2012 BMW X5 SAV Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 14%of 21 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 48,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the steering of the 2012 BMW X5 SAV, 14% of the 21 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 48,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While idling in the middle of the night, a roaring noise all of a sudden started underneath the car. As I started moving, the noise seemed to follow the engine acceleration and got louder. The steering wheel started getting harder to manipulate and the noise got louder at each steer. I was in a different state, about 40 miles from my house. By the time I got to my house, the steering wheel was almost impossible to maneuver. I parked the car to take it to the dealer the next morning. …”
NHTSA complaint #10703741, filed 2015-04, 30,296 miles“My wife was driving my vehicle to get car wash. All of a sudden she lost power steering and the car battery warning came on. The idler pulley bolt snapped. Luckily my wife did not crash. She was driving 60mph and lost power steering. She is pregnant and had 2 kids in car. Now I've replaced this bolt again. I put purchased a new idler pulley bolt with loc tite. I replaced it and met every specification that NHTSA required. Basically it only require more torque and loc tite. This time it snapped in my drive way thank goodness. …”
NHTSA complaint #11002447, filed 2017-06, 119,000 miles“Tried to complete a 3-point turn into a parking space when placing vehicle from reverse into drive, the vehicle unassisted it acceleration and would not brake nor steer; thus causing myself to crash head on into a concrete barrier.”
NHTSA complaint #10724806, filed 2015-06, 48,000 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 | 14% |
| 2010 | 3 | 16% |
Other parts of the 2012 BMW X5 SAV
9 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 BMW X5 SAV
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology