Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 BMW X1. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Occupant Injury in the Event of a Crash/FMVSS 201
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, the insufficient impact absorption can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy Properly
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 X1 xDrive28i and X1 sDrive28i vehicles. The affected vehicles have an instrument panel that may not allow the front passenger air bag to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began May 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Seat Belt may Not Lock/FMVSS 209
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Steering Gearbox Malfunction
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicle manufactured November 24, 2015, and one BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) manufactured October, 19 2015. The steering gearbox may have been manufactured with incorrect parts.
- Consequence
- A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will replace the steering gearbox, free of charge. Affected vehicles are located in dealer inventory and will be remedied before customer retail. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (163)
163 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The unknown or other is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 163 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 64 | 39.3% |
| Power train | 34 | 20.9% |
| Visibility/wiper | 18 | 11% |
| Structure | 17 | 10.4% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 8.6% |
| Engine | 9 | 5.5% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 4.9% |
| Air bags | 5 | 3.1% |
| Steering | 4 | 2.5% |
| Suspension | 4 | 2.5% |
How 2016 compares with other X1 years
Best and worst X1 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 102 | 5 |
| 2014 | 114 | 6 |
| 2015 | 94 | 4 |
| 2016 | 163 | 4 |
| 2017 | 164 | 4 |
| 2018 | 59 | 4 |
| 2019 | 11 | 3 |
| 2020 | 13 | 1 |
| 2021 | 9 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 349 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 25 | $3,300 | 349 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 X1 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 BMW X1 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 BMW X1 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 19V349000 (structure), 17V062000 (air bag), 16V747000 (seat belt), 15V887000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 BMW X1 problems?
Owners filed 163 complaints with NHTSA. Unknown or other (64), Power train (34), Visibility/wiper (18) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 BMW X1 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 22 city, 31 highway and 25 combined mpg.
How does the 2016 X1 compare with other years?
Among the 2013–2021 BMW X1 model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (9) and the 2017 the most (164). The 2016 drew 163. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.