Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 7 Series, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Wheels1
- Seat belts1
- Engine1
- Unknown or other1
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
Registered new in Europe in 2012
7,683 new BMW 7 Series cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2012; the largest markets were Germany (4,324), the United Kingdom (1,248), France (456).
- Average mass
- 1,988 kg
- Average power
- 222 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 89% · Petrol 11%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
108 first registered in 2012 are on Dutch roads; 65% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €140,943.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde45
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen33
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm27
- Band onvoldoende profiel23
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm19
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld17
- Band beschadigd12
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage12
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
684 cars built in 2012 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 134 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 903 of these cars first registered in 2012 took their annual MOT test. 81% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2012 the figure was 66%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 2.9% | 12.2% |
| Tyres | 2.7% | 7.0% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.0% | 14.3% |
| Brakes | 0.6% | 7.7% |
| Visibility | 0.4% | 5.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.3% | 3.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
69 of these cars first registered in 2012 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 265,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
55 2012 cars are on the New Zealand register; 84% arrived as used imports, 16% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2012 BMW 7 Series.
| 2024544 15 Aug 2024 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "N… |
| 2018195 19 Apr 2018 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the auxiliary water pump (which cools the turbocharger after the engine is turned OFF) can overheat and fail. This could result in a vehicl… |
| 2016566 15 Nov 2016 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, a Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) having incorrect programming may have been installed in error by dealers during servicing. As the SCU helps det… |
| 2011376 21 Oct 2011 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the auxiliary water pump (which cools the turbocharger after the engine is turned OFF) can overheat and fail. This could result in a vehic… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2012 6-SERIES CONVERTIBLE, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, AND X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
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 7 Series: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11008105 | Only fuel nozzles with the recommended specified diameter for diesel engine passenger vehicles can beinserted into the filler neck. Most fuel stations have their diesel fuel pumps fitted with this recommendeddiameter fuel nozzle. However, if the vehicles filler-neck misfuelling protection system has been disabled, or the incorrectdiameter fuel nozzle has been installed on the diesel fuel pump, the vehicles diesel fuel system can becontaminated by filling the diesel engine vehicle with gasoline. If the diesel fuel system has been contaminated with gasoline, follow the repair guidelines below: |
| 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. |
| 10247567 | Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE |
| 10245422 | Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicles equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed. |
| 10244242 | Various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (ADCAM system) can lead to customer 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 |
| 10058483 | BMW: PROCEDURAL INFORMATION ON THE INSTALLATION OF FUEL SYSTEM LOW PRESSURE SENSOR AND NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED WILL LEAD TO FAILURE OF LOW PRESSURE SENSOR AND METAL SUPPLY LINE. MODEL 2008-14. *PE |
| 10058164 | BMW 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, SERIES SEDAN, X3, 4, 5, 6, M4: REGARDING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON. *LJ |
| 10057568 | BMW: ON SOME VEHICLES, WHEN STARTING, LOW BEAM, WITH 0552 OPTION, WOULD BRIEFLY FLASHES, DUE TO A FAULTY LED MAIN LIGHT MODULE THAT NEEDS REPLACING. MODEL 2008-14 F01, F02, F06, F07, F10, F12, F13, F25. *PE |
| 10057527 | BMW: SELECTIVE CATALYST REDUCTION MODULE (SCR) HAS A STORED FAULT, PRESSURE BUILD UP IS LOW, CAUSING SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. * |
| 10057341 | BMW: MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT FOR ENGINE IS ILLUMINATED DUE TO PURGE AIR SYSTEM MICRO LEAKAGE AND VENTILATION OF FUEL TANK FROM CONTAMINATION. *PE |
| 10057338 | BMW: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ENGINE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR EARLY STAGES OF WEAR, AND A REPAIR SOLUTION SHOULD BE PROVIDED. *PE UPDATED 9/25/15. *PE UPDATED 10/6/15. *PE |
| 10057337 | BMW: DUE TO DEBRIS ENTERING OIL PASSAGE OF ENGINE, IT WILL KNOCK AND LOSE POWER, DURING CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACES AND CLEANING OF ENGINE BLOCK AFTER REPAIR TO ENGINE. *PE |
| 10057336 | BMW: NEW SERVICE PROGRAM PROCEDURE IS NOW AVAILABLE REGARDING THE BRAKE FLUID, TIRE PRESSURES, LOCK/STRIKER ADJUSTMENTS FOR TRUNK OR TAILGATE, BATTERY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING. *PE |
| 10056099 | BMW: WHEN USING IPHONE, VARIOUS CONNECTIVITY FAILURES OCCUR, SUCH AS DISCONNECTION OF CALL, LIST OF CONTACTS INCOMPLETE, DUE TO THE VARIANTS AND SOFTWARE USED. MODEL 2008-2014. |
| 10054641 | BMW: AN ERRONEOUS MESSAGE, FROM OIL LEVEL SENSOR, INDICATING OIL SERVICE IS DUE, AFTER TRAVELING A SHORT DISTANCE. MODEL F15, F13, F12, F10, F07, F06, F02, F01. NO YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10052366 | BMW: ON SOME ACTIVEHYBRID (3,5,7), THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY IS COOLED BY REFRIGERANT AND IS REGULATED BY EXPANSION VALVE AT BASE OF BATTERY AND IT CAN BECOME STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, EITHER PERMANENTLY OR INTERMITTENTLY. MODELS F02H, F10H, F30H. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10052365 | BMW: WARNING LAMPS ARE ILLUMINATED FOR THE DSC, ABS AND BRAKE AND A POSSIBLE WARNING IN CONTROL DISPLAY FOR CHASSIS CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. MODELS 2012 F25, 30, 01, 02, 07, 10, 12, 13, E70, 71, 84. *PE |
| 10052359 | BMW: ON SOME VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL INJECTOR, CAN LEAD TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE DUE TO INCORRECT OPERATION AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED AND/OR REPLACED. MODELS F01, 02, 04, 07, 10, 12, 13, E70, 71. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10052012 | BMW: BATTERY HAS AN INCREASED DEMAND DUE TO DEVELOPEMENTAL PROCESS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS CAUSING THE BATTER TO NEED TO UNDERGO AN ENERGY DIAGNOSIS. *KB |
| 10052011 | BMW: FUEL TANK PRESSURE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE WITH A FAULT CODE OF 19401B. THIS LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE PRESSURE MAY BE LOW AS OPPOSED TO AMBIENT. *KB |
| 10051970 | BMW: HIGH BATTERY DISCHARGE WARNING: BATTERY NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THE "HIGH BATTERY DISCHARGE WARNING" WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE CENTRAL INFORMATION DISPLAY (CID). *KB UPDATED 05/13/2013 *JS UPDATED 11/1/13. *PE |
| 10049679 | BMW: IF BSD COMMUNICATION IS DISRUPTED, OIL LEVEL SENSOR DATA IS NO LONGER RECEIVED BY DME. BSD COMMUNICATION FAULT(S), AFTER REPAIRS ARE SHORTLY SET, REQUIRES REMOVAL OF IGNITION HARNESS FROM CYLINDER HEAD COVER. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)