2012 BMW 7 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 32 of 54 complaints (59%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 64 in 2011 to 54 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,550–5,150 | 3,900–5,150 | 3,900–5,150 | 3,100–5,150 | 3,100–5,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 15–17 | 15–20 | 15–20 | 15–25 | 15–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 13–15 / 19–22 | 13–17 / 19–25 | 13–17 / 19–25 | 13–22 / 20–30 | 13–22 / 20–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 523–592 | 444–592 | 444–592 | 350–584 | 350–584 | |
| Complaints filed | 48 | 64 | 54 | 26 | 14 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 BMW 7 Series have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 BMW 7 Series?
Engine: 32 of 54 NHTSA complaints (59%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 BMW 7 Series get?
EPA rates it 15–20 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 BMW 7 Series?
EPA estimates $3,900–$5,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (13)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 15 mpg | 22 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 22 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 22 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 22 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 11 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 12 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 13 | Automatic (S8) | 12 | 6.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 13 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | 15 mpg (low) | $5,150 (high) | 592 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · Campaign 18V248000 · Apr 20, 2018
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT · Campaign 17V067000 · Feb 3, 2017
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.
Consequence: If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · Campaign 12V161000 · Apr 11, 2012
Defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2012 6-SERIES CONVERTIBLE, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, AND X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.