2012 Bmw 128i
The Verdict
The 2012 Bmw 128i has 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (23 complaints) and engine (6 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 93/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating.
This is the cleanest year on record. Nice pick.
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
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Worst Problems
Complaints
Prior to August 2024, this vehicle operated with zero check engine lights or drivetrain faults. In August 2024, BMW of Pittsburgh executed federally mandated Safety Recall 23V-707, which required opening the cylinder head. Immediately following this service, the Check Engine Light began illuminating persistently.On or about October 3, 2024, an independent diagnostic scan at Bobby Rahal BMW pulled BMW Factory Code 002A89: Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Mechanism Fault (Mechanical Sticking/Flow Restriction). Technicians at Bobby Rahal BMW explicitly instructed me to return the car to BMW of Pittsburgh because they suspected the original VANOS safety recall repair was botched.On October 28, 2024, I returned the vehicle to BMW of Pittsburgh to address this issue. Their technicians opened the engine block assembly a second time, yet failed to correct the defect. Following this second visit, the check engine light continued to come on intermittently. The vehicle began suffering rough idling, difficulty starting, and dangerous stalling events during operation. Cycling the ignition on and off provided only temporary relief.The check engine light has now become permanently illuminated. The safety hazards have severely escalated into a protective engine "limp mode," causing violent drivetrain shuddering and a catastrophic loss of driveability. BMW of Pittsburgh refuses to honor the recall workmanship, demanding a predatory $6,000 out-of-pocket teardown fee to bypass their liability. The manufacturer (BMW North America) has been notified under Case Reference VH78028, but the safety defect remains unaddressed, and the vehicle is completely unsafe to drive.
Due to BMW using plastic parts when you live in Hot and cold environments the plastic begins to mold to other plastic parts and pvc diaphragms tear rather easy causing rough idle , stalls and can cause over revving and send a car into another car while in gear. The cheap plastic cause oil leaks and when oil gets low cause engine failure as well.
On February 25, 2026, BMW of South Miami performed the VANOS safety recall repair on my vehicle. The repair order documented that VANOS bolts were missing and retrieved from the engine oil pan and that VANOS components were serviced. Within approximately 24–48 hours of picking up the vehicle, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began operating abnormally, including rough idle and irregular shifting. The vehicle stored diagnostic fault code P054B (camshaft position timing over-retarded), which directly relates to camshaft timing and the VANOS system involved in the recall repair. I returned the vehicle to the dealership for further diagnosis. The dealership stated an aftermarket camshaft position sensor with two O-rings was installed and removed one O-ring to correct the gap between the sensor and the camshaft reluctor wheel. The faults were cleared and the vehicle was returned to me. However, the check engine light returned again the following morning upon cold start, indicating the issue was not corrected. My service advisor has since stated that replacing the camshaft position sensor is not part of the recall repair and the dealership has declined to repair the vehicle under the recall. Because the malfunction appeared immediately after the VANOS safety recall repair and involves the camshaft timing system connected to VANOS operation, I believe the recall repair may not have been properly completed or corrected. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter as a potential recall effectiveness issue, as the safety recall repair appears unresolved and the vehicle continues to experience faults related to the system that was repaired.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 128i. The contact stated after completing an oil change at the dealer and starting the vehicle, the RPM started fluctuating. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop at a traffic light, the RPM fluctuated rapidly and the vehicle decelerated while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The contact was able to drive to the dealer at a slower speed. The dealer diagnosed that the VANOS (Variable Nockenwell Steuerung) system needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was a manufacturing defect; however, she would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist since an unknown recall was converted to an extended warranty repair which had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 79,769.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 128i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
TAKATA RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.
TAKATA RECALL -- AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT AIRBAG, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM BMW IN LATE SEPTEMBER THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS AVAILABLE AND THAT I SHOULD GET MY CAR IN. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH KUNI BMW ON OCTOBER 17, 2017 BUT THEY CALLED THAT MORNING AND SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS BUT WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY DO TO RESCHEDULE. I FOLLOWED UP ON OCTOBER 30 AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY STILL CAN'T HELP ME BUT THAT I AM ON THEIR PRIORITY LIST WHEN THE PART COMES IN. SO -- IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT BMW HAS NOTIFIED ME THAT MY CAR NEEDS TO BE FIXED, MY LOCAL DEALER CAN'T DO THE JOB. IT'S BEEN A MONTH AND THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS AVAILABLE!
TAKATA RECALL BRAMAN DEALERSHIP IN WEST PALM BEACH WILL NOT SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE AIRBAG RECALL PERFORMED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 BMW 128I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, METAL FRAGMENTS STRUCK THE CONTACT'S FACE AND CHEST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOWING COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF HENDERSON (261 AUTO MALL DR, HENDERSON, NV 89014, PHONE NUMBER: (702) 570-0278) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (COGGIN BMW OF TREASURE COAST IN FT. PIERCE (LOCATED AT 4429 US-1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982; (772) 410-5155) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. *JS
RECALL DRIVER AIRBAG - CANNOT GET IT REPLACED BY A DEALER
I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY TAKATA AIRBAGS TO BE REPAIRED.
TAKATA RECALL - RECALL HAS BEEN PENDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AND TO DATE HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT HAVING REPLACEMENT PART INSTALLED...VEHICLE IS APPROACHING SIX YEARS OF AGE, WHICH IS LISTED AS THE START OF DETERIORATION IN THE AIRBAGS
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW DATED MARCH 2016 NOTIFYING ME OF RECALL. LAST WEEK, I WAS AT MY BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND INQUIRED WHEN I COULD BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND IT IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. I FIND IT INEXCUSABLE THAT I AM WAITING FOR OVER A YEAR TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION AND IN THE MEANTIME, BMW IS POTENTIALLY IGNORING THIS RECALL AND I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS ADMITTEDLY UNSAFE WHILE CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY.
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR AND THE PART HAS NOT BEEN MADE AVAILABLE
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TAKATA RECALL. I PURCHASED MY BMW 128I ON JULY 4TH 2014 AND I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT BMW KNEW OF THE FAULTY AIRBAGS IN MY MODEL CAR AND DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE KNOWN ISSUE. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF AN ISSUE UNTIL THE END OF 2015. CAN I HAVE BMW BUY BACK MY CAR DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE RECALL AND POTENTIALLY NOT BEING INFORMED OF AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR BEFORE PURCHASING THE CAR?
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