2012 BMW X6: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 BMW X6: 7 recalls, 32 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V020000 · 2017 · 48,951 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, BMW is recalling certain 2009 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i, and x5 m vehicles, 2008-2009 x6 xdrive 35i, x6 xdrive50i, x6 m, and 2009 x5 xdrive35d vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed March 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become…
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #17V138000 · 2017 · 121,909 vehicles
What's wrong: Water and debris May enter the front driveshaft's universal joint, causing excessive wear and possibly resulting in the joint's failure.
Why it matters: If the front universal joint fails, the front wheels would not be driven, affecting vehicle traction. Additionally, continued driving of the vehicle with a broken front universal joint May damage other components. Either condition May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V030000 · 2018 · 41,808 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." BMW is also recalling certain 2007-2010 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i, x5 m, x5 xdrive35d, x6 xdrive35i, x6 xdrive50i and x6m vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018.
Engine & cooling, Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #18V248000 · 2018 · 47,806 vehicles
What's wrong: The electric auxiliary water pump May fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Why it matters: 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. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive…
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V017000 · 2019 · 83,016 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V016000 · 2020 · 4,007 vehicles
What's wrong: These inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V017000 · 2020 · 59,965 vehicles
What's wrong: These inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On x5 and x6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (15): the most common themes are excess oil use (3), stalls / loses power (3).
- Transmission & drivetrain (9): the most common themes are leaks (2).
- Fuel & propulsion (6): the most common themes are fire / smoke (2).
- Electrical (5): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2012 BMW X6 has 32 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 21 X6 model years for complaints (3.3× the average X6 year). Complaints peaked in 2017 (5 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 72,450 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (31 complaints, 11 recalls), 2013 (25 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 17 | 14 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 BMW X6.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 BMW X6 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2012 BMW X6. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 BMW X6 problems?
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (15), transmission & drivetrain (9), fuel & propulsion (6).
What gas mileage does the 2012 BMW X6 get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic (S8)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 BMW X6 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.