Car · BMW recalls
2012 BMW 5 Series recalls
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 BMW 5 Series, filed between September 26, 2013 and August 14, 2024. Each one is below with what is wrong and the free fix.
Check my VINCheck repair status at NHTSA
| Part | Filed | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling: pump | August 14, 2024 | Fire risk |
| Engine and engine cooling: turbo/supercharger | April 18, 2018 | Fire risk |
| Fuel system, gasoline: fuel pump | October 17, 2016 | Stall risk |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | October 7, 2014 | Crash risk |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: vacuum | September 26, 2013 | Crash risk |
Engine and engine cooling: pumpFire risk
Trims named in this campaign: 528i
What is wrong. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
What could happen. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The fix. 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.
Show NHTSA's full text
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 vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Engine and engine cooling: turbo/superchargerFire risk
Trims named in this campaign: 550i
What is wrong. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
What could happen. If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time.Read the rest of the fix
Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
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BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel pumpStall risk
Trims named in this campaign: 528i, 535i, 535i ActiveHybrid, 550i
What is wrong. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.
What could happen. The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.
Service brakes, hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCrash risk
Trims named in this campaign: 528i
What is wrong. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
What could happen. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. 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.
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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.
Service brakes, hydraulic: vacuumCrash risk
Trims named in this campaign: 528i
What is wrong. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
What could happen. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. 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 [email protected].
Show NHTSA's full text
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.
Check that your car is on the list
Most campaigns cover only cars built in a certain date range or at a certain plant, so a 2012 BMW 5 Series may or may not be included. The VIN is the only sure test. It is 17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver door jamb sticker. Look up your VIN at NHTSA to see whether a campaign is open for your exact car.
How to confirm the repair is free
- Call any authorized BMW dealer service desk and give them the VIN and the campaign number from the list above.
- Ask them to confirm the campaign is open for your car. If it is, the parts and labor are covered.
- If the dealer says the part is not in stock, ask for a written note with the date, and ask about a loaner if the notice says not to drive the car.
- Keep the repair order. It shows the campaign number and proves the work was done.
If you already paid for a repair that a recall later covered, BMW may owe you a refund. Ask the dealer or BMW customer service about reimbursement, and keep your receipts.
Other model years of the 5 Series
- 2026 (1)
- 2025 (6)
- 2024 (7)
- 2023 (3)
- 2022 (3)
- 2021 (8)
- 2020 (7)
- 2019 (4)
- 2018 (8)
- 2017 (2)
- 2016 (7)
- 2015 (5)
- 2014 (6)
- 2013 (4)
- 2011 (7)
- 2010 (5)
- All years
What do owners report besides recalls? See the 2012 BMW 5 Series problems: complaints by area, service bulletins and the repairs that fit.
More: all BMW recalls, check-engine codes, car repair costs.
2012 BMW 5 Series recall questions
How many recalls does the 2012 BMW 5 Series have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 BMW 5 Series. A campaign can cover only some cars of that model year, so check your VIN to see whether yours is included.
Is a recall repair on a 2012 BMW 5 Series free?
Yes. A safety recall repair is free at an authorized BMW dealer, whatever the age or mileage of the car and no matter who owns it now.
How do I know if my 2012 BMW 5 Series was already fixed?
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows whether a campaign is open for that exact car. You can also ask a dealer to run the VIN, or look at the service history paperwork for the campaign number.
Source: NHTSA recalls API, checked 2026-10-29. Text is NHTSA's wording of each campaign. New campaigns are added over time. Not a repair shop, estimates only.