Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 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 ↗Steering Gear Tie Rod may Break
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- A broken steering tie rod would lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
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.
Taillights May Loosen and Detach
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Crankshaft Sensor Firmware may Cause Stall
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
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 (59)
59 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The structure is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 59 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 22 | 37.3% |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 23.7% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 13.6% |
| Air bags | 6 | 10.2% |
| Engine | 5 | 8.5% |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 6.8% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 5.1% |
| Steering | 3 | 5.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 3.4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3.4% |
How 2018 compares with other X1 years
Best and worst X1 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2023 | 70 | 6 |
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.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 BMW X1 suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,150
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 337 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 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 | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 32 / 26 | $3,150 | 337 |
| 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 2018 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
2018 BMW X1 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 BMW X1 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 19V601000 (steering), 19V349000 (structure), 19V074000 (lighting), 18V465000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 BMW X1 problems?
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA. Structure (22), Unknown or other (14), Electrical system (8) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 BMW X1 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 23 city, 32 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 BMW X1 get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 BMW X1 suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (15.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 X1 compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2021 BMW X1 model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (9) and the 2017 the most (164). The 2018 drew 59. 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.