Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 BMW 750LI Xdrive problems

Owners filed 26 complaints about the 2012 BMW 750LI Xdrive with NHTSA between Aug 2012 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is engine (15).

Complaints
26
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine15
  2. Power train6
  3. Electrical system4
  4. Wheels4
  5. Steering2
  6. Suspension2
  7. Service brakes1
  8. Air bags1
  9. Vehicle speed control1
  10. Engine and engine cooling1
  11. Fuel/propulsion system1
  12. Tires1
  13. Seat belts1
  14. Other / unknown4

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 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20121
20131
20142
20153
20165
20170
20181
20197
20204
20210
20221
20230
20240
20251

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

15 reports2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 750LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE LOW COOLANT MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HAD THE COOLANT RESERVOIR TOPPED OFF. THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING AND THE WARNING LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. UPON CHECKING THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, THE COOLANT WAS AGAIN TOPPED HOWEVER, THE SAME WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING MESSAGE. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND A FEW DAYS LATER TOWED TO LONG BEACH BMW (1660 E SPRING ST, LONG BEACH, CA 90806). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED A 10% DISCOUNT TOWARD THE COST OF REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2020EngineODI 11339584

Power train

6 reports
“MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE BMW SHOP FOR FOUR MONTHS. THE PURPOSE OF ME TAKING MY CAR TO THE BMW SHOP WAS BECAUSE MY 2012 750LI BMW HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN I GOT THERE [XXX]. STATED THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE AND HE SAY IT WILL BE FIX. FOUR MONTHS LATER THE MANAGER [XXX] CALL ME AND TELL ME I HAVE TO PAY $ 9,600 FOR THE PARTS AND THE LABOR WORK. [XXX] STATED MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY AND I HAD TO PAY 45% .I BELIEVE I WAS RIPPED OFF BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY $3,318 AND NOW HE CHARGING ME SO MUCH MONEY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED ONLY BECAUSE WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN MARCH 2019 HE COULD HAD GAVE ME A PRICE AND NOT FOUR MONTHS LATER. I TOLD HIM WHY WOULD HE FIX THE ENGINE IF I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR A FREE ONE AND WHY NOT CALL ME AND TELL ME THAT I WILL BE PAYING 45% OUT OF MY POCKET. ON TOP OF THAT HE HAS THE NERVE TO CALL ME ON JULY 2019 AND TELL ME THE CAR HAS A NEW ENGINE BUT ALL THE OLD COMPONENTS WAS TRANSFER TO THE NEW ENGINE THEN HE SAY THAT I NEED TO PAY EXTRA BECAUSE HE DID NOT FIX THE TRANSMISSION. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY FIX THE ENGINE IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT JUST TO MAKE MONEY FROM THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2019Power train, EngineODI 11229967

Electrical system

4 reports2 fires
“I went outside and started my car, locked it and came back inside to grab a few things. Approximately five minutes later someone was banging on my door and ringing the doorbell. When I answered they said they had already call the fire department. My car's engine compartment was engulfed in flames and undercarriage covers were also burning. The rear bumper and light assemblies were melting. The doors were stuck windshield exploded and srs systems had activated. Fire department said it was electrical fire. USAA said it is a total loss and the electrical fire was in the engine compartment. My vehicle was parked on the street in front of my house and been driven the evening before and parked in front of my house. I have plenty of pictures.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 24, 2025Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11701221

Wheels

4 reports
“MY PIRELLI RUN FLAT TIES ONLY LASTED LESS THAN 8,000 MILES. THE FRONT TIRES ARE BALD! THE REAR TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES LEFT. UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR, BUT ONLY WITH THE TIRES. I COULD NOT FIND ANYWHERE ON THIS WEBSITE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TIRES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2020WheelsODI 11376402

Steering

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 750LI. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHECKERED FLAG BMW (5225 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462, (866) 414-7820) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT NEW AIR BAGS AND A NEW STEERING WHEEL WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2019Steering, Air bagsODI 11203428

Suspension

2 reports
“WELL AT THE 60K MILE MARK THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN, COME TOO FIND OUT MANY CARS THIS SAME MODEL AND YEAR ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES... THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN CHANGED A COUPLE TIMES NOW AND THE FUEL PUMP WENT BAD... THE CAR BURNS OIL BMW SAYS THIS IS NORMAL I FIND THAT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE... THE MOTOR WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND ACTUALLY LEAVING THE BMW DEALERSHIP HOW IRONIC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2019Suspension, Power train, EngineODI 11184487
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.