Home · 2012 BMW X5 Xdrive35d · Complaints

What 271 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 BMW X5 Xdrive35d

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (271)Crash / fire / injury (16)Engine (92)Airbags (83)Transmission & drivetrain (53)Electrical system (29)Fuel system (29)Steering (20)Engine & cooling (12)Body & structure (7)Suspension (6)Brakes (4)

83 of 271 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 1 of 4

Aug 14, 2025AirbagsSeatsEngine

Front passenger side occupancy seat sensor is bad and computer detected an air bag malfunction. Timing chain broke without warning.

NHTSA ODI 11680551

Aug 6, 2025AirbagsSeat belts

I received a message of Restraint system malfunction and when I called the local dealer I was told the part is not availabel anywhere in the USA. What am I supposed to do with this. I was told the air bags and seatbelts may malfunction. The vehicle only has 85k miles. its a 2012. At this point who will take the car as a trade? It's not safe and they don't have an answer except to say I'm [XXX] and i guess you need to get a new vehicle!! Can you believe this? I have to get a whole new vehicle because they don't have a part! You can't make this stuff up. I spoke with BMW USA and was told they only honor 4yr and 50k miles and after 10years they are not responsible for parts to be made. The I was told to get it further diagnosed to the tune of 250.00 so they can "MAYBE" have the parts manufactured. What the heck! this company is saying our cars are garbage after 10yrs! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11678691

Mar 7, 2024Airbags

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that the air bag restraint malfunction message was displayed, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11576087

Jan 21, 2024Electrical systemAirbagsEngine

Vehical randomly shuts off, it all safety systems warning lamps come on l, like ABS, Airbag, and traction control. Found wiring harness laying in a pool of water in the rear right cargo compartment. Rain water leaking from sunroof collected in compartment. The harness contains wires for the the vehicles CAN buss systems the water causes corrosion in the harness, which causes all sorts of problems that could happen at any time like the vehicle shutting off or the airbag or abs warning light coming on.

NHTSA ODI 11566753

Nov 30, 2023AirbagsCrash

We hit a deer while driving at 55 MPH. We were wearing seatbelts and not injured, it was a major frontal impact, the car is probably totalled. When we stopped we noticed multiple warning messages on the display: * restraint system failure * passenger airbag failure * pre-tensioner failure It appears that the car detected the collision and tried to activate the restraint systems, but nothing activated. No air bags deployed, and we did not feel the pre-tensioners activate.

NHTSA ODI 11557763

Sep 20, 2023Airbags

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Passenger Restraint System Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the passenger restraint system had failed, and an unknown repair needed to be completed. The contact was charged a repair cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 10056703-9690. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11545582

Nov 17, 2019AirbagsSeat belts

SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR BROKEN AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF BMW

NHTSA ODI 11280621

Oct 22, 2019Airbags

THE SENSOR (TO DETECT IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT) UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND REQUIRES THE SEAT BELT TO BE ACTIVATED TO SILENCE THE WARNING BEEPS, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT OCCUPIED, SO IT'S CLEARLY NOT FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED. LEADS ME TO QUESTION WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH OUR 2007 BMW 530 AND THAT WAS FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY BMW AND WE WERE OFFERED A FREE REPAIR FOR THIS ITEM. KEEP WAITING ON THEM TO INCLUDE OUR X5. IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11270174

Jun 20, 2019AirbagsSeats

NOTIFICATION FOR FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR

NHTSA ODI 11221606

Oct 2, 2018AirbagsSeat belts

PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG OCCUPANCY SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND NEED TO REPLACE SENSOR. ## VIN PASSED ## 2012 BMW X5 DRIVE35D ##

NHTSA ODI 11133021

May 31, 2018AirbagsSeat belts

RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION SHOWED UP ON MY CAR FOR NO REASON. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IT HAD NO ISSUES THEN ONE DAY RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION SHOWED UP! I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11099053

Apr 2, 2018Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsBrakesEngine

2012 BMW X5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VARIOUS SAFETY RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED FOR VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED AND REQUIRED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE'S AIR SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COOLANT TANK CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE OIL GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11024411

