2018 BMW X1: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the body and structure, airbags, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018- Owner complaints
- 56
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes reported
- 6
- 6 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2018 BMW X1: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/4
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which X1 is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 BMW X1. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 25–26 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A X1 that averages well under the EPA 25 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 BMW X1, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Body and structure20No crashes
Recall repairs that dealers cannot finish because parts are unavailable make up almost all of these filings. Most owners report no actual failure. They received a recall notice, contacted a dealer, and were told the part was pending, with no date from the manufacturer. Some got only a partial repair. Several worry about rear-seat passengers in a crash while the repair waits. One separate report says the tailgate closed with no audible warning and struck an owner on the head, causing an injury.
Airbags66 crashes
Airbags fail to deploy in serious crashes. All six reports involve a collision, and five involve injuries. Several describe highway impacts that totaled the car, with guardrail damage, the engine separating from the chassis, and a front wheel torn off, yet no front, side, or overhead bags went off. Rear-end impacts also appear. After one, the airbag warning light stayed on and the seat belt locked and would no longer extend.
Electrical5No crashes
Fire can break out while driving. One report describes a burst of airbag, chassis, and headlight warnings, then every dashboard light coming on, then smoke and flames from the front-right of the engine bay. The rear liftgate opens partway at speed. A dealer traced one case at 16,000 miles to key fob programming and set it to need two presses. Other reports describe a failed battery, a heater blower that quits, hesitation under acceleration, and sun visors too small to block glare.
Engine3No crashes
Rough idle right after a cold start is the main pattern, with the car nearly stalling when shifted into reverse. Adding throttle to keep it running makes the car lurch backward. A paid software update has not cured it for some, and dealers ask for more paid updates with no guarantee. The check engine light also comes on for a faulty thermostat, with a loud hum and a stiff driving feel. At around 63,000 miles, a failed evaporative emission circuit came with shuddering when braking.
Steering3No crashes
Loose, vague handling at speed is the main pattern. The car wanders left and right and needs constant correction to stay in its lane, and inputs bring delayed or uneven response. Power assist cuts out with no warning light, and in one case this kept recurring from around 5,000 miles. A noise when turning is also reported. Losing assist while driving is a loss-of-control risk.
Transmission2No crashes
The engine shuts off or jerks after a cold start, especially when backing out first thing in the morning. RPM surges as if the engine is fighting to keep running, and warnings show on the dashboard. A stall while leaving a garage into traffic is a real crash risk. Dealers point to firmware updates as the fix but charge for them, with one owner quoted almost $1,000. Owners say friends with the same model report the same behavior.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints X1 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Serious highway accident in Chicago suburbs whereby car was totaled. Engine came away from chassis after ramming into and taking out 50 feet of guardrail and coming to a screeching halt. Left front wheel came away from vehicle in its entirety. No front, side or overhead airbags deployed whatsoever. Traveling at 50MPH at time of accident. I have pictures if required.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2022
Airbag. No open recalls. Spinal injury in head-on collision. Unknown Crash Champions at Windsor Mills in Baltimore, MD (auto body shop for Progressive) No warnings
Filed with NHTSA, August 2024
Car began to make a loud humming noise from the engine compartment and the car went stiff. The check engine light came on and when taken to have the light looked at, it showed a faulty thermostat.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2024
How the 2018 compares with other X1 years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 X1 years, about 3.0 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Body and structure200
- Airbags61
- Electrical51
- Engine30
- Steering30
- Transmission22
Where the 2018 fits in the X1's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the third model year of the X1's second generation (2016–2022).
Recalls to confirm (4)
Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
19V601000SteeringAug 2019
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.
19V349000Body and structureMay 2019
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.
19V074000Exterior lightsJan 2019
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.
18V465000EngineJul 2018
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.
Also looking at these instead of a X1?
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2018 owner complaints, side by side
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