Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

2012 BMW 750Li powertrain problems

moderate Owners of the 2012 BMW 750Li have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →

Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500

When does it fail?

Of the 5 powertrain complaints filed for the 2012 BMW 750Li, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.

0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
3 (60%)
50-75k
1 (20%)
75-100k
1 (20%)
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

Powertrain accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.

No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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 Bulletin B110208 Apr 2020

Power Reduction FC2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC2 A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Fault: The "Service Engine Soon" (MIL) lamp is illuminated and engine power reduction is perceived. This situation can occur after driving for some time with the engine at full operating temperature. If the ignition is cycled the engine then usually performs normally.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin B110916 Feb 2018

N63, N63TU, S63 and S63TU Engines: Oil Leak from the Rear: Customer complains that engine oil is leaking from the center of the vehicle. When verified, the engine oil residue can be seen leaking from between the engine and the transmission bell housing.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin B110916 May 2016

N63, N63TU, S63 and S63TU Engines: Oil Leak from the Rear of the Engine and Transmission Bell Housing. Customer complains that engine oil is leaking from the center of the vehicle. When verified, the engine oil residue can be seen leaking from between the engine and the transmission bell housing.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin B270315 Aug 2015

Vibration or Shudder from Driveline when Accelerating from a Stop. Chassis stabilization warning is displayed. Vehicle may exhibit a shudder or vibration when taking off from a stop. One or more of the following fault codes may be stored: LMV ? 440101 - Transfer box (VTG): End of transmission service life reached ? 440105 - Transfer box (VTG ) Calibration Faulty ? 440115 - Transfer box (VTG): Calibration angle deviation outside tolerance? 44011B - Set torque outside of the torque characteristic curve EGS ? 420611 - DSC interface (wheel speed): non-permitted deviation of wheel speed (actual speed of wheel RL/FL/RR/FR, 0x254) from output speed and turbine speed DSC ? 48097D - Transfer box: Fau

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin B330115 Jul 2015

Cracking in Rear Differential Mount Bushing. During inspection, the rear differential mount in the rear axle support shows signs of cracking.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

What owners are reporting 5 most recent

powertrain · 60,000 mi · filed 12/31/2014

This car experiences multiple drivetrain malfunction codes, looses power at intervals when driving, leaks oil from seals which creates white smoke from both the exhaust pipes and from underneath the hood. It also has a rough idle and every so often, the check engine light comes on. BMW should be ashamed of themselves for having these ongoing problems with their cars in this day and age. *js

powertrain · 43,274 mi · filed 10/05/2015

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 BMW 750li. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine and power train warning indicators illuminated as the vehicle began to shake and white smoke came from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop, the vehicle continued to shake. The vehicle was restarted however, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle…

powertrain · 41,000 mi · filed 08/03/2016

The engine malfunctioned in my car while driving and is a safety hazard to myself and others on public roads with multiple engine parts identified by the manufacturer to be defective. The car sporadically stops operating with full power and there have been several reports of instant engine failure while driving. BMW issued what they have called the n63 customer care package on dec. 29, 2014 to…

powertrain · 80,000 mi · filed 07/07/2019

My car has been at the BMW shop for four months. The purpose of me taking my car to the BMW shop was because my 2012 750li BMW had transmission problems. When I got there [xxx]. Stated there is a recall on the engine and he say it will be fix. Four months later the manager [xxx] call me and tell me I have to pay $ 9,600 for the parts and the labor work. [xxx] stated my car did not qualify and I…

powertrain · 36,970 mi · filed 05/06/2016

When entering the on ramp to merge onto the highway. I accelerated to merge into traffic and car vibrated violently and would not accelerate. I continued to press the accelerator but nothing happened and a message appeared on the display. Now, I'm stuck between the on ramp and the highway with a tractor trailer rapidly approaching. He barely has enough space to merge to his left and avoids rear…

Had powertrain trouble with your 2012 BMW 750Li? 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 powertrain problem on the 2012 BMW 750Li?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?

Based on the 5 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 52,249 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?

No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/750Li. 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.
Sponsored
Get a free warranty quote →