2021 Bmw X1 problems

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The BMW X1 is a line of cars produced by German marque BMW since 2009. It is in the subcompact luxury crossover class, and the first-generation X1 was based on the E90 3 Series and offered rear-wheel drive layout as standard. At its introduction in 2009, it was positioned as the smallest SUV in BMW line-up, below the X3 prior to the launch of the smaller X2. The X1 essentially is aiming a wider range of customers due to its smaller size, increased efficiency, and a lower price tag due to the all-wheel drive layout (xDrive) being optional.

The second-generation X1 marked the switch to a front-wheel-drive-based layout using the UKL2 platform shared with the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and the Mini Countryman. Despite its name, it is now only the second smallest SUV produced by BMW since the introduction of the X2. The third and current generation was released in 2022.

First generation (E84; 2009)

The E84 X1 is the first-generation model and was originally presented as the BMW Concept X1 at the Paris Motor Show in 2008. Development of the vehicle started in 2006 when BMW identified the need for a smaller and more efficient model in its SUV line-up as petrol prices were increasing. Due to the urgent need to produce the vehicle, development and pre-production time was shortened by 40 percent compared to previous X Series models.

It is based on the same platform as the E90 3 Series and features the same 2,760 mm (108.7 in) wheelbase. The X1 is the first BMW X Series to be available in the sDrive trim (two-wheel drive). It was not introduced to the United States until 2012.

In 2013, the E84 X1 underwent a facelift, featuring restyled exterior and interior design elements, as well as the integration of BMW EfficientDynamics on all models. The original X1 sold 820,529 units.

2021 Bmw X1

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Common 2021 Bmw X1 problems

Common Problems with the BMW X1 (2021)

The BMW X1 is known for its reliability, but like any vehicle, it can have its share of issues. Here are some common problems reported by owners of the BMW X1 (2021) based on search results.

  1. Engine Overheating

BMW X1 models from 2014 to 2016, particularly those equipped with the N20 engine, have been reported to experience engine overheating

. The cause of this issue is often attributed to leaks in the coolant system, which can be due to faulty seals or corrosion of the radiator. This problem can lead to irreparable engine damage, requiring a complete engine replacement in some cases.

  1. Turbocharger Waste Gate Actuator Issues

First-generation BMW X1 owners (2009-2016) have reported that their vehicles rattle and lose power before stalling due to a failure in the turbo wastegate actuator

. This issue can be costly to repair, and it is not as common as the timing chain issue but is still a significant concern for some owners.

  1. Airbag Issues

Airbag-related issues are among the most frequently reported problems with the BMW X1, with reports of airbags not deploying when they should or deploying improperly

. BMW has issued recalls in response to this problem, but it remains a concern for some owners.

  1. Exterior Lights Issues

Older BMW X1 models from 2009 to 2016 may experience excessive condensation buildup inside the headlight housing, which can significantly reduce visibility

. This issue is common in older vehicles and can be fixed by a mechanic who can handle the excessive condensation and properly seal the headlight.

  1. Leaking Coolant

The 2016 model of the BMW X1 seems to have some problems with leaking coolant, which can be due to seal failures, poor design, or damage. This issue can lead to engine overheating and other related problems.

  1. Tie Rods, Airbags, Swivel Bearings, Rear Lights, and Crankshaft Sensor

These are some of the most common problems with a used BMW X1 estate, as reported by What Car?. These issues can affect various parts of the vehicle, including the suspension, brakes, and electrical systems.

In conclusion, while the BMW X1 is known for its reliability, it is not immune to issues that can affect its performance and safety. Owners of the BMW X1 (2021) should be aware of these common problems and consider regular maintenance and inspections to ensure the vehicle's longevity and safety.

2021 Bmw X1 engine

What is the common problem in BMW X1?

Oil leaks are a common concern in some BMW X1s. These leaks can be attributed to gasket failures or other engine-related issues, such as a leaking oil filter housing gasket or valve cover gasket. Solution: To address oil leaks, it's essential to have the gaskets and seals inspected and replaced as needed.

Is a 2021 BMW X1 a reliable car?

The 2021 BMW X1 has a predicted reliability score of 75 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

What are the disadvantages of the BMW X1?

