2012 BMW 135I Problems and Recalls (19 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2012 BMW 135I is Fuel system (21% of 19 owner reports). There are 6 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 19 complaints · 6 recalls

What problems show up on the 2012 BMW 135I?

4 of 19 filings named Fuel system (21% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Airbags (3 reports).

There are 6 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Airbags, Transmission / driveline, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2011 has 27 reports on file; this year has 19. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2012 BMW 135I

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 6 campaigns on file below.
  2. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  3. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  4. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Fuel system. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Fuel system 4 complaints · 21.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
All BMW 135I years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) appears in 4 of 19 owner complaints (21.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 4 complaints, 21.1% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 4 · 21.1% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 3 complaints, 15.8% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 · 15.8% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 3 complaints, 15.8% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 · 15.8% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 10.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 · 10.5% Engine (ENGINE): 2 complaints, 10.5% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 · 10.5% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 1 complaints, 5.3% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 · 5.3% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 1 complaints, 5.3% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 · 5.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 3 complaints, 15.8% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 · 15.8% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 4 21.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 15.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 15.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 10.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 2 10.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 5.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 5.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 15.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2013; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2013. 2013-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2013 Apr 2023 Recall campaign 13V044000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V044000 Recall campaign 14V176000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V176000 Recall campaign 16V071000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V071000 Recall campaign 17V067000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V067000 Recall campaign 19V579000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V579000 Recall campaign 20V017000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V017000 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 17V067000 was reported 1,188 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V579000 was reported 2,376 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V017000 was reported 1,132 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2013-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 13V044000
Recall campaign 1 14V176000
Recall campaign 1 16V071000
Recall campaign 1 17V067000
Recall campaign 1 19V579000
Recall campaign 1 20V017000
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (6)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine, Airbags, Transmission / driveline, and Electrical.

  1. Recall campaign 13V044000

    Safety recall 13V044000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 14V176000

    Engine

    Report date
    Component:
    Engine (ENGINE)
    Consequence:
    If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 16V071000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 17V067000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 19V579000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of an earlier recall number 17V-676.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 20V017000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 7 of 19 complaints · page 1 of 1
2023-05-12Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11521626
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Continuing coolant problems, engine shut off going down the hwy bc overheated////engine not secure-moves around literally/////camshaft timing position sensor code. On Dec 24th I purchased a 2012 BMW 135i convertible from Alboet Motor Sports on Pass Rd in Gulfport, MS. Before I went I specifically asked if the car had any mechanical or cosmetic damage and [XXX] lied and said nothing was wrong. After signing all documents she started pretending to look for the title. She promised i would get it in a week or so in the mail. The car had a ruined engine and radiator, missing front air intake ducts completely, who knows what else. They only paid 2700 bc it states stationary with mechanical damage from auction. I paid the $10,700 in cash they charged me. I'm sick to death just thinking about it. She will not repair, refund or anything like that. She finally today sent a pic of a title to the car and its got a man in Mobile, AL name on it. I don't think she ever even tried to get it and doubt she is now either. I have wasted more time and money on this, I feel robbed of over 10k. I have no car to start my new job the 24th. Please help me, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2021-03-11Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11402494
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. SEVERAL TIME, WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WITH CROSSING TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BUT THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED SHIFTING FROM AUTO TO MANUAL BUT THE CAR STILL FAILED TO ACCELERATE FOR AT LEAST 5 SECONDS AT WHICH TIME IT JOLTED FORWARD. THE ISSUE STARTED AT AROUND THE 50K MILE MARK 3 YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES STILL TODAY (~90K MILES). I AM NOT SEEING MY VEHICLE LISTED UNDER RECALLS RELATED TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER/STALLING FROM 2/7/2013 AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS RELATED TO MY CAR SINCE 2017. I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH CRACKING SOUNDS FROM FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING. TO DATE, I HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION REBUILT INCLUDING; CONTROL ARM ASSY, SWAY BAR ASSY, BEARING, STRUTS, AND U-JOINTS. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY DURING COLDER WEATHER DAYS. NOW I AM LEARNING THAT THERE IS A RECALL FROM 8/1/2020 RELATED TO MY CAR MODEL BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10179812 MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: B310112. SUMMARY CRACKING NOISES FROM THE FRONTAXLE AREA WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS, WHEN STATION: CRACKING NOISES ARE HEARD FROM THE FRONT AXLE AREA WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW SPEEDS (E.G., PARKING LOT MANEUVERS) OR WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STATIONARY.
2020-06-17Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11329311
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 135I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THEIR WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE POWER STEERING CEASED WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *LN *TR
2020-02-04Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11307058
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN I HAD FEWER THAN 50K MILES, MY THERMOSTAT BROKE SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD NO PREVIOUS ISSUES OR WARNING LIGHTS. SINCE THAT REPAIR, I HAVE HAD 2 COOLANT LEAKS, AND ONE RELATED PIPE CRACK. THIS WEEK, I HAD AIR IN MY COOLANT SYSTEM AND HAD TO HAVE IT DRAINED. THESE ALL APPEAR TO BE RELATED.
2019-12-19Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11290149
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN MORE THAN 1/8 THROTTLE IS APPLIED, VEHICLE HAS DIFFICULTY STARTING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN APPLYING SMALL THROTTLE INPUTS. THE 4 PREVIOUS YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS HAD A KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT ADJUSTED THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THE FOUR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS UP TO 120K MILES. BMW MADE SLIGHT CHANGES TO THE ENGINE FOR THE NEXT MODEL YEARS, BUT LEFT THE EXACT SAME PART THAT RESULTED IN THE ORIGINAL LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT. THAT PART IS THE POINT THAT FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. SHOULD THE WARRANTY EXTENSION THEY AGREED TO IN THE SETTLEMENT APPLY TO ALL MAKES AND MODELS BMW MADE WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART? THIS PROBLEM CAUSED MY WIFE TO BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED OUT OF THE LANES OF TRAFFIC.
2019-06-26Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11222668
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE ALMOST STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. VEHICLE WILL ALSO SURGE FORWARD WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. BOTH ISSUES ARE WORSENED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM OUTSIDE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE BMW DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT, BUT THEY NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG.
2019-03-26Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11191706
CrashFireInjuryDeath
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS REQUESTED BY THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WISH TO HAVE IT REMOVED*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2012 BMW 135I?

Owners named Fuel system most often — 4 of 19 reports (21%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2012 BMW 135I?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Airbags, Transmission / driveline, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2012 BMW 135I?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources