Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reports
134,000 miles · May 5, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND RUNNING. HEARD LOUD POP NOISE. CALL MY FRIEND TO CHECK ON IT. HE RAISED THE CAR AND LOOKS LIKE THE GAS TANK HAS IMPLODED (LIKE A BEND CAN). VEHICLE IS OPERATIONAL. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS ONLINE AND FOUND THIS ARTICLE, WHICH IS RELATED TO MY PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.E38.ORG/SI.NEW.EVAPORATIVE.%28CHARCOAL…
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CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND RUNNING. HEARD LOUD POP NOISE. CALL MY FRIEND TO CHECK ON IT. HE RAISED THE CAR AND LOOKS LIKE THE GAS TANK HAS IMPLODED (LIKE A BEND CAN). VEHICLE IS OPERATIONAL. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS ONLINE AND FOUND THIS ARTICLE, WHICH IS RELATED TO MY PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.E38.ORG/SI.NEW.EVAPORATIVE.%28CHARCOAL%29.CANISTER.PURGE.LINE.PDF. THESE WERE SYMPTOMS ON MY CAR, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE GAS TANK HAS COLLAPSED INSIDE AND IS BEYOND REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10714753
114,001 miles · Dec 17, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
THIS VEHICLE MODEL WITH THE V12 ENGINE HAS A SYSTEM THAT HEATS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS SHORTLY AFTER START TO REDUCE TAILPIPE EMISSIONS DURING COLD STARTS. THIS SYSTEM IS KNOWN BY BMW'S TRADE NAME OF ECAT. THE SYSTEM IS POWERED BY THE STARTING BATTERY (BMW V12S USE TWO BATTERIES - ONE FOR STARTING AND POWERING THESE HIGH-CURR…
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THIS VEHICLE MODEL WITH THE V12 ENGINE HAS A SYSTEM THAT HEATS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS SHORTLY AFTER START TO REDUCE TAILPIPE EMISSIONS DURING COLD STARTS. THIS SYSTEM IS KNOWN BY BMW'S TRADE NAME OF ECAT. THE SYSTEM IS POWERED BY THE STARTING BATTERY (BMW V12S USE TWO BATTERIES - ONE FOR STARTING AND POWERING THESE HIGH-CURRENT ECAT HEATERS; THE OTHER BATTERY IS USED TO POWER ALL OTHER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL LOADS LIKE HVAC, ENTERTAINMENT, POWER WINDOWS ETC. THE V8 AND I6 MODEL BMWS DO NOT USE THIS SYSTEM. ON TUESDAY, 12/13/2011, I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER IT WAS SITTING ALL DAY IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND AS SOON AS I OPENED THE DOOR, I NOTICED A STRONG BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER CHECKING WITH SOME BMW-RELATED MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES ON THIS MODEL OF BMW. THE EXACT PROBLEM IS THE ECAT CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS MODULE CONTROLS THE HIGH-CURRENT CATALYST HEATERS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN MY CASE, THE MODULE DEVELOPED A SHORT AND BECAME QUITE HOT - HOT ENOUGH TO FUSE THE HIGH CURRENT LEADS TO THE MODULE, AND MELT THE CARPETING ABOVE THE MODULE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A PROFOUND SAFETY OF LIFE ISSUE, AS IF I HADN'T DISCONNECTED THE BATTERIES RIGHT AWAY, THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE WARRANTS A MANUFACTURER RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10440277
72,000 miles · Sep 23, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE GAS TANK HAS A "KNOWN" LEAK AROUND THE METAL FLANGE ON THE GAS TANK. THE TANK IS DRIPPING GASOLINE EVEN BEING FULL - THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER A RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243196
Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
RECALL 02V138000; CONSUMER REPLACED THE COOLANT SYSTEM. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A RECALL THAT BEGAN DURING SEPTEMBER 2001 (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V206). OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 18-INCH TIRES. (18-INCH TIRES ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE M5 AND OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ON THE 7-SERIES MODELS). THE MACHINE USED TO MOUNT AND INFLATE THE TIRES ON THE WHEELS AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OR MORE TIRES. THE DAMAGED AREA COULD WEAKEN TO THE POINT WHERE A SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR FROM THE TIRE COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HANDLING AND CONTROL WOULD BE DRASTICALLY AFFECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIRES AND IF DAMAGE FROM THE MOUNTING MACHINE IS FOUND, THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 10, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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