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The BMW X1 hasn’t had a long life, so far, but remains a relatively popular option among luxury subcompact SUVs. There are so many small luxury SUVs on the market that it’s easy to forget some. The BMW X1 sets itself apart from other German competitors by having more aggressive styling than the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, and more power than the Audi Q3. If you want to step up from a smaller crossover or hatchback, the X1 is a decent next move. However, there are some common problems across every generation, and recalls to be aware of before spending your hard-earned cash on a used BMW.

Of the three BMW X1 generations, none are particularly unreliable overall, but each has some weak spots. In this article, we highlight model years to avoid from each generation, and discuss the common problems and recalls affecting each version.

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BMW X1 Generations: Everything You Need To Know In One Place

The X1 is small on the outside and roomy on the inside, so while it’s one of the most practical subcompact premiums out there, its evolved over time.

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3rd Generation (U11): 2023–Present

Highest J.D. Power Rating: 72/100 (2023)

The current generation of the BMW X1 is listed first not because it’s the worst, but rather because it simply doesn’t have enough data to determine its reliability one way or another. While it still uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, just like both previous gens, this one has been updated and tuned for more power in addition to an entirely different transmission. Despite data being somewhat limited, there are still some problems reported for the 3rd-generation X1, and more than a few recalls.

Common Issues: 3rd-gen X1

• Brake failure due to malfunctioning power brake assist
• Auto-start-stop is hesitant and lurches forward

As far as J.D. Power goes, we mentioned in the note above that its scores are simply an assessment of initial reliability. They can help new-car buyers determine if a car will be worthy of investment, or if it could potentially cost them far more in repairs down the line. BMW X1 reliability for this generation isn’t rated all that well. The first model year of this generation was barely average at a 72 out of 100. We can only wait and see how these models age, but it’s not looking like a great start.

Though it ranks highest, the 2023 model year still has a good handful of reported problems and complaints to the NHTSA and Car Complaints. At the time of writing, there are 64 total complaints to the NHTSA – the majority of them have to do with BMW not responding to a recall in a timely manner. We’ll get to that next, but the second-most common issue pertains to the car’s auto-start-stop function, which turns the engine off automatically at stop lights. Owners are reporting rough, clunky, or hesitant restarting when it comes time for the engine to turn itself back on. One owner even reports having crashed due to a sudden lurch forward after restarting.

There are currently five recalls affecting this generation. The most severe and potentially dangerous one affects 266,716 vehicles, including 2023–2025 BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce models, and pertains to brake problems due to failed power brake assist and malfunctioning ABS and DSC. Dealers are meant to replace the integrated braking system for a remedy, but many complaints about this generation stem from dealerships not receiving parts or completing the repair in a reasonable amount of time.

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1st Generation (E84): 2013–2015

Highest J.D. Power Rating: 83/100 (2014)

If it wasn’t for the third-generation’s placement, the first-gen X1 would have been ranked as the worst. Like the other two generations, though, it’s not as bad as some other models from the brand. There are just more complaints about this gen’s three model years than the majority of the second-gen. For the E84’s debut in 2013, BMW gave it a two-liter turbo-four and a three-liter turbo-six. The inline-six was later dropped after this generation, which is a shame since the majority of complaints stem from the four-cylinder option.

Common Issues: 1st-gen X1

• Coolant leaks
• Various electrical issues
• Smoke from the exhaust

This generation had higher J.D. Power quality and reliability scores than its overall reliability infers. Again, that’s why those scores are an estimate of initial quality. With that being said, the first-gen could be worse. The 2013–2015 run of the X1 was a reasonably rough start for the model – that’s typical for any model’s first few years.

Like the newest generation, many of the recent complaints have to do with BMW taking too long on recalls or not having the required parts for the repair. There are some expensive problems to be aware of, though. The most common have to do with the car leaking coolant, smoking from the exhaust, and various electrical issues. Coolant leaks are fairly common in multiple BMWs from this era, but the reported smoke from the exhaust is evidently caused by headgasket failure, which is even more serious. Of course, like other models as well, the early X1s suffered from some electrical problems like buttons and dials failing, wires shorting out, and warning lights flashing on and off.

There are a handful of recalls for the first-generation X1, but the most serious pertain to the water pump connector short-circuiting, which affects 720,796 vehicles, and another that describes a loss of brake assist due to insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, affecting a total of 85,179 vehicles over two campaigns.

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2nd Generation (F48): 2016–2022

Highest J.D. Power Rating: 86/100 (2022)

We have ranked this generation as the most reliable overall even though a couple of model years drag it down a notch. It’s not too bad when you consider how unreliable many other BMWs are from those years. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the generation as a whole. However, its 2.0-liter inline-four still had some problems to work out after the earlier years. Here are some of the most common problems, and an overview of the second-generation BMW X1’s recalls:

Common Issues: 2nd-Gen X1

• Error message on the dash from failed gearbox spring
• Some structure issues

This generation is deemed the most reliable for a few reasons, but there are still plenty of issues. The most common complaint for the 2016 and 2017 model years is a warning light reading “secure vehicle against rolling,” which scares owners into thinking their car will unintentionally shift itself out of park. There are no reports of that actually happening – most complaints are simply about the message on the screen – but the car’s computer believes the shift-lock mechanism will not engage properly. The message occurs due to a spring failing in the gearbox that would usually toggle a switch, thereby informