The 2012 BMW 328i has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,267,696 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi…
Consequence
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS24V5130002024-07-03394,029 affected
Defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport…
Consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS20V0170002020-01-1559,965 affected
Defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i,…
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.
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…
Consequence
If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC14V6270002014-10-078,988 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC13V4540002013-09-2676,191 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
54
1crashes
AIR BAGS
26
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
23
1fires
POWER TRAIN
19
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
16
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
11
1crashes1fires
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
10
SEATS
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
SEAT BELTS
5
Total complaints196
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Incident summary: on january 9, 2026, at approximately 1:30 pm, while traveling at 50 mph in north carolina, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic engine seizure without any prior "limp mode" warning or check engine light. This resulted in an immediate, total loss of motive power in…”
“Incident summary: on january 9, 2026, at approximately 1:30 pm, while traveling at 50 mph in north carolina, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic engine seizure without any prior "limp mode" warning or check engine light. This resulted in an immediate, total loss of motive power in…”
“Incident summary: on january 9, 2026, at approximately 1:30 pm, while traveling at 50 mph in north carolina, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic engine seizure without any prior "limp mode" warning or check engine light. This resulted in an immediate, total loss of motive power in…”
“The contact owns a 2012 bmw 328i. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating, and shortly afterwards the vehicle lost motive power in the middle of the roadway. The contact stated that several unknown warning…”
“My bmw is overheating its been imat bmw of downtown for 8 days and they’re trying to charge me to repair my melted fuse box,cooling systems and battery, damage that has occurred as a default of the pcv”
“Drive train malfunction. On june 25th 2025, for the second time I got this drive train malfunction issue on my 328i 2012 model. The car just stopped in middle of road ( thank god not on a freeway ; otherwise, this would have resulted in multi car accidents and could have costed people's life…”
“While traveling at night on the toll road between washington, dc and pittsburgh, pa, the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning. Power was lost completely, including power steering, while in motion on a major freeway, creating an immediate and severe risk of collision for us and surrounding…”
“Dealer refused to cover dme that failed immediately after recall 24v-608 work. In early june 2025, I contacted my local bmw dealership about an overheat notification I received while driving. They confirmed there was an open recall on the vehicle for a water pump connector (recall 24v-608). I had…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE13030 Opened 2013-09-06 · closed 2013-10-25
Loss of power assist braking
In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 BMW 328i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.