2021 BMW X1 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2021 BMW X1, and owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2021 BMW X1
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seat belts
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…
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…
9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 BMW X1 have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 33,333 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2021 BMW X1. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 10 MPH, she was involved in a head-on crash with another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2026 · Air bags
“I got into an accident, i was hit on the driver side and the car was pushed to hit a tree, the air bag did not deploy.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 12, 2026 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 BMW X1 (X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 26–27 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 23–24 / 31–33 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Large Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
Compare BMW X1 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW X1 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 BMW X1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 BMW X1 | 2 | 38 |
| 2014 BMW X1 | 2 | 55 |
| 2015 BMW X1 | 2 | 52 |
| 2016 BMW X1 | 3 | 159 |
| 2017 BMW X1 | 2 | 156 |
| 2018 BMW X1 | 4 | 59 |
| 2019 BMW X1 | 3 | 11 |
| 2020 BMW X1 | 1 | 13 |
| 2021 BMW X1 | 1 | 9 |
| 2022 BMW X1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 BMW X1 | 6 | 70 |
| 2024 BMW X1 | 3 | 30 |
| 2025 BMW X1 | 3 | 17 |
| 2026 BMW X1 | 2 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2021 BMW X1
How do I know if my 2021 BMW X1 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2021 BMW X1; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V554000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.