YearToAvoid

2018 BMW X6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

13/100

#14 most-complained of 16 X6 years

The 2018 BMW X6 has a Complaint Index of 13, ranking 14th out of 16 model years for owner complaints, meaning it is one of the least-complained-about X6 years. NHTSA lists 4 complaints and 4 recalls, with Suspension, Wheels & Tires the top problem area.

Complaints
4
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2018 BMW X6 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (50%)
  2. Brakes1 (25%)
  3. Other1 (25%)
  4. Steering1 (25%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain1 (25%)

What owners report

  • A rear tire delaminated at 70 mph, throwing tread and igniting a friction fire in the wheel well at 26,000 miles.
  • Owners describe front brake system instability paired with suspension and early-warning system faults at 34,000 miles that were never fully corrected.
  • The transmission shifted itself into PARK while the vehicle was moving or stopped in traffic, with the issue traced to the mechatronics module and occurring more often over time.
2018 BMW X6 complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2019Feb 2020Jul 2021Jan 2022
6 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2019 to Jan 2022; peak Nov 2019 (3).

2018 BMW X6 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V823000Nov 18, 2019Other32,760 vehicles

    Child seat

    BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2015-2019 X6 sDrive35i, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6M vehicles equipped with rear seat lower anchor bars used in securing child restraint seats. The lower anchor bars may become damaged over time when used with an ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

    Risk: Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. Owner notification began January 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 18V614000Sep 12, 2018Suspension, Wheels & Tires33 vehicles

    Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X6 sDrive35i, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6M vehicles. The wheel bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened.

    Risk: The improperly tightened wheel bolts may loosen and break, affecting vehicle handling and control and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace and tighten all of the wheel bolts, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  3. NHTSA 18V439000Jun 28, 2018Suspension, Wheels & Tires43 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDrive35d, and X6 sDrive35i vehicles. The pivot bolt on the front lower-left control arm may not have been properly hardened, which may cause the control arm to break.

    Risk: If the lower control arm breaks, vehicle handling and control can be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower-left control arms and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 11, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

See all 4 recalls for the 2018 BMW X6 →

2018 BMW X6 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
22.5 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,350
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.

2018 compared with other X6 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Good339118.5
2017No verdict73218.5
2018No verdict134418.5
2019Caution675419.5
2020Good2791018

All BMW X6 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 BMW X6 reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2018 X6 has a Complaint Index of 13, the 14th-worst (meaning one of the better) among 16 model years, with 4 complaints reported.
What problems does the 2018 BMW X6 have?
The top problem area is Suspension, Wheels & Tires (2 of 4 complaints), followed by one complaint each for Brakes, Steering, and Transmission & Powertrain. Median mileage at failure for suspension complaints was 30,000 miles.
Does the 2018 BMW X6 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2018 X6, including two suspension-related campaigns for improperly tightened wheel bolts and front lower-left control arm pivot bolts.
Should I avoid the 2018 BMW X6?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2018 X6 ranks 14th of 16 years with a Complaint Index of 13, making it one of the better years compared to years like 2011 (index 100) rated Avoid.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.