Skip to main content
CarMonitor

Transport Canada + NRCan

2012 BMW X 3

Everything Canada’s open data holds on this vehicle: what has been recalled, what it costs to run, and how efficient it is compared with everything else on the road.

Recalls

6

4 current

Combined

11L/100 km

Fuel, a year

$3,410

20,000 km, Ontario prices

Recalls

Good news: Recall repairs cost you nothing. Book with any manufacturer dealer and quote the recall number — no time limit, however many owners the vehicle has had.

Airbag

Transport Canada recall 2024392 · manufacturer campaign 32 82 24RC / 32 83 24RC

3 July 2024

Transport Canada lists: 1 2005 · 3 2006–2012 · X 3 2004–2005, 2011–2015 · X 5 2016

What is wrong

This recall applies to vehicles that may be equipped with a replacement sport or M-sport steering wheel that has a Takata airbag. Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function.

Why it matters

If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver-front airbag module. To learn if your vehicle is affected by this recall, owners may: • Visit <a href= https://www.bmw.ca/en/ssl/VehicleRecall.html> https://www.bmw.ca/en/ssl/VehicleRecall.html</a> • Contact your preferred or local BMW Retailer • Call BMW Customer Relations Recall Services at 1-855-217-3002

44,131 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Airbag

Transport Canada recall 2017388

9 August 2017

Transport Canada lists: 6 2012–2013 · X 3 2011–2012

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the housing of the driver's frontal airbag inflator may have been incorrectly welded during manufacturing and could separate from the base plate during an airbag deployment. If the vehicle were involved in a collision that warrants airbag deployment, metal fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants, which could increase the risk of injury.

What the dealer will do

Dealers will replace the driver's frontal airbag. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2016-461. Additional Note: For 6-Series vehicles, only 2012-2013 model year M6 Cabriolet's and 2013 model year M6 Coupe's are involved in this campaign.

886 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Seats And Restraints

Transport Canada recall 2016242

20 May 2016

Transport Canada lists: X 3 2011–2017 · X 4 2015–2017

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the lower anchor bars that are used for installing child seats using the European-ISOFIX-type rigid-style connector may become damaged during vehicle operation. If the lower anchorage bar(s) were to become damaged, this would increase the risk of injury to a child seated in a child seat using this style of connector if involved in a crash.

What the dealer will do

Dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body. Note: Child restraint systems using LATCH-type flexible style connectors, which reflect the vast majority of child restraint systems used in Canada, do not cause this issue.

30,023 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Engine

Transport Canada recall 2014127

10 April 2014

Transport Canada lists: 1 2010–2012 · 3 2010–2012 · 5 2010–2012 · X 3 2010–2012 · and 3 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, housing bolts for the variable camshaft timing system could break, allowing camshaft timing to deviate. If this occurs, the engine would revert to "limp home mode", limiting available engine power. This could increase the risk of a collision causing injury and/or damage to property.

What the dealer will do

Dealers will replace affected bolts.

20,022 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Efficiency and running cost

Class
Sport utility vehicle
In its class
More efficient than 65% of 239 2012 vehicles in this class
Tailpipe CO₂
253 g/km

Set your own distance and pump price · Full efficiency ranking

Watch this vehicle

Recall letters go to whoever owns the car on paper, which may not be you. Save your 2012 BMW X 3 and we will email you the day Transport Canada issues a new recall for it.

Only when a new recall lands. Unsubscribe in one click.

Common questions

Does the 2012 BMW X 3 have any recalls?
Transport Canada has 6 recalls on record for the 2012 BMW X 3. Recall repairs are free at any manufacturer dealer.
What fuel economy does the 2012 BMW X 3 get?
NRCan rates the 2012 BMW X 3 at 11 L/100 km combined, emitting 253 g of CO2 per kilometre. There are 2 rated versions; this is the median.
What does it cost to run a 2012 BMW X 3 for a year?
At 20,000 km a year and Ontario average prices, about $3,410 in fuel, producing roughly 5,082 kg of CO2. Your own distance and prices will change this — the calculator lets you set both.

Source: Transport Canada — Vehicle Recalls Database; NRCan — Fuel consumption ratings. Data current as of 30 July 2026. Running cost uses Ontario average prices (155 ¢/L, 14.5 ¢/kWh), which are hand-maintained estimates. 30,784 rated vehicles on file.