BMW X1 Cons

Missing features such as ventilated seats, head-up display, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre), 360-degree camera, rear sunshade etc.

Is A BMW X1 A Good Car to buy?

Is the BMW X1 a good car? The BMW X1 offers plenty of practicality for a compact SUV and it's filled with excellent tech. It's good to drive, too, while its wide range of powertrains neatly blends performance and economy. All these qualities earned the X1 our 2023 Small Premium SUV of the Year award.

What is the common problem in BMW X1?

Oil leaks are a common concern in some BMW X1s. These leaks can be attributed to gasket failures or other engine-related issues, such as a leaking oil filter housing gasket or valve cover gasket. Solution: To address oil leaks, it's essential to have the gaskets and seals inspected and replaced as needed.

Is a 2021 BMW X1 a reliable car?

The 2021 BMW X1 has a predicted reliability score of 75 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

What are the disadvantages of the BMW X1?

BMW X1 Cons

Missing features such as ventilated seats, head-up display, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre), 360-degree camera, rear sunshade etc.

Is A BMW X1 A Good Car to buy?

The BMW X1 offers plenty of practicality for a compact SUV and it's filled with excellent tech. It's good to drive, too, while its wide range of powertrains neatly blends performance and economy.

2021 Bmw X1 car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Bmw X1 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Air bags problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Forward collision avoidance problems
  • Unknown or other problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Bmw X1 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2021 Bmw X1 complaints

The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Bmw X1.

2023-05-20

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-05-20
  • Number Of Injuries: 2
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: WBXJG7C02M5
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: I was involved in an accident today and the front steering wheel airbags didn’t deploy The blue car in the pictures turned in front of me and I hit them
2023-05-18

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-04-30
  • VIN: WBXJG9C08M5
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
  • Summary: While I was driving my BMW X1 1 to 3 weeks ago, frontal collision warning malfunction, pedestrian alert and request service flashed. It was a distraction and not safe. When My husband brought it to the dealership, they were not certain how to fix it. They took a video while doing diagnostic. The right bumper is pop out a little bit because it got hooked to a protruding rod in a concrete parking block while I was parking in front of a food store in Raritan sometime last year. I did not have it fix yet because it was not so obvious and the aesthetics of the car was not much affected. For that reason, the man in the video was saying that he saw a little damage there and was assuming that there’s sort of impact there to the right but it’s hard for him to tell. He was talking of a hard impact which did not happen. He said, visually he could not see anything that is bent but usually if there is a hard impact, it usually twigs the knuckle or the tire rod and he was pointing to those. He also said that when there is a hard impact, they usually recommend to replace the steering rack which is very delicate electronic steering rack and he was pointing where it is. He said, those 3 parts need to be replaced and he will do an alignment once they’re done. He said the reason why always the collision warning are coming on are because of all the steering angle faults from the steering moving so far off. I spoke with the manager last Monday and agreed with alignment but he said if the warning won’t go away after then, I have to spend about $5,000 to replace all those 3 parts. They were not listening that the car did not get a hard impact that’s why they could not see anything bent. It was just the right side of the bumper that was hooked to a rod. They did not even talk about checking the cameras or sensor of the car which according to google is the common cause of frontal collision malfunction. The root cause should be found to fix the problem.
2023-05-15

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-04-30
  • VIN: WBXJG9C08M5
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
  • Summary: The car was displaying these messages: Frontal Collision Warning System: Malfunction, Brake intervention not available. Visual and acoustic ️ warnings active. Consult service center. Daytime Pedestrian Warning reduced:Brake intervention not possible, but visual and acoustic warnings are still given. Consult service center. It was inspected by the dealership but they were saying that I have to pay $5,000 for it to be fixed which is not right because I think it is a manufacturer’s defect. They were blaming it to a collision which never happened. A portion of the right side of the bumper came off sometime last year because as I was trying to park it, it got hooked to a rod in a parking block. It is not even obvious that’s why I did not have if fix yet, not a priority for my budget. I need a car to go to work. An unfix controller area network and electronic control units could lead to fatal accident.
2022-12-03

