2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost
Independent review & score by Carivo
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Engine | 6.6L 12-Cylinder |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Type | Premium |
| City / Hwy MPG | 13 / 20 MPG |
| Combined MPG | 15 MPG |
| Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $4,950 |
| Seating Capacity | 4 passengers |
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Base Price | $160,000–$186,862 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost is a sedan that earns a Carivo score of 6.4/10 — rated Fair. Its strongest dimension is Technology at 8.9/10, while Value at 4.3/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. Buyers should review the score breakdown carefully and consider higher-rated alternatives before committing.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 5.5/10 for reliability, this sedan trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 8.0/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Performance at 6.3/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. On technology it rates 8.9/10: a modern, well-integrated suite that compares favorably with anything at this price point.
Priced from $160,000–$186,862, 10 MPG, seating 4, the Rolls-Royce Ghost sits in the luxury tier of the sedan market. The value score of 4.3/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 14 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: Based on our scoring, the 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost underperforms its segment peers across multiple dimensions. Unless there's a specific reason it fits your situation — price, a particular trim's features, or availability — there are better-scored alternatives at similar price points worth considering first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost ranks #1294 of 1310 sedans in the Carivo database — better than 1% of the segment. Its 6.4/10 overall score is 1.1 points below the segment average of 7.5/10. Its $160,000 starting price is about 478% above the segment's median of $27,664.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Sedan ranking →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$26,250 ($5,250/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 2 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers |
| Insurance | Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying |
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Across the Ghost model years we've scored, the 2012 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6.6/10 | $175,000 | Read review → |
| 2014 | 6.6/10 | $175,000 | Read review → |
| 2013 | 6.4/10 | $167,500 | Read review → |
| 2012 (this review) | 6.4/10 | $160,000 |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
| Engine and engine cooling / Engine / Gasoline / Turbo/supercharger 18/04/2018 · 18V248000 | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S… |
|---|---|
| Equipment / Other / Labels 27/07/2012 · 12V368000 | Certain model year 2012 Ghost passenger vehicles manufactured from March 27, 2012, through July 13, 2012 were equipped with 20-inch tires, but the tire information label states that the vehicles were equipped with 19-inch tires. Therefore, the label does… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Own a 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
We rate the 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost's reliability 5.5/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
2 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 6.4/10 overall, ranking #1294 of 1310 sedans in our database (better than 1% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost starts at $160,000 and ranges up to $186,862 across trims (MSRP when new). At 10 MPG, expect roughly $5,250/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
No standout weak years: across the 4 Ghost model years we've scored, every year lands within half a point of the best (6.6/10). Pick on price and condition rather than year.
The documented issues for the 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Engine and engine cooling, Equipment (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
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Other sedans at a similar price point, ranked by Carivo score.
Explore the full lineup of Rolls-Royce models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.