BMW X1 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 673 consumer complaints across the 12 model years of the BMW X1 (2013–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2016 has the most, with 159. Across all years, the part named most often is other or unknown (161 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All X1 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | 2,650 | 3 | 63 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 30 | 7,000 | 3 | 105 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 70 | 8,000 | 6 | 78 | 100 · More | Too new |
| 2021 | 10 | 47,000 | 1 | 37 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 13 | 35,000 | 1 | 70 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 13 | 39,673 | 3 | 68 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 60 | 13,000 | 4 | 98 | 85 · More | Stable |
| 2017 | 156 | 50,210 | 2 | 189 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2016 | 159 | 42,000 | 3 | 219 | 57 · Typical | Stable |
| 2015 | 52 | 90,000 | 2 | 23 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2014 | 55 | 90,000 | 2 | 26 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2013 | 38 | 96,000 | 2 | 32 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Other or unknown161 20%
- Electrical system143 18%
- Brakes122 15%
- Transmission and drivetrain117 15%
- Engine88 11%
- Body and structure66 8.3%
- Engine cooling56 7.0%
- Electronic stability control42 5.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2013: “When starting my car on several occasions the check engine light came on, power output was reduced to the engine. I took it to the dealer and the turbo malfunction waste gate actuator was diagnosed as faulty. I was able to drive the car during each episode but I was told when the part goes out completely the car will not drive.”
NHTSA complaint #11320758, filed 2020-04, 135,000 miles2019: “My 2019 X1 with 17000 miles on it suddenly and without warning shut down in the middle of the highway. It would not start back up and the entire dashboard lights were blinking with no rhyme or reason. I was not even able to get out of the lane onto the shoulder to a safe area. This could have been deadly and it was terrifying.”
NHTSA complaint #11364446, filed 2020-10, 17,000 miles2016: “I departed my house and got onto the west park toll way. After driving for a few miles, I heard like an explosion. Under panic, I realized that the sunroof had shattered. I was traveling at about 65mph and no one was ahead of me or adjacent to me. There was a pickup truck behind me about safe following distance.”
NHTSA complaint #11327191, filed 2020-06, 22,800 milesOther BMW models
3,165 complaintsBMW 328I
2,576 complaintsBMW X3
2,016 complaintsBMW 325I
1,377 complaintsBMW Z4
1,271 complaintsBMW 3 Series
832 complaintsBMW 528I
830 complaintsBMW 330I
813 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology