2021 BMW X1 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
31/100
#10 most-complained of 14 X1 years
The 2021 BMW X1 has a Complaint Index of 31, ranking 10th worst out of 14 model years, and NHTSA rates it "Good" relative to other X1 years. It has 9 complaints, 1 recall, and 4 crash-linked reports, mostly tied to airbags.
- Complaints
- 9
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 26.5
- 23.5 city / 32 hwy
Top 2021 BMW X1 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags4 (44%)
- Electrical System3 (33%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (22%)
- Brakes1 (11%)
- Engine1 (11%)
- Other1 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (11%)
What owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy during frontal and side-impact crashes, in one case at 65 mph and another during a low-speed 10 mph head-on collision.
- Some crash reports describe injuries, including a broken hand and severe neck, head, and chest trauma, when airbags did not deploy as expected.
- Forward Collision Warning and Daytime Pedestrian Warning systems have shown malfunction messages, disabling automatic brake intervention.
- Front suspension has developed abnormal noise while turning, traced by dealers to premature front strut failure.
- One owner reported the engine stalling while driving, accompanied by a glitching navigation screen and a dashboard service warning.
2021 BMW X1 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V554000Jul 21, 2021Seat Belts21,537 vehicles
Seat belts
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417; 1-866-825-1525 (MINI); 1-877-877-3735 (Rolls Royce); and 1-888-270-9371 (Toyota).
2021 BMW X1 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23.5 MPG
- Highway
- 32 MPG
- Combined
- 26.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2021 compared with other X1 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 BMW X1 reliable?
- Compared to other X1 model years, the 2021 X1 ranks well, with a Complaint Index of 31 and only 9 NHTSA complaints, placing it 10th worst out of 14 years tracked.
- What is the main problem with the 2021 BMW X1?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 4 of 9 complaints (44%) and all 4 reported crashes, with a median failure mileage of 32,500 miles.
- Does the 2021 BMW X1 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2021 X1, covering seat belt retractors that may need inspection or replacement.
- How does the 2021 X1 compare to other bad X1 years?
- The 2021 X1 has a Complaint Index of 31, far lower than the worst years like 2017 (100) and 2016 (92), both rated "Avoid."
- What is the fuel economy of the 2021 BMW X1?
- EPA rates the 2021 X1 at 26.5 mpg combined (23.5 city / 32 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,000.