Most common 2012 BMW 5 Series problems
Share of the 10 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 5 Series complaints by model year
Best 5 Series years: 2002, 2010, 2009. Years to avoid: 2008, 2011, 2006, 2004. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 BMW 5 Series:
Loss of power assist braking
In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft…
What 2012 BMW 5 Series owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
I was driving at about 65 MPH on a highway uphill, engine completely stalled, no power, got a message "drive-train malfunction, no maximum output, drive moderately". I was surrounded by cars/semi trucks, very dangerous situation. Managed to pull over on the should. Could not restart car, got a message "automatic start/stop deactivated: engine will not start automatically. Press the start/stop button to start the engine." about 30 mins after engine stalled, I finally restarted the car. Continued to drive on the highway for about 10 miles @ 60-65 MPH. At a local street, as I slowed down to approach a traffic light, engine stalled again, no power, car stopped in the middle of road, got the two same messages, could not start car. About 30 mins after engine stalled, I finally started the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 BMW 550ix equipped with Goodyear Eagle p245/40/r19. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH an alert on his dashboard illuminated instructing him that the vehicle should not be driven more than 50 miles as the tire was going flat. Thirty miles later the vehicle was stopped and the front driver side tire had developed a bubble on the sidewall, which caused the tire to shred. The vehicle dealer was notified but offered no assistance. The manufacturer of the vehicle was notified but offered no assistance. The tires had not been replaced. Updated 12/14/12 the consumer replaced all four tires with Michelin tires. The consumer stated two of the original four tires developed bubbles on the sidewall. On two occasions, the drive train malfunctioned. The video screen flashed a message instructing the consumer to return the vehicle to the dealer. …
Engine & cooling
I was driving at about 65 MPH on a highway uphill, engine completely stalled, no power, got a message "drive-train malfunction, no maximum output, drive moderately". I was surrounded by cars/semi trucks, very dangerous situation. Managed to pull over on the should. Could not restart car, got a message "automatic start/stop deactivated: engine will not start automatically. Press the start/stop button to start the engine." about 30 mins after engine stalled, I finally restarted the car. Continued to drive on the highway for about 10 miles @ 60-65 MPH. At a local street, as I slowed down to approach a traffic light, engine stalled again, no power, car stopped in the middle of road, got the two same messages, could not start car. About 30 mins after engine stalled, I finally started the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 BMW 5-Series. The contact stated that the vehicle excessively overheated without warning. The contact constantly had to exercise caution in the event that the vehicle May have reduced engine power and was uncertain if the failure would result in a fire. BMW gallery of norwood (918 boston providence hwy, norwood, ma 02062, [phone]) was notified of the failure, but had not specified if the failure was related to any recall campaigns or technical service bulletins. The dealer stated that further diagnostic testing was required. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
2012 BMW 5 Series engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 23 / 34 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 22 / 32 / 26 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo hybrid | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 30 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 BMW 5 Series a good car?
Based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 5 Series rates average: 25% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 5 Series at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 BMW 5 Series?
The transmission & drivetrain — 3 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and wheels & tires (2).
How many recalls does the 2012 BMW 5 Series have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 BMW 5 Series. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 5 Series?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2010 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2011, 2006 and 2004. See the full BMW 5 Series years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 BMW 5 Series problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.