2012 BMW 128i reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 BMW 128i has 31 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most 128i years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including PCV system, Inflator, and Wiring.

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (23 of 31), then Engine (4) and Engine and engine cooling (2). The most filings arrived in 2017 (14 of 31). Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 128i has 39 complaints, 2 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 BMW 128i. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (5)

Recall engine and cooling, exhaust system, emission control, PCV system 2022-03-02 · NHTSA campaign 22V119000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Remedy This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2020-01-15 · NHTSA campaign 20V017000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Remedy 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. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall electrical system, wiring 2019-08-06 · NHTSA campaign 19V579000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of an earlier recall number 17V-676.

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2016-02-05 · NHTSA campaign 16V071000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall Electrical system 2013-02-07 · NHTSA campaign 13V044000

Summary BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons manufactured March 2007 through June 2011; and 2009-2011 Z4 vehicles manufactured March 2009 through June 2011. In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles. In July 2013, BMW informed the agency that it was adding 1-Series, 3-Series, and Z4 vehicles, representing an additional 12,094 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 516,791. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a breakage of the connection, and a loss of electrical power to the vehicle.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Complaints by component (31 total)

Air bags

Engine

Engine and engine cooling

Fuel and propulsion system

Electrical system

Seat belts

Service brakes

Speed control

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"My mother was in the passenger seat and the seat belt buckle would not allow the tongue to be inserted. After several attempts we got it in but when we got home I tried to engage the seat belt several times, I tried to…"
Seat belts · filed 2026-08-24
"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…"
Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-05-19
"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…"
Engine · filed 2026-03-24
"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…"
Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-03-06
"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…"
Engine and engine cooling · filed 2024-07-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 BMW 128 I 2 DR RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2012 BMW 128 I C RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
128i	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	18	28	21 MPG	$3800
128i	3L, 6-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Rear-wheel drive	18	27	22 MPG	$3650

Specs and fitment

E82/E88 generation, 2012–2013

Body styles Coupe, Convertible

Oil 0W-30 , 6.9 qt capacity

Tire size 205/50R17, 205/55R16, 225/45R17 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 19V579000 covers certain 2008-2012 128i Coupe and Convertible models (with 135i and 135is) where blower-regulator wiring and connectors may overheat and melt, increasing fire risk even when the vehicle is unattended; dealers inspect and replace the harness. Recall 20V017000 covers certain 2008-2013 128i Convertible and Coupe models (with many other BMW models) for a Takata driver frontal air bag inflator that can explode; dealers replace the driver air bag. Recall 16V071000 is an earlier related driver-inflator campaign covering overlapping 2008-2013 1 Series coupes and convertibles.

Compare

Next year 2013 BMW 128i See every BMW 128i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 BMW 128i reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 BMW 128i?

Is the 2012 BMW 128i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 128i has 39 complaints, 2 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 BMW 128i been recalled?

The 2012 BMW 128i has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 BMW 128i?

Owners have filed 31 complaints about the 2012 BMW 128i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 BMW 128i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 BMW 128i is 21.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US BMW 128i use?

0W-30 With filter, about 6.9 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US BMW 128i?

Published US specs commonly list front 205/50R17, 205/55R16, 225/45R17 (trim-dependent) and rear 205/50R17, 205/55R16, 225/45R17 (trim-dependent); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US BMW 128i?