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BMW X6Model year report

2012 BMW X6 Problems

Compared with other BMW X6 years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2013

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
32filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
72,450miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
74 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 4.4L 8-cyl AWD · 14 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 BMW X6 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2012 BMW X6. The part named most often is engine, with 15 complaints (47% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (9) and fuel system (7). 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,450 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns (4 marked do-not-drive) and 215 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 52 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the driveshaft and 23 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 BMW X6 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine: “I was recently on a highway driving and my car suddenly came to a halt, shaking and vibrating whiles other cars were behind me. I almost lost my life in accident with a trailer truck who quickly maneuvered from behind me. I drove the car to a Bmw dealership and I was told that the fuel injectors created that problem. The car has less than 90k miles on it and Bmw is refusing to accept the fact that this is safety issue which could have ended my life. I am requesting at this point for bwm to open a campaign for these fuel injectors or the government issue a recall on them. …”

NHTSA complaint #10980970, filed 2017-04, 87,456 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Car is jumping forward when im coming to a stop at lights. Almost hit the car in front of me one time. It also shivers when turning slow or backing up and slowly acceleration. I can feel it in the steering so thought it might be a bad tire but realized upon research it could be drive train or power steering. Noticed smoke coming out of the front grill after arriving home from work a week ago. Lifted the hood and looked around. Saw fluid baked onto a nozzle but couldnt read what fluid compartment it was.. …”

NHTSA complaint #11207055, filed 2019-05, 83,400 miles

Fuel system: “Engine malfunction. Engine operating at reduced output. Engine has malfunctioned numerous times. Shuts down to reduced output, without warning and without allowance for traffic conditions, only allowing for 4-5 MPH travel. Extreme danger! Bmw has a customer care package that is a recall, although they are not calling it a recall. However, all parts of recall have been replaced on vehicle and now having to drive a vehicle that has not been fixed, that I am afraid to drive in traffic and do not trust to have enough power to merge onto interstate. …”

NHTSA complaint #10691775, filed 2015-03, 46,932 miles

Electrical system: “This vehicle does not have any audible or visual warning that any of the doors or hatch back is open prior to driving the vehicle. According to the dealership at princeton new jersey Bmw, the vehicle has to reach 5 MPH before there is a warning. This is too late. I was parked in a parking garage when my Bmw X6 key accidentally opened the hatchback. The key design is very poor as all buttons are flush with the hand. It will open doors or windows unexpectedly depending on how it goes in my pocket. …”

NHTSA complaint #10469994, filed 2012-08, 6,400 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 26,000 and 87,456 miles.

25%0–100%10–258%25–5021%50–7529%75–10013%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 72,450 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20122016520182020520222024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 BMW X6 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
X6 xDrive35i AWD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic162319$4,350
X6 xDrive50i AWD4.4L 8-cyl8-speed automatic142016$5,150
X6 xDriveM AWD4.4L 8-cyl6-speed automatic121714$5,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2012 BMW X6 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 215 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 215 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW X6

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20249—5—19—Too new
2022555,0001—15—Not enough data
2021751,0007—15—Not enough data
2020963,84310—23—Not enough data
2019599,9124—20—Not enough data
2016948,0001—21—Not enough data
2015951,5001—22—Not enough data
201411100,0003—17—Not enough data
20132555,0005—1632 · FewerStable
20123272,4507—1650 · TypicalFalling
20113160,00011—1658 · TypicalFalling
20101579,9669—15—Stable
20091958,24410—17—Falling

All BMW X6 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 BMW X6 have?

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2012 BMW X6 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 BMW X6 is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 15 complaints (47% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 9.

Has the 2012 BMW X6 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 BMW X6 get?

The EPA rates the 2012 BMW X6 (X6 xDrive50i, 4.4L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 BMW X6 reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,450 miles and the middle half falls between 26,000 and 87,456 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.