BMW X1 Complaints

853 consumer complaints on file.

#11716609February 8, 2026
ENGINE
I had to replace the Oil Fliter housing with oil cooler because it was made out of plastic and caused an oil and antifreeze. The repair man told me that engine part were made out of plastic and tend to fail over time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713377January 26, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LOCK, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X1. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for maintenance, the contact was informed that the water pump had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that prior to the visit, the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the cause of the failure was not found. The failure persisted. On a separate occasion, while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's side door failed to open as intended from the outside, and the front passenger's side door only opened from the inside of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the front passenger’s side rear window failed to function as intended. There was an abnormal sound while rolling up the window, and the window failed to roll up. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that prior to the other failures, the sliding cover on the sunroof failed to function as intended. The sliding cover was stuck, and the contact was unable to move the sliding cover. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). However, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired for the failure. Most recently, when the vehicle was restarted, the message "Passenger Restraint System Malfunction" was displayed. The contact used a personal scanner to clear the message. The vehicle was not repaired after the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713046January 24, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
Secure vehicle against rolling error
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713081January 24, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
At approximately 20,000 miles, the vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealer due to abnormal noises from the front suspension when turning the steering wheel. The dealer confirmed abnormal noise from the front struts when the wheels were turned while the vehicle was on a lift and diagnosed premature front strut failure. The affected components are available for inspection upon request. Repair was quoted but not performed. This condition involves a safety-critical suspension component and may affect vehicle handling, stability, and braking performance, particularly during turning or emergency maneuvers. This issue follows a prior safety-related brake failure at approximately 17,000 miles. At that time, a brake system warning light illuminated, and the condition was confirmed and repaired by the dealer. Both incidents involve safety-critical systems occurring at unusually low mileage. No warning lights or messages were observed prior to the suspension issue. The vehicle has not been involved in a collision and has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712606January 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
Today is 1/21/26. My car has had problems since 12/4/25 when I started getting drivetrain warning lights. After "call roadside assistance" prompts, it will start, but a drivetrain fault appears on the dash. Many faults have appeared at the dealer and I have it in writing that there is nothing more they can do. They escalated the issue to BMW with no resolution, to date. I have requested a buy-back and they no longer return my calls. In terms of safety, I'm not sure what could happen if the drivetrain fault light is on. On three separate occasions, it told me that the car was in danger of rolling over when I was on a flat surface. Another time, the car wouldn't go over 30 mph. This didn't feel safe! The dealer has reloaded software many times. Once they said I could pick it up and when I started it to drive home, the fault light appeared. They said other cars have come in for similar issues, but the software update has solved the problem. They said they have never seen anything like this before. As far as I know, other than the local dealer, all other BMW inspections have been done remotely. Documentation of what as happened every day is attached. I also have the back-and-forth correspondence with the dealer and with BMW North America if needed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711587January 17, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
While driving my vehicle at normal highway and city speeds, I noticed a serious steering issue where the steering wheel feels excessively loose and unresponsive. The vehicle does not track straight and constantly drifts left and right, requiring continuous steering corrections to keep it within the lane. The steering feels vague and unstable, as if there is excessive play in the steering system. At times, small steering inputs result in delayed or inconsistent vehicle response, making it difficult to maintain a straight path. This issue occurs on smooth, dry roads and is not related to road conditions, wind, or tire pressure. This condition creates a significant safety concern, especially at higher speeds, as it feels like I could lose control of the vehicle or unintentionally drift into another lane or off the road. The problem has been persistent and appears to be worsening over time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709771January 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Our X1 has a lot of "slip" in the transmission. It's most apparent when you back up and then switch to drive. In our X1, the car keeps rolling backward like it's in neutral. Drive doesn't engage until after a long delay.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708977January 5, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Known HVAC-produced moisture drainage issue that cause water to get trapped inside the system and cabin air filter housing, causing significant mold or mildew to grow on the filter itself and spread spores through cabin ventilation system and contaminates air inside cabin which poses serious health hazards.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707927December 30, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
1 Brakes: The brakes seem to have excessive wear. The car was purchased new and started making loud squeaking noises after about 18k miles. The squeaking sometimes went away after regular maintenance, but usually reappeared withing a few hundred miles of driving. Two different BMW dealership service centers examined the car at different times and claimed the squeaking was a sensor, however there was never a dashboard light or computerized message stating the same. At about 29K, a dashboard light and computerized message displayed warning the brakes needed regular maintenance. Strangely, the loud squeaking went away as soon as the dashboard light displayed. 2 Lane Keeping Assistance: the car will attempt to swerve into other lanes, fighting my attempts to control the steering wheel. This happens when lane markings have been redrawn, but the vehicle is detecting the painted-over lines and tries to divert to there instead. It also happens when a lane has an option to split into different directions. If I am driving straight, the vehicle will try to swerve into the alternate direction, instead of proceeding in the direction the car is already traveling. This sometimes risks driving into a curbs or barriers that separate the directions and has occurred numerous times.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707705December 30, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On multiple occasions, maybe up to 10, the software controlling the dashboard LCD screens reset while driving and completely goes black. Almost everything in the car is controlled through the head unit. I use the vehicle for highway commuting and it happens at 70+ miles per hour. I have no gauges at all while it is occurring. I don’t have a speedometer. I do not have HVAC controls. I don’t have a gas gauge. I’ve taken the car in multiple times. They replaced the head unit. But it keeps occurring. Now the dome On multiple occasions, maybe up to 10, the software controlling the dashboard LCD screens resets while driving and completely goes black. Almost everything in the car is controlled through the head unit. I use the vehicle for highway commuting, and it happens at 70+ miles per hour. I have no gauges at all while it is occurring. I don’t have a speedometer. I do not have HVAC controls. I don’t have a gas gauge. I’ve taken the car in multiple times. They replaced the head unit. But it keeps occurring. Now the dome lights do not work. I’ll be taking the car back for the fourth time. And they’ve had it collectively in the shop maybe 30 days. I purchased the vehicle new at the end of July 2025. This is a safety issue.lights do not work. I’ll be taking the car back for the fourth time. And they’ve had it collectively in the shop maybe 30 days. I purchased the vehicle new at the end of July 2025. This is a safety issue. I have pictures and a video of it while it is happening.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707621December 29, 2025
