Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 BMW X6 XDRIVE50I problems

Owners filed 32 complaints about the 2012 BMW X6 XDRIVE50I with NHTSA between Aug 2012 and May 2024. The most-cited component is engine (15).

Complaints
32
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
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 train9
  3. Fuel/propulsion system6
  4. Electrical system5
  5. Steering3
  6. Air bags2
  7. Structure2
  8. Exterior lighting1
  9. Fuel system, gasoline1
  10. Suspension1
  11. Other / unknown2

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 Oct 30, 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
20122
20130
20140
20154
20164
20175
20181
20194
20203
20215
20221
20232
20241

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 reports
“Fuel pump stopped working almost died on highway after car stalled and wouldnt let me drive while it turned off . I cant believe a fuel pump is bad at 107 k miles . Ive read multiple forums on same issue w other x6 this needs immediate attention someone could die .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2021Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11431450

Power train

9 reports
“The contact owns a 2012 BMW X6. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the front driveshaft universal joint. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V138000 (Power Train) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2024Power trainODI 11588636

Fuel/propulsion system

6 reports
“CAR IS JUMPING FORWARD WHEN IM COMING TO A STOP AT LIGHTS. ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ONE TIME. IT ALSO SHIVERS WHEN TURNING SLOW OR BACKING UP AND SLOWLY ACCELERATION. I CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING SO THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A BAD TIRE BUT REALIZED UPON RESEARCH IT COULD BE DRIVE TRAIN OR POWER STEERING. NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT GRILL AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM WORK A WEEK AGO. LIFTED THE HOOD AND LOOKED AROUND. SAW FLUID BAKED ONTO A NOZZLE BUT COULDNT READ WHAT FLUID COMPARTMENT IT WAS.. JUST RESEARCHED ISSUES IM HAVING ONLINE AND SAW IT IS THE POWER STEERING NOZZLE, WHICH ACTUALLY HAD A RECALL BACK THE YEAR MY CAR WAS MADE FOR POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING FIRES! SCARY STUFF CONSIDERING I HAD SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE GRILL LAST WEEK.. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT BMW SERVICE DEPT HALF OF THE TIME IVE OWNED IT BECAUSE I NOTICE IT NOT FEELING OR DRIVING CORRECT FOR THE ENGINE I HAVE AND WHEN I HAD WARRANTY SO MANY ISSUE'S WERE IGNORED AND MADE WORSE BY THE HORRIBLE TECH'S THEY HAVE. MY TURBO'S HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE CAUSING MY CAR TO NOT PERFORM 100%, THEY NEVER ADVISED ME AND ALWAYS SAID CAR DROVE FINE. MY COOLANT WAS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2019Steering, Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11207055

Electrical system

5 reports1 crash
“Took vehicle in to get checked. Had a hose replaced due to antifreeze leak. After picking vehicle up. Interior lights doesn’t work, signal lights doesn’t work, and or emergency brakes doesn’t work. My car was perfectly fine since I’ve had it. Never experienced this issue before.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2023Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11521696

Steering

3 reports
“MY CAR PULLS HARD AND SHUDDERS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT OR REVERSING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SHOPS HAVE TOLD ME BUT THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING WHAT ISSUE IS. MY BROTHER SAID IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSFER CASE OR ALL WHEEL DRIVE NOT WORKING. SHAKES HARD AT EVERY TURN LIKE WHEEL IS DRAGGING. MY TURBO'S HAVE BEEN LEAKING SINCE THE DAY I GOT CAR AND BMW NEVER ADVISED ME AFTER I HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM MY CAR ISNT DRIVING AT MAX POTENTIAL. IM ALWAYS TOLD A LOT OF WHITE STEAM OR SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST IS NORMAL. HAVE HAD MY CAR AT BMW SERVICE MORE THAN IVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT. REPLACED CAR BATTERY MYSELF BECAUSE CAR KEPT SAYING LOW POWER MODE AND BMW SERVICE CHARGED ME $800 SAYING IT WAS NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.. IT WASNT THE ISSUE. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE A WEEK LATER. I COULDNT DRIVE IT FOR 2 WEEKS THEN FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO A REGULAR SHOP WHICH SAID IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS! NOW CAR TRANSFER CASE HAS BEEN BAD FOR PAST 6 MONTHS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2019Steering, Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11234876

Air bags

2 reports
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (PRINCETON BMW IN HAMILTON, NJ) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2017Power train, Air bagsODI 11014158
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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