2012 BMW 6 Series recalls and problems

The 2012 BMW 6 Series has 1 recall and 2 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

2012 Bmw 6 Series
Photo: 2012 Bmw 6 Series by Bull-Doser, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2012 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Lowest complaint count among 6 6 Series model years — 6th most.

1recalls
2complaints
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
38,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →

1 recall

Engine

Apr 10, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V161000 · 2,846 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy & notes

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on April 30, 2012. Owners May contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.

This recall is an expansion of safety recall 11V521.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Unknown or other1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

NHTSA investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open
Summary

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been n…

2012 vs. other BMW 6 Series years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2012. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2012 BMW 6 Series have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2012 BMW 6 Series, the latest from Apr 10, 2012 (engine). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 6 Series?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (1), engine (1), unknown or other (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.