I had to replace the airbag clock spring in my car because of a clicking sound when the steering wheel was turning any direction, sound heard when vehicle was in drive or park. I had about 43,000 miles on the vehicle when the noise started. I had called BMW to see if there was any warranty on this item being it is part of the SRS system for the car, and they told me for my vehicle VIN there was…
2012 BMW 535i steering problems
moderate 4 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 4 steering complaints filed for the 2012 BMW 535i, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The car has been in and out of the shop for various problems from the moment we bought it. The car started making whistling sounds and engine lights would come on and has been seen by BMW rts already 4 times. But most recently my husband was waiting at the light to make a left turn when his steering wheel all of a sudden locked and he could not drive it. So we took it in to get it serviced and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 BMW 535i. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started to pull to the right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but they were unable to duplicate the problem. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 400.
Had steering trouble with your 2012 BMW 535i?
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 steering problem on the 2012 BMW 535i?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 4 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 38,287 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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/535i.
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.