NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 BMW 7 Series Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 BMW 7 Series has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 2 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 7 Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 BMW 7 Series owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 7 Series, describing incidents dated April 16, 2019.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Seat Belts 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint
Wheels 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11196721 · Filed April 16, 2019
LOW ENGINE OIL COMES ON EVERY FEW MONTHS AND I HAVE TO ADD OIL AT THAT TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OIL IS GOING BUT LEVEL IS DOWN TO MINIMUM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR.
ODI #10538133 · Filed August 30, 2013
ON OR ABOUT THE ABOVE DATE, I TRIED TO DRIVE MY NEW CAR IN 2 INCHES OF SNOW,UP A MODERATE GRADE. DESPITE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND HAVING BRAND NEW TIRES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE ANYWAY BUT SIDEWAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNFIT FOR ITS PURPOSE AND USE. COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE…

Read all 2 complaints

ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP

NHTSA #12V161000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Other Fuel Types — Turbo/Supercharger · NHTSA notice

Reported April 10, 2012 · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Potentially affected: 2,846 vehicles

Owners notified April 30, 2012 · Vehicles built April 1, 2011 – May 10, 2011 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2012 6-SERIES CONVERTIBLE, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, AND X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF SAFETY RECALL 11V521.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2012 BMW 7 Series. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 BMW 7 Series.

Engine

ODI #11196721

Incident: April 16, 2019 · Filed: April 16, 2019

LOW ENGINE OIL COMES ON EVERY FEW MONTHS AND I HAVE TO ADD OIL AT THAT TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OIL IS GOING BUT LEVEL IS DOWN TO MINIMUM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR.

Seat Belts; Wheels; Unknown or Other

ODI #10538133

Filed: August 30, 2013

ON OR ABOUT THE ABOVE DATE, I TRIED TO DRIVE MY NEW CAR IN 2 INCHES OF SNOW,UP A MODERATE GRADE. DESPITE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND HAVING BRAND NEW TIRES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE ANYWAY BUT SIDEWAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNFIT FOR ITS PURPOSE AND USE. COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN IGNORED.

Other BMW 7 Series model years

Check your 2012 BMW 7 Series VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 7 Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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