Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
    Opened Sep 17, 2021, still open
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

5 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • B061025 Feb 27, 2025 · Other
    Right Tie Rod Return
  • B510819 Jan 16, 2024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
  • B611305 Jan 11, 2024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle âdisc…
  • SIM010917 Jun 1, 2017 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Shipping specific non-deployed vehicle safety devices to lighting resources, llc. This service Information bulletin provides information on shipping "specific" noin-deployed vehicle safety devices that are classified as Dangerous Goods (DG) to Lighting reso…
  • SIM010717 Jun 1, 2017 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    The engine?s intake charge-air duct limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles applies to ?eligible USspecification
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.