NHTSA vehicle safety data
2012 BMW X6 SAV Recalls & Complaints
The 2012 BMW X6 SAV has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns on file as of October 21, 2026. try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 2012 BMW X6 SAV. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 BMW X6 SAV. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Camshaft Housing Bolts May Loosen causing Stall
NHTSA #14V176000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine · NHTSA notice
Reported April 10, 2014 · BMW of North America, LLC
Potentially affected: 156,137 vehicles
Repair completion: 84.14% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
Owners notified September 24, 2014 · Vehicles built February 1, 2010 – October 31, 2011 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.
Safety consequence
If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW 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.
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 28, 2011 – August 1, 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.
Other BMW X6 SAV model years
Check your 2012 BMW X6 SAV VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW X6 SAV at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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