NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 BMW 320I Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 BMW 320I has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 BMW 320I. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2012 BMW 320I owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 320I, describing incidents dated December 1, 2011 to February 21, 2017.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10957174 · Filed February 27, 2017
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.
ODI #10905081 · Filed September 9, 2016
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…
ODI #10561519 · Filed January 26, 2014
HEAD LIGHTS FOR NEWER CARS ARE TOO BRIGHT AND BLIND DRIVERS APPROACHING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. *TR

Read all 3 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 BMW 320I in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE13-030: Loss of power assist braking
Closed October 25, 2013
- Recall 13V-454

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Side Marker Lamps Inoperative/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #15V520000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported August 17, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 7,727 vehicles

Repair completion: 91.63% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified October 7, 2015 · Vehicles built October 20, 2011 – June 24, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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].

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.safercar.gov.

Loss of Brake Assist/Vacuum Pump Lubrication

NHTSA #14V627000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Power Assist — Vacuum — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice

Reported October 7, 2014 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 8,988 vehicles

Repair completion: 94.87% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified December 2, 2014 · Vehicles built June 11, 2012 – May 26, 2014 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

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.safercar.gov.

Loss of Brake Assist/Vacuum Pump Lubrication

NHTSA #13V454000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Power Assist — Vacuum · NHTSA notice

Reported September 26, 2013 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 76,191 vehicles

Repair completion: 96.87% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified January 31, 2014 · Vehicles built May 1, 2012 – August 31, 2013 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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].

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.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2012 BMW 320I. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 BMW 320I.

Air Bags

ODI #10957174

Incident: February 21, 2017 · Filed: February 27, 2017

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.

Air Bags

ODI #10905081

Incident: September 9, 2016 · Filed: September 9, 2016

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.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10561519

Incident: December 1, 2011 · Filed: January 26, 2014

HEAD LIGHTS FOR NEWER CARS ARE TOO BRIGHT AND BLIND DRIVERS APPROACHING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. *TR

Other BMW 320I model years

Check your 2012 BMW 320I VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 320I at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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