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What 154 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 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 (154)Crash / fire / injury (8)Transmission & drivetrain (57)Brakes (25)Electrical system (24)Body & structure (20)Engine (11)Backup camera & sensors (4)Airbags (3)Driver assistance (3)Engine & cooling (3)Seat belts (3)

4 of 154 complaints match · Body & structure · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Sep 17, 2023Body & structure1 injury

This week, again, the rear hatch came down on me as I was loading groceries and while I tried to fend it off, giving me a bruise on my lower arm The rear hatch door randomly closes while I am loading/unloading the rear of the X1. In the past I thought it might be the key fob being bumped in a purse or pocket, but NO. It happens randomly. It beeps its warning thank goodness, but has put me, my grandchildren, and others helping load at risk several times since we purchased this car in 2017. I thought this might be peculiar to my car alone, but now see others with the same complaint! I will not let my grandchildren stand around the back of the car when loading. BMW will be sued by someone, bet on it, if it hasn't already happened, if any child or animal is injured due to this problem. The force was strong enough to bump and bruise an adult, let alone a child! My dealer listened to my complaint, but offers no solution...I have no paperwork to this effect. This is a safety and public relations nightmare for BMW that it has not been addressed already...

NHTSA ODI 11544987

Jan 22, 2021Body & structure1 injury

THE TRUNK STARTS CLOSING BY ITSELF, 100S OF EXAMPLES ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI 11389464

Sep 16, 2020Electrical systemBody & structure1 injury

THE REAR TRUNK OF THE CAR STARTS CLOSING BY ITSELF. I INJURED MY HAND DUE TO SUCH SUDDEN CLOSURE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS HITTING IT AND BMW IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING OR FIXING THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11355481

Jan 16, 2020Body & structure1 injury

THE TAILGATE CONSISTENTLY CLOSES ON ITS OWN. WITHOUT MY FOOT EVEN BEING NEAR THE SENSOR THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE BACKEND. T HAS SLAMMED ME IN A BACK A FEW TIMES WHEN I'VE HAD MY HEADPHONES IN AND DID NOT HEAR THE BEEPING. I WON'T EVEN LET MY KNEES GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP IN FL HAS ALLEGEDLY FIXED IT BUT CONTINUES TO DO IT. IT DID IT ON THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL. I MOVED IN AND CONTINUE TO DO IT TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. WHEN IT HIT YOU IN THE BACK IT HURTS REALLY BAD.

NHTSA ODI 11299705

Working with the data? Download all 154 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 2017 BMW X1 verdict →