RoadVitals

2012 BMW X6 M

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Mar 28, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 18, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 BMW X6 M, most frequently naming the engine category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 153 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine2100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V248000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Apr 18, 2018
47,806 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The 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.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Mar 28, 2019

I OWN A 2012 BMW X6 M. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK-ENGINE INDICATOR SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE "STABILITY CONTROL INACTIVE" MESSAGE DISPLAYED BEFORE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN, AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (BELLEVUE BMW, 13617 NE 20TH ST, BELLEVUE, WA 98005) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 79,000. ALL SERVICES AND OIL CHANGES HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON-TIME AND BY EITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR BY FACTORY-APPROVED FACILITIES,

NHTSA ID
11192093
Incident
Jan 10, 2019
Mileage
79,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 5, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X6 M. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE "STABILITY CONTROL INACTIVE" MESSAGE DISPLAYED BEFORE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY AND THE WARNING INDICATOR AND MESSAGE NO LONGER DISPLAYED. MOMENTS LATER, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (DRYER AND REINBOLD BMW, 9375 WHITLEY DR, INDIANAPOLIS, IN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER ROD BEARING HAD FRACTURED AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ALSO, METAL SHAVINGS WERE PRESENT IN THE OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
11133442
Incident
Sep 16, 2018
Mileage
78,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

SIB650222

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A check control message for the restraint system appears. In the Instrument cluster, the red air bag warning light lights up permanently. One of the following fault codes stored in the ACSM (air bag control unit): 930949 - Knee airbag, driver: short circuit to negative terminal; 93094F - Knee airbag, front passenger: short circuit to negative terminal.

SIB640821

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

The air conditioning cycles from cold to warm air while driving or while at a stand still. The vent outlet temperatures vary by 25 degrees Fahrenheit or more (38 F to 60 F +) without changing any climate control settings. In some cases the air conditioning may have stopped blowing cold air altogether.

B111614

ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This bulletin outlines the procedure for checking the engine timing chains for wear, and should be completed in conjunction with SI B11 06 14, "N63 Customer Care Package." The N63CCP and N63 Engine Check the Timing Chain are NOT mandatory Technical Campaigns or Recalls. They should be completed only based on parts availability, workshop capacity, and the customer's schedule.

B650621

AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SURFACE RUST ON NEW AIR BAG INFLATORS: The technician finds that the new air bag inflator (aka: gas generator) may have surface rust on the metalhousing .

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW X6 M by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020030—
2019030—
2018031—
2017011—
2016011—
2015011—
2012Viewing210—
2011010—
2010010—
2009010—
2008010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.