Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 320i, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags2
- Electrical system1
- Exterior lighting1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls
BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What BMW told its dealers about the 2012 BMW 320i: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10249437 | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| 10249027 | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints. |
| 10215025 | Shipping specific non-deployed vehicle safety devices to lighting resources, llc. This service Information bulletin provides information on shipping "specific" noin-deployed vehicle safety devices that are classified as Dangerous Goods (DG) to Lighting resources, LLC |
| 10215024 | The engine?s intake charge-air duct limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles applies to ?eligible USspecification |
| 10162433 | "Headunit-Basic: CID is blank and "NO SIGNAL" is Displayed. Intermittently the Central Information Display (CID) is blank and "NO SIGNAL" is displayed on the CID. Fault Code B7F8C3 "no response from CID (HW error: loss of CID communication)" is stored in the HU-B Error in the Headunit-Basic (HU-B), also called Radio Professional or ENTRY head unit." |
| 10162432 | "Service Action: Program Control Units (FEM). One or more of the following situations may occur when using the windshield wipers: * After the wipers are switched off, they do not remain in the park position, but in the middle of the windshield. * The wipers continue to operate even when the ignition is switched off. * The wipers only partially moved when switched on. * Hazard warning lights flash permanently. * Vehicle locks and unlocks on its own. * Interior lights turn on by themselves. * The trunk lid cannot be opened. AFFECTED VEHICLES This Service Action involves F30 which were produced O |
| 10162422 | Low Coolant Warning Is Displayed. The low coolant level warning may come on in the information display. CAUSE Moisture-induced corrosion at the electrical connector for the coolant level sensor causes an inaccurate reading of the coolant level. |
| 10162399 | N20 Engine: Ticking Noise from High-pressure Fuel Pump. The customer complains of a high-frequency ticking noise from the engine compartment. The noise can be heard inside and outside the vehicle. Mechanical vibrations inside the high-pressure fuel pump. |
| 10145340 | STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS DO NOT FUNCTION RELIABLY: Sporadic or continuous malfunction of multifunction steering wheel buttons |
| 10145339 | AFTER EXCHANGING THE FRONT ELECTRONIC MODULE (FEM), PROGRAMMING / ENCODING IS NOT POSSIBLE: After replacing the Front Electronic Module (FEM) for an applicable repair, programming / encoding is not possible. |
| 10145320 | CONNECTEDDRIVE/BMW ASSIST SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION: ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist features are partially or completely inoperative. |
| 10145306 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance: |
| 10145298 | MEMORY SEAT ADJUSTMENT IS LIMITED: After programming the vehicle with ISTA 4.10.2x, the adjustment range of the memory seat may restricted. |
| 10145283 | BUZZING NOISE FROM VALVETRONIC MOTOR BEFORE OR AFTER ENGINE OPERATION: Buzzing noise may be heard from the Valvetronic motor when the vehicle is unlocked, before the engine is started, or after the engine is turned off. |
| 10143570 | HEAD UNIT HIGH 2 RESET WHILE BLUETOOTH IS CONNECTED: The following event may cause an unexpected reset of the Head Unit High 2 (NBT EVO) when: |
| 10143569 | BMW ONLINE NON-FUNCTIONAL: CHECK ICC-ID IN ACCOUNT: BMW Online/BMW ConnectedDrive not functional. |
| 10143565 | NAVIGATION PRO (NBT EVO) MAP UPDATE NOT POSSIBLE, NAVIGATION DOES NOT START: Navigation system will not start at all or the: Navigation system starts message is permanently displayed; or |
| 10143564 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance: |
| 10142945 | Bluetooth Connection Failures: There are various connectivity failures with the following devices: Apple iPhones: Samsung S6 and the S6 Edge. |
| 10142943 | Side View Camera Does Not Display Picture. |
| 10142940 | NO AUDIO PLAYBACK AFTER REPLACING THE HEAD UNIT HIGH 2 (HU-H2): After replacing the Head Unit High (HU-H2) and performing ISTA4 programming, there is no audio playback. |
| 10142938 | HALOGEN HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE: Halogen headlights may be misaligned (aimed too low or high). |
| 10142936 | KLE CHARGING FAULT 21E6E9: During the ISTA short test diagnosis, fault code 21E6E9 Charging electronics: Charging mode interrupted is found stored in the KLE (Convenience Charging Electronics) module. |
| 10142933 | TAILGATE UNINTENTIONALLY OPENS: Trunk/tailgate may open when vehicle is locked. |
| 10142923 | N20 AND N26 ENGINE TIMING CHAIN AND OIL PUMP DRIVE CHAIN: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 7 YEARS/70,000 MILES |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Loss of power assist braking
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation