2012 BMW X6 problems
Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW X6. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 32% of complaints. After that come drivetrain & axles (19%) and fuel system (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 47 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 76,000 miles 34 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 12 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 34 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 76,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 70,000 miles (14 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 85% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the BMW X6 with enough data (22 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
Cpsc#I1280311a. 2012 BMW x6. Consumer stated the vehicle does not have any audible or visual warnings that any of the doors or hatch back is open prior to driving. The consumer stated he was parked in a garage, when his key accidentally opened the hatchback. The key design was very poor, because at any time, the doors could open by themselves.
Leak power steering fluid. If the flammable liquid sprays onto hot engine exhaust parts, an engine compartment fire may occur. According to NHTSA, the leaking power steering fluid is a result of a "machining error" in the steering gear surface during the production of the BMW x5 and BMW x6 "activity vehicles."
The contact owns a 2012 BMW X6. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the front driveshaft universal joint. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.