NHTSA vehicle safety data
2012 BMW 1 Series Recalls & Complaints
The 2012 BMW 1 Series has 1 NHTSA recall campaign on file as of October 21, 2026. try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 2012 BMW 1 Series. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 BMW 1 Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Camshaft Timing Bolts May Loosen Causing Stall
NHTSA #23V707000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine · NHTSA notice
Reported October 20, 2023 · BMW of North America, LLC
Potentially affected: 157,796 vehicles
Repair completion: 35.88% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
Owners notified June 19, 2024
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Other BMW 1 Series model years
Check your 2012 BMW 1 Series VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 1 Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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