Problems · NHTSA complaints
2012 BMW 5 Series problems
Owners filed 194 complaints about the 2012 BMW 5 Series with NHTSA between Mar 2012 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (73).
Complaints
194
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine73
- Fuel/propulsion system51
- Power train37
- Electrical system25
- Tires14
- Air bags10
- Wheels10
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Steering9
- Service brakes7
- Exterior lighting6
- Vehicle speed control6
- Seat belts5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
8
9
15
5
8
11
25
41
23
16
8
2
11
9
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 41 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
73 reports4 fires
“car engine timing chain guides are faulty and there have been lawsuits that were settled and no recall on the actual part with drivers still having issues with the N20 engine now getting quotes for over 15,000. is this not an incident where it’s not the fault of a driver but manufacturing? This needs to become a recall for all N20 engine timing chain and guides as the faulty part is causing complete engine failure. seems very deceptive when a BMW only last 100,000 miles.”
Fuel/propulsion system
51 reports2 fires
“BMW N63 Engine Powertrain Issues 2012 535i The N63 engine, utilized in various BMW models including the 2012 535i, has been subject to multiple customer complaints regarding premature timing chain wear and other powertrain-related issues. This led BMW to introduce a "Customer Care Package," detailed in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) B110614, to address the concerns reported by multiple owners and noted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under ID Number 11016414. A primary cause of the issue is accelerated timing chain wear. The N63 engine's design features timing chains that are prone to stretching prematurely. This stretching can disrupt the precise timing of the engine's valves, leading to a cascade of problems. As a consequence, owners have reported a variety of symptoms, including the illumination of the "drivetrain malfunction" warning light, noticeable engine noise, excessive vibration, and potentially catastrophic engine failure. The "drivetrain malfunction" message, in particular, is a frequently cited indicator of this underlying powertrain problem. To address these widely reported issues, the N63 Customer Care Package was…”
Power train
37 reports2 fires
“I had just purchased a car but a month ago I was driving to lunch and I was at a stop sign when the light turned green I started to go the car started shaking and smoke was coming out of the front under the hood I had just an oil change so I took it back to the oil change shop. They could not figure out why the engine blew and I had to take it to a different BMW shop where I have to purchase a rebuilt motor and pay for the repairs. I can request all records from the automotive shop if needed.”
Electrical system
25 reports3 fires
“The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was condensation underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Engine Malfunction" message was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted 20 minutes later after several attempts. The failure reoccurred several times until the vehicle was taken to the residence and parked. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the control unit seal pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the same independent mechanic on several occasions where it was diagnosed that the ignition coil and timing chain had fractured into the oil pan valve cover, and the oil pan gasket, oil pan, and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,898.”
Tires
14 reports1 fire
“THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE INNER SIDEWALLS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR WARNING OF ANY ISSUES, LOW PRESSURE, NO CONTROL PANEL WARNING, PULLING ETC. I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, ACCELERATED NORMALLY, THE CAR DRIVING NORMAL. THEN SUDDENLY, I HEARD A LOUD PULSATING VIBRATION SOUND AS IF THE TIRE WAS BLOWN OUT. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY ALL THE WAY AROUND THE INNER PART OF THE TIRE!!!”
Air bags
10 reports
“I had been having problems with my seatbelt alarm coming on for a while with nothing in the seat of the passenger and then as I was trying to turn in to park I heard a click from my steering wheel as if it didn’t want to turn and the driver seat restraint malfunction error popped up . Now my horn will not work as well . I’m told that the dealership is the only place it can be repaired. I’m worried that it will deploy on me while driving . I’m sure this is an issue others have experienced as well .”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.