Mar 1, 2018Airbags

I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST 9 MONTHS AND CONTINUE TO BE TOLD I WILL BE CONTACTED ONCE THE PARTS (AIRBAGS) ARE AVAILABLE. THE AIRBAGS HEVE STILL NOT BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH TWO OTHE RECALLS THAT ARE ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11075635

Feb 3, 2018Airbags

RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 17V-138: FRONT DRIVESHAFT . RECALL LETTER DATED APRIL 2017. SCHEDULED REPAIR WITH THE NEAREST BMW DEALER REPAIR SHOP IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE. SCARE OF DRIVING VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE WHEN DRIVING EVEN A MODERATE SPEED. I HAVE CALLED THE BMW REPAIR SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT NO RESPONSE TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11066813

Dec 29, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V020000 (AIR BAGS). 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 CONTACT CALLED LAUDERDALE BMW OF PEMBROKE PINES AT (954) 620-5050 (14800 SHERIDAN ST, PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33028) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11057329

Nov 2, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL 16V071 HAS STATUS THAT REMEDY PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. DESPITE OF THIS, MY LOCAL BMW DEALER (PETER PAN BMW IN SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA) SAYS PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT IT STILL WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS DUE TO PARTS BEING SHIPPED FROM EUROPE. I DON'T FIND IT ACCEPTABLE THAT BMW IS DELAYING SUCH REPAIRS AND WOULD EXPECT BMW TO USE EXPEDITED SHIPPING SOLUTIONS TO COMPLETE THIS CRITICAL FIX. *CN

NHTSA ODI 11042826

Oct 28, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL (THIS IS MORE OF A CONCERN AND REQUEST FOR HELP RATHER THAN AN INCIDENT. I WAS DIRECTED TO THIS WEBSITE BY THE RECALL NOTICE. NO OTHER INSTRUCTIONS OTHER THAN THE URL WERE GIVEN) I LIVE ON GALVESTON ISLAND IN TEXAS, SOUTH OF HOUSTON. IT IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST, MOST HUMID PLACES IN THE US. MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED IN MARCH OF 2017. DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS TO BMW, THEY STILL WILL NOT REPLACE THE RECALLED AIRBAG. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IN APRIL 2016, NOT FAR FROM WHERE I LIVE, A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS KILLED BY SHRAPNEL FROM HER AIRBAG IN A CRASH THAT SHE OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM.

NHTSA ODI 11040761

Oct 26, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V020000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. RAY CATENA BMW OF WESTCHESTER (543 TARRYTOWN RD, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, (914) 761-5555) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11040040

Oct 20, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL I STILL OWN MY CAR AND IT IS A GROUP 7 REPAIR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE A FINAL REMEDY LETTER ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 2017. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SUCH NOTIFICATION AT THIS TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND BMW IS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE FEDERAL ORDER! WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THIS REPAIR COMPLETED?

NHTSA ODI 11035104

Oct 2, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL - DEALER HAS BEEN PUTTING ME OFF FOR AT LEAST 10 MONTHS FOR FRONT DRIVER AND PASSAGE SIDE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11030830

Sep 21, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V020000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCKENNA BMW DEALER, LOCATED ON 10900 FIRESTONE BLVD, NORWALK, CA 90650, PHONE NUMBER: (562) 219-4570, WHERE IT WAS REJECTED TO BE SERVICED DUE TO THE REMEDY PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT AND VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11024798

Sep 11, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY 2016 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V020000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2017. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (ONTARIO BMW LOCATED IN ONTARIO, CA) AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR (16V07100) AND VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR (17V02000).

NHTSA ODI 11022701

Sep 7, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). 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 PASSPORT BMW DEALER (4730 AUTH PL, CAMP SPRINGS, MD 20746 (888) 993-0546) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11022183

Aug 28, 2017Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. 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 SOUTH SHORE BMW DEALER (1040 HINGHAM ST A, ROCKLAND, MA 02370 (781) 982-4556) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11020129

Aug 26, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED LETTER EXPLAINING AUTO AIRBAG SETTLEMENT

NHTSA ODI 11019858

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Working with the data? Download all 271 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 BMW X5 Xdrive35d verdict →