- The problem
- 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."
- The risk
- If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The 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].
Vehicle safety record
2012 BMW 320I Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2012 BMW 320I with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (2) and the lights (1). It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in August 2015 for the exterior lighting. For comparison, the 2013 has 9.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 320I year, for its age
#276 most complained-about 2012 vehicle
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 BMW 320I problems
Share of all 3 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2012 BMW 320I recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
- The 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
- The 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].
What owners say
Be the first 320I owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
3 complaints about the 2012 BMW 320I
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 bmw 320i n/a. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated and would remain illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 (na) bmw 320i. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v346000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Head lights for newer cars are too bright and blind drivers approaching from the opposite direction. *Tr
BMW 320I: every year compared
All 320I years2012 BMW 320I vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 BMW 320I | 3 | 3 | F | |
| 2012 BMW 328I Xdrive | 145 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 2012 BMW 328I | 144 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2012 BMW 335I Xdrive | 36 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2012 BMW 335I | 34 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2012 BMW 128I | 31 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2012 BMW 135I | 19 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2012 BMW 325I | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2012 BMW 320I
Does the 2012 BMW 320I have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 BMW 320I: exterior lighting (August 2015); hoses, lines / piping, and fittings (October 2014); vacuum (September 2013). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 320I?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (2), lights (1), driver assistance (1).
How many complaints has the 2012 BMW 320I had?
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 26, 2014 and the latest on February 27, 2017. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2012 BMW 320I a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 11 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical BMW 320I year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which BMW 320I years have the most complaints?
2014 (53), 2015 (34), 2013 (9). See every BMW 320I year compared.
What should I do if my 2012 BMW 320I has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data