Representative model. Photo: EurovisionNim, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 BMW X3 recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 2
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 48
Latest campaign: Aug 8, 2017

Recall summary by component2

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	1	Aug 8, 2017	17V495000
Child seat	1	May 23, 2016	16V333000

Safety recalls2

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Aug 8, 2017Latest campaign


Aug 8, 201717V495000	Air bags: frontal driver side In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking… DetailsHide details for campaign 17V495000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded. Risk In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Campaign NHTSA 17V495000 · Aug 8, 2017
May 23, 201616V333000	Child seat: latch strap Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V333000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system. Risk Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash. Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Campaign NHTSA 16V333000 · May 23, 2016

Aug 8, 201717V495000

Air bags: frontal driver side

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking…

DetailsHide details for campaign 17V495000

What's wrong: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign: NHTSA 17V495000 · Aug 8, 2017

May 23, 201616V333000

Child seat: latch strap

Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 16V333000

What's wrong: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.
Risk: Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign: NHTSA 16V333000 · May 23, 2016

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2012 BMW X3? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component48

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

48Complaints filed

6Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

1Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Air bags	12	25	1	0	1
Engine	11	23	1	1	0
Power train	8	17	3	0	0
Steering	8	17	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	6	13	2	0	0
Service brakes	6	13	3	0	0
Unknown or other	5	10	0	0	0
Seats	4	8	0	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	2	4	0	0	0
Electrical system	2	4	0	0	0
Seat belts	2	4	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	1	2	0	0	0
Wheels	1	2	0	0	0

An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names X3 XDRIVE28I, X3 XDRIVE35I.

Latest reports

Power train
“Over about seven years and roughly 70,000 miles of ownership, this 2012 BMW X3 generated repeated “Drivetrain malfunction” warnings and loss of drivability despite extensive repairs by multiple authorized BMW dealers.”
Filed 03/27/2026 · ODI 11727392
Air bags
“Front passenger seat occupancy mat defect causes disabling of passenger airbag. Recalls have been issued for the same issue in other models. Issue confirmed by dealership. Persistent warning lamp alert.”
Filed 12/21/2024 · ODI 11631946
Vehicle speed control
“I emailed BMW of Arlington on [XXX] detailing the critical safety issue I experienced with my BMW X3 2012 on Sunday [XXX].”
Filed 06/02/2024 · ODI 11592023

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2012 BMW X3 recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 BMW X3 have?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 BMW X3. The most recent, 17V495000 (reported August 8, 2017), concerns air bags. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2012 BMW X3?

Air bags is the most-reported component, named in 12 complaints out of 48 filed with NHTSA (25%). Across all complaints, owners reported 6 crashs and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 BMW X3?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised BMW dealer.

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