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Electrical systemPart report

2014 BMW X1 Electrical system Problems

Complaints
24about this part
Share
44%of 55 total for the year
Median mileage
114,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the electrical system of the 2014 BMW X1, 44% of the 55 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 114,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Twice the shift gears such as placing car in park or drive, it frooze up twice once in the care of the service center at carmax and 2nd time backing up from my house and the car shift wouldnt go into to drive mode , my husband had to push car into drive way. It was in motion in reverse and back up onto the city street and it wouldnt move to drive”

NHTSA complaint #11395670, filed 2021-02

“I was driving on the highway and all of my dashboard lights began to flicker, my windshield wipers came on and my doors began to lock and unlock then the car shut off while I was driving.”

NHTSA complaint #11727003, filed 2026-03

“While driving home, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. When I turned the car off the smoke was billowing and coming into the car through the ventilation system. I came back to the car a while later and saw that the hood had a large round burn mark and all non-metal parts connected to the engine were melted. The car is currently inoperable. I called the BMW dealership that provides maintenance for my car and they told me of recall but said they didnt have a remedy at this time.”

NHTSA complaint #11622383, filed 2024-10

“The contact owns a 2014 BMW X1. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being operated, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was later taken to a local dealer for a second opinion, but the diagnostic result was not provided. …”

NHTSA complaint #11618154, filed 2024-10, 90,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2014 BMW X1. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that after shifting to park(P), there was white smoke coming from under the hood, with a burning plastic odor. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there were no authorized dealers close by. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11719114, filed 2026-02, 70,850 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025953%
202427%
202346%
2021330%
2020215%
2019538%
2018813%
20172415%
2016138%
20153160%
20142444%
20131847%

Other parts of the 2014 BMW X1

Engine
17 complaints
Engine cooling
16 complaints
Other or unknown
8 complaints
Fuel system
7 complaints
Brakes
6 complaints
Air bags
4 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
4 complaints
Steering
2 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints
Body and structure
1 complaints
Suspension
1 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2014 BMW X1

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology