Home · 2016 BMW X1 · Complaints

What 159 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 BMW X1

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (159)Crash / fire / injury (5)Transmission & drivetrain (33)Visibility & wipers (20)Body & structure (17)Electrical system (13)Brakes (8)Engine (8)Airbags (4)Steering (4)Suspension (4)Speed control (3)

8 of 159 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Jun 17, 2025EngineFuel system

- Roof and pillars I have been having for almost a year when trying to open and slide on the track. It is harsh and noisy. - Engine oil filter housing and coolant leak. This issue is critical. Finally on April 10, 2025 I ended spending $1007.52 to get the housing replaced to stop the ongoing drip drip effect. - Steering gear box. This issue remains despite the fact that I replaced struts. For almost a year since I bought the vehicle, there appears to be a clunking type noise especially when going over rail tracks on the road where I am forced to almost come to a complete stop to let the car go over the tracks out of fear of sustaining damage.

NHTSA ODI 11667511

Jul 17, 2024Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine

Every time I start or stop my vehicle I get a notification that shows Transmission: Secure vehicle with parking brake when stopped. Consult service center. And my console has a hazard warning that shows: Secure vehicle against rolling. This happens every time, even if the car is parked on a completely flat surface in no danger whatsoever of rolling. I've read SEVERAL X1 owners get this message and all state this needs to be a RECALL. They take their vehicles in for service and are told it's between $2500 and $3000 due to a tiny spring that breaks and the selector no longer communicates with the car in the parking position, and because of this there is an error message in dashboard in which warns you to make sure the vehicle is secure

NHTSA ODI 11602851

Dec 13, 2023Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

having an issue with the warning light saying Secure Vehicle from Rolling. gear selector replacement Needed. Shifter Linkage needed replacing

NHTSA ODI 11560025

Sep 29, 2023Engine

The contact owns a 2016 BMW X1. The contact stated that while having a routine inspection at the local dealer, the mechanic informed her that the engine mounts had failed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, BMW of Sarasota (5151 Clark Rd., Sarasota, FL 34233) for a battery replacement. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine mounts had failed again at 65,000. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided a discount on the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 11547273

Jul 20, 2021Engine

The AC has this foul smell coming from the vents it is a health concern as it's a sign that mold/mildew/bacteria is growing somewhere inside the AC system and is a significant respiratory risk. It may cause or exacerbate respiratory or breathing issues and anaphylaxis with people allergic to mold

NHTSA ODI 11425597

Dec 3, 2020Engine

THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE FAILED ON MY CAR. I HAVE ONLY 14 THOUSAND MILES ON THE AUTO AND DO ONLY CITY DRIVING. HAD THIS NOT BEEN DISCOVERED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE MOUNTING HARDWARE OR THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE,

NHTSA ODI 11377820

Nov 11, 2020Engine

JUST STARTED DRIVING ON A LONG HIGHWAY TRIP, 20 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE WITH VEHICLE AT TEMPERATURE, BALL BEARING FAILED ON A PLASTIC IDLER PULLY ON ACCESSORY DRIVE, BLOWING APART THE PLASTIC PULLS AND DAMAGING THE BELT, LOSING BATTERY CHARGING FIRST, THE OVERTEMPERATURE WARNING TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER ON HIGHWAY WHICH I DID. HAD TO TOW TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER. $1671.51 REPAIR OVER TWO DAYS STRANDED.

NHTSA ODI 11374108

Feb 9, 2017Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR HESITATES TO ACCELERATE. THERE IS A TWO - THREE SECOND DELAY AFTER YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS RESULTED IN ALMOST BEING HIT BROADSIDE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CAR LITERALLY DRIFTS FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE RESPONDING. WAY SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS. AFRAID TO CROSS LANES WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE FUEL SAVING AUTO/ON/OFF HAS ALWAYS BEEN DISENGAGED WHEN THIS OCCURS. NOT USING SPORT OR ECO SETTING EITHER. VERY UNSAFE CAR. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED OVER THE PAST 14 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASED NEW. HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP AND BMW NORTH AMERICA NUMEROUS TIMES. BMW TRIED TO UPDATE SOFTWARE BUT IT DIDN'T ADDRESS PROBLEM. OTHERS ON BIMMERFEST IN THE USA ARE ALSO STATING THEY ARE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AT A PRICE OF OVER $40K.

NHTSA ODI 10953759

Working with the data? Download all 159 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 BMW X1 verdict →