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-11-18
  • VIN: WBXJG7C0XM5
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: On November 18, 2022, around 9:45 a.m. on Rt. 462 in South Carolina. I was driving my 2021 BMW X1 when “boom.” I thought I’d been shot at with a shotgun. I nearly lost control of the car. As it turns out, by sunroof exploded. (See attached photo). My BMW dealer is covering it under warranty, but I thought I should let NHTSA know. It has been replaced, so inspection is not an option. There were no symptoms prior to the failure.
2021-12-22

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-12-17
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • Crash: 1
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2021 BMW X1. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 mph, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The contact mentioned the air bags failed to deploy from the intensity of the vehicle. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the driver sustained a broken right hand that needed medical attention and was unaware of the other vehicle injuries. The vehicle was towed to the body shop. The dealer was not contacted. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer but there was no answer. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000. The VIN was not available.

2021 Bmw X1 recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2021 Bmw X1.

2021-07-21
  • Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
  • Consequence: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
  • Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417; 1-866-825-1525 (MINI); 1-877-877-3735 (Rolls Royce); and 1-888-270-9371 (Toyota).

Negative 2021 Bmw X1 car reviews

  1. Derick Koelpin 2024-07-02

    This car has been a disappointment. At 34,000 miles, I had to replace the brakes and tires, and the ride is quite uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this car and will not be returning to BMW. The dealer informed me that the heating system is not as strong as some other luxury brands, which was disappointing to hear. Overall, my experience with this car has not been great.

  2. Holden Predovic 2024-05-04

    The car had some issues with the brakes, transmission, engine restart, and navigation system. However, it is worth noting that the writer had a better experience with a Chevy Malibu that they rented a week earlier.

Positive 2021 Bmw X1 car reviews

  1. Fern Conn 2024-11-20

    Hi there! Have you ever experienced the feeling of gliding on the highway?

  2. Lennie Bruen 2024-10-27

    Love it!!!

  3. Emmitt Emmerich 2024-10-14

    Love this suv so far! Perfect size for you if you're on the petite side but still want an suv. The convenience package comes with a lot of upgraded features, making this X1 very nice. The ride is smooth and the gas mileage is amazing!

  4. Darien Jenkins 2024-10-10

    I can understand your concern about the mirrors not folding and not lighting up, but overall, it's a nice SUV.

  5. Carleton Toy 2024-09-05

    It's great to hear that you enjoyed driving the vehicle!

Leave your review of 2021 Bmw X1

Additional sources

More sources of information about 2021 Bmw X1 problems:

F48 top issues - BMW X1 Forum
F48 top issues - BMW X1 Forum
https://f48.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1842316

Jul 16, 2021 ... Was at the dealer yesterday looking at X5's when my wife saw a 2021 X1 and walked over to it. The SA opened the hatch and to my surprise, ...

BMW X1 Problems | Common Faults & Repair Costs ...
BMW X1 Problems | Common Faults & Repair Costs ...
https://www.whocanfixmycar.com/advice/common-problems-with-the-bmw-x1

Common Problems with the BMW X1 · Engine problems · Cooling problems · A/C and heater problems · Airbag problems.

2021 BMW X1 Problems | Kelley Blue Book
2021 BMW X1 Problems | Kelley Blue Book
https://www.kbb.com/bmw/x1/2021/common-problems/

How reliable is the 2021 BMW X1? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.

Here Are The BMW X1 Years To Avoid - CoPilot
Here Are The BMW X1 Years To Avoid - CoPilot
https://www.copilotsearch.com/posts/bmw-x1-years-to-avoid/

Apr 2, 2024 ... A: The 2016 BMW X1 has a common issue with the passenger engine mount developing cracks, which requires relatively urgent repairs. This problem ...

Other years of Bmw X1

bmw x1 2023 photo
X1 2023
Bmw

37

5

5

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
bmw x1 2013 photo
X1 2013
Bmw

0

2

17

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
bmw x1 2014 photo
X1 2014
Bmw

0

2

17

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
bmw x1 2015 photo
X1 2015
Bmw

0

2

18

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
bmw x1 2016 photo
X1 2016
Bmw

144

3

24

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
bmw x1 2017 photo
X1 2017
Bmw

126

2

16

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

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2021 Bmw X1 photo