TIRES
OEM Tires: 225/55/R18 - Bridgestone Turanza All Season I am writing to raise a formal concern regarding the premature wear of OEM tires installed on my leased 2025 BMW X1. At approximately 15,000 miles, I was advised to replace the tires at 4/32" tread depth, which is significantly below the longevity historically expected of OEM tires. This raises serious concerns around vehicle safety, environmental impact due to early disposal, and the burden placed on consumers. Past OEM tires demonstrated substantially better durability, and I am seeking clarity on what has changed in design, materials, or standards that now allows for reduced tire life. I also request clarification on how this aligns with the safety commitments and environmental responsibility, and whether consumer interests are being adequately considered. I look forward to your written response. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706815December 23, 2025
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The Rear Cross Traffic system does not work! A few days ago a car stopped inches away from me without any warning. I was backing out of a parking space at the grocery store.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706087December 19, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2015 BMW X1. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, she noticed there was smoke emerging from underneath the hood, and it caught fire. The contact was able to exit the vehicle safely. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The service warning light was illuminated prior to the failure. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployments, or crashes. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The local dealer was contacted, but there was no assistance provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 95,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705146December 15, 2025
STEERING
In November I noticed a noise when steering. I took my suv to the mechanic shop and they located the following recall from your website: recall 19V601000 the tie rod assembly. I contacted BMW of North America and they cannot locate this recall with my VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704220December 10, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While visiting BMW of Alexandria, an approved BMW dealership, I was told that BMW vehicles have an issue where running it through a safe, approved inside car wash when it's below 40 degrees Fahrenheit outside is dangerous. Parts break, glass shatters, it's just dangerous. Not believing that, I sent the question to BMW of USA customer care. They had a case manger, Jake, call me today. He stated that is theoretically possible for a BMW. When I said it's scary that my kids, my wife, could be in the vehicle when parts shattered or exploded, his only comments were about warranty coverage. I even directly asked if that's possible and is there any history in BMW of that happening. He said he did not do research and refused to do it... only saying it's theoretically possible and warranty coverage would depend on the cause. That implies BMW absolutely KNOWS that it's possible and likely implies it's happened before. Can DoT ask the question and get a more direct answer?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702174December 1, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Dealer says the needed parts are on back order. It has been over 1 year, and I have been unable to get the needed repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701704November 26, 2025
ENGINE, WHEELS, SERVICE BRAKES
I am writing to formally file a report regarding the severe mechanical damage to the vehicle I purchased on June 14th, 2024, identified as A 2017 BMW- X1 sDrive28i, with VIN NUMBER [XXX] . It has come to my attention that this damage was not disclosed at the time of purchase, which constitutes a violation of consumer protection laws. As a consumer, I have the right to receive truthful and accurate information about the products I purchase. The failure to disclose significant mechanical issues is a violation of the Federal Trade Commission's regulations and applicable state consumer protection laws, including the prohibition against deceptive acts and practices. This vehicle poses as a safety risk to myself, and other's. Specifically, I have experienced the following issues with the vehicle: 1. Leaking oil 2. Loud engine. 3. Overheating. 4. Suspension issues. 5. Control arm alignment. 6. Shock and strut assembly. 7. Wheel alignment. 8. Turbocharger alignment 9. Engine assembly. I've encountered all of these issues since the sale of the vehicle in 2024. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700856November 21, 2025
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle: 2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i Incident Date: 11/21/2025 Location: Interstate highway in Wisconsin Description of the Issue: My husband was driving our 2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i when he was involved in a front-end collision at approximately 40 mph. He struck the rear of another vehicle with the front passenger-side portion of the BMW. Despite the force and angle of the crash, neither the driver airbag nor the passenger airbag deployed. Immediately after impact, heavy smoke began coming through the dashboard vents within seconds, and the vehicle caught fire within approximately one minute. The entire front of the vehicle was destroyed by the fire. The airbags never deployed at any point, including during the fire. We believe this represents a serious failure of the airbag system or the crash sensors. A collision at this speed and angle, followed by catastrophic fire, should have triggered airbag deployment. This creates a significant safety risk for the driver and any passengers. What Happened to the Occupant: The driver experienced impact to the chest and upper body that likely would have been mitigated by airbag deployment. He required medical evaluation. Why We Are Reporting: We want to notify NHTSA of this potential airbag system failure, as it may indicate a defect affecting additional BMW X1 vehicles. We are requesting that the incident be reviewed to determine whether: The frontal crash sensors malfunctioned The airbag control module failed Wiring or electrical issues prevented deployment A previously unknown defect exists in this model This was a dangerous failure of a critical safety system. There was no prior airbag warning light or malfunction indicator before the crash. The vehicle is a total loss and is currently with our insurance company. We will request the airbag control module (ACM) and crash data from the insurance inspection. The vehicle has not previously been involved in an airbag deployment. The vehicle had up-to-date maintenance.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11696349October 29, 2025
SEATS
Please see attachment:
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693406October 14, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car was taken in for service for a water pump recall. When I receive the car back there is a radiator photo on the dashboard as if there is low coolant. After returning the car to BMW they are stating that the water pump part that was fixed has nothing to do with why there is now a coolant leak from the back of the radiator. The fuel leak is coming from the fuel pump.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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