Vehicle report

2012 BMW 3 Series

Free recalls, owner complaints, and NHTSA safety ratings for the 2012 BMW 3 Series, plus how to check this specific vehicle before you buy.

The 2012 BMW 3 Series has 2 NHTSA recalls on record and 0 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. NHTSA has not published an overall crash-test rating for this model year. Below is the full breakdown, plus how to check this specific vehicle by VIN before you buy in Alberta.

Open recalls

Complaints

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Overall safety

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2012 BMW 3 Series recalls (2)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

2012 BMW 3 Series owner complaints (0)

No NHTSA complaints were found for the 2012 BMW 3 Series.

Checking a used BMW 3 Series before you buy

The recall, complaint, and safety data above describes the 2012 3 Series in general. To know the condition and history of the specific vehicle you're looking at, check it by VIN. A VIN check shows whether this particular 3 Series's recalls are still outstanding, and a full history report adds accident, title, and ownership records the data above can't show.

Before you buy a 2012 BMW 3 Series in Alberta:

Run a free VIN check on the exact vehicle for its own recalls and safety data.
Run an Alberta Personal Property Registry lien search so you don't inherit debt.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
If it's a dealer, confirm their AMVIC licence.

See other model years of the BMW 3 Series, or browse more BMW models.

2012 BMW 3 Series — questions and answers

Does the 2012 BMW 3 Series have any recalls?+

Our check found 2 NHTSA recalls associated with the 2012 BMW 3 Series. Check the specific vehicle by VIN to see which remain outstanding, since some may already have been repaired. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

How many complaints does the 2012 BMW 3 Series have?+

NHTSA lists 0 owner complaints for the 2012 BMW 3 Series in our results. Complaints are problems reported by owners and don't always lead to a recall, but a pattern of similar complaints is worth weighing before you buy.

Is the 2012 BMW 3 Series safe?+

NHTSA has not published an overall crash-test rating for the 2012 BMW 3 Series. Review the owner complaints above and get an independent inspection to assess the specific vehicle's condition.

How do I check a 2012 BMW 3 Series VIN?+

Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN into our free VIN check to see recalls, complaints, and safety ratings for that exact vehicle, then run an Alberta Personal Property Registry (PPR) lien search before you pay.

Are recall repairs on a BMW free?+

Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed at no cost by a franchised BMW dealer, even for a used vehicle and even if you're not the original owner. Confirm the required parts are in stock before relying on the fix.