2018 BMW X1 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other X1 years
- More complaints than other years 4th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW X1. That ranks 4th out of 15 X1 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (22 complaints, 37%), typically at around 4,800 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 59owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 BMW X1 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 22 | 37% | 4,800 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 14 | 24% | 14,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 14% | 51,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 8% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 7% | 508 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 5% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3% | 10,300 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 2% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 BMW X1 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2019 X2 xDrive28i, MINI Cooper S Convertible, Countryman, and John Cooper Works Countryman vehicles. The steering gear tie rod may have been assembled incorrectly, which may result in excessive wear of the tie rod end, eventually causing it to break.
Risk: A broken steering tie rod would lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the tie rods and ball joints as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Structure:body:roof and pillars
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2019 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles. In the event of a crash where the occupants head contacts the B-pillar, the pillar may not absorb an adequate amount of the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
Risk: In the event of a crash, the insufficient impact absorption can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vertical trim pieces on the upper portion of the interior B-Pillars, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 1, 2019. Second notices will be sent as parts become available, starting on September 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles. Contaminated hardware may cause the attachment brackets of the taillight housings to crack, causing the lights to loosen or possibly detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If a taillight detaches from the vehicle, it would no longer provide the required lighting to following traffic, or it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will properly secure the taillights, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
On May 20, 2026 We were in Mt Dora, FL We were approaching a red light. Cars were stopped in front of us and cars were beside me and behind me. As I slowed down the car just stalled out. It completely turned off while I was in drive. I immediately tried to start it. Then I put my foot on the brake…
⢠What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I have a 2018 BMW X1 that has about 60,000 miles on it. So far, I have had to have the windshield replaced four times due to pebbles hitting and cracking the windshield when on the highway. This…
The contact owns a 2018 BMW X1. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine and engine overheating warning lights became illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the water pump needed to be replaced…
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…
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.
Other BMW X1 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 X1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2025 X1 | 17 | 3 |
| 2024 X1 | 30 | 3 |
| 2023 X1 | 70 | 6 |
| 2022 X1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2021 X1 | 9 | 1 |
| 2020 X1 | 13 | 1 |
| 2019 X1 | 13 | 3 |
| 2018 | 59 | 4 |
| 2017 X1 | 156 | 2 |
| 2016 X1 | 159 | 3 |
| 2015 X1 | 52 | 2 |
| 2014 X1 | 55 | 2 |
| 2013 X1 | 38 | 2 |
| 2012 X1 | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW X1 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW X1?
Owners most often report structure, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 22 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 BMW X1?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 BMW X1 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other X1 model years, the 2018 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.