Total Complaints
29 filings
BMW 128I · model year
29 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012BMW128I carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 128I is air bags with 23 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (2) and vehicle speed control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2012 128I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
29 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 23 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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,
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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-
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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,
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
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);
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 that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 128i. The contact stated after completing an oil change at the dealer and starting the vehicle, the RPM started fluctuating. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop at a traffic light, the RPM fluctuated rapidly and the vehicle decelerated while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The contact was able to drive to the dealer at a slower speed. The dealer diagnosed that the VANOS (Variable Nockenwell Steuerung) system needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was a manufacturing defect; however, she would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist since an unknown recall was converted to an extended warranty repair which had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 79,769.
Mileage: 79,769
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 128i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
TAKATA RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.
Mileage: 17,000
TAKATA RECALL -- AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT AIRBAG, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM BMW IN LATE SEPTEMBER THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS AVAILABLE AND THAT I SHOULD GET MY CAR IN. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH KUNI BMW ON OCTOBER 17, 2017 BUT THEY CALLED THAT MORNING AND SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS BUT WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY DO TO RESCHEDULE. I FOLLOWED UP ON OCTOBER 30 AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY STILL CAN'T HELP ME BUT THAT I AM ON THEIR PRIORITY LIST WHEN THE PART COMES IN. SO -- IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT BMW HAS NOTIFIED ME THAT MY CAR NEEDS TO BE FIXED, MY LOCAL DEALER CAN'T DO THE JOB. IT'S BEEN A MONTH AND THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS AVAILABLE!
Mileage: 28,000
TAKATA RECALL BRAMAN DEALERSHIP IN WEST PALM BEACH WILL NOT SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE AIRBAG RECALL PERFORMED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 BMW 128I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, METAL FRAGMENTS STRUCK THE CONTACT'S FACE AND CHEST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOWING COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF HENDERSON (261 AUTO MALL DR, HENDERSON, NV 89014, PHONE NUMBER: (702) 570-0278) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I. 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 DEALER (COGGIN BMW OF TREASURE COAST IN FT. PIERCE (LOCATED AT 4429 US-1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982; (772) 410-5155) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. *JS
RECALL DRIVER AIRBAG - CANNOT GET IT REPLACED BY A DEALER
I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY TAKATA AIRBAGS TO BE REPAIRED.
TAKATA RECALL - RECALL HAS BEEN PENDING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AND TO DATE HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT HAVING REPLACEMENT PART INSTALLED...VEHICLE IS APPROACHING SIX YEARS OF AGE, WHICH IS LISTED AS THE START OF DETERIORATION IN THE AIRBAGS
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW DATED MARCH 2016 NOTIFYING ME OF RECALL. LAST WEEK, I WAS AT MY BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND INQUIRED WHEN I COULD BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND IT IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. I FIND IT INEXCUSABLE THAT I AM WAITING FOR OVER A YEAR TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION AND IN THE MEANTIME, BMW IS POTENTIALLY IGNORING THIS RECALL AND I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS ADMITTEDLY UNSAFE WHILE CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY.
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR AND THE PART HAS NOT BEEN MADE AVAILABLE
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TAKATA RECALL. I PURCHASED MY BMW 128I ON JULY 4TH 2014 AND I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT BMW KNEW OF THE FAULTY AIRBAGS IN MY MODEL CAR AND DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE KNOWN ISSUE. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF AN ISSUE UNTIL THE END OF 2015. CAN I HAVE BMW BUY BACK MY CAR DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE RECALL AND POTENTIALLY NOT BEING INFORMED OF AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR BEFORE PURCHASING THE CAR?
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 128I. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT THE PARTS MIGHT BECOME AVAILABLE WITHIN 6 TO 9 MONTHS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS MAY BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE LETTER FROM BMW IN THE SPRING OF 2016, BUT THEY HAVE NOT REPAIRED MY CAR YET. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIX IT YET. WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG? HOW LONG CAN THEY KEEP ME WAITING? I'M CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING A CAR WITH AN AIRBAG THAT COULD EXPLODE.
Mileage: 33,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.