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2012 BMW 135i engine problems
moderate
Owners of the 2012 BMW 135i have filed 4 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See engine across all vehicles →
Of the 4 engine complaints filed for the 2012 BMW 135i,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
1 (33.3%)
50-75k
2 (66.7%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted.
Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits
and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles
If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinB011321May 2021
CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N54/N54T/N55 ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLANT PUMP . With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Oliver, et al v. BMW NA, et al
CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N54/N54T/N55 ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLANT PUMP . With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Oliver, et al v. BMW NA, et al
N55 Engine: Various Faults Stored in DME Related to VANOS and Camshaft Position. A rattling noise can be heard from the engine compartment; the engine has a loss of power; and the Service Engine Soon lamp is illuminated. One or more of the following faults may be stored. E70, E71, E82, E88, E90, E92 and E93: 2D5A - VANOS, intake: control fault, camshaft sticking 2D5B - VANOS, intake: control fault, position not reached 2D60 - VANOS, exhaust: control fault, camshaft sticking 2D61 - VANOS, exhaust: control fault, position not reached 2D9F - camshaft input sensor: signal implausible 2DA1 - Camshaft exhaust sensor: signal implausible 300C - Camshaft input sensor: signal high 300D - Camshaft inpu
N55 ENGINE: FC 28A0 OR 101F01 THROTTLE VALVE OPENING ANGLE. The engine malfunction warning is illuminated and one of the following fault codes are stored in the DME shortly after programming the vehicle or with a customer complaint.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting
4 most recent
engine · 56,000 mi
· filed 06/26/2019
Vehicle almost stalls when accelerating from a stop. Vehicle will also surge forward when vehicle comes to a stop. Both issues are worsened when the temperature is warm outside and the air conditioning is on. Have taken vehicle to the BMW dealer several times to correct, but they never find anything wrong.
engine · 33,000 mi
· filed 06/13/2014
I have brought my car into schomp BMW twice for this issue, the latest being last week telling them I believe there is a recall for my vehicle and it feels as if it will stall as I am turning a corner or stopped and begin accelerating. They showed no recall and hooked my car up to computer and no codes came back with any issues. I am really scared that my car will stall in the middle of turning…
engine
· filed 05/12/2023
Continuing coolant problems, engine shut off going down the hwy bc overheated////engine not secure-moves around literally/////camshaft timing position sensor code. On Dec 24th I purchased a 2012 BMW 135i convertible from Alboet Motor Sports on Pass Rd in Gulfport, MS. Before I went I specifically asked if the car had any mechanical or cosmetic damage and [XXX] lied and said nothing was wrong.…
engine · 50,000 mi
· filed 02/04/2020
When I had fewer than 50k miles, my thermostat broke suddenly while I was driving. I had no previous issues or warning lights. Since that repair, I have had 2 coolant leaks, and one related pipe crack. This week, I had air in my coolant system and had to have it drained. These all appear to be related.
Had engine trouble with your 2012 BMW 135i?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 BMW 135i?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 4 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 46,333 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/BMW/135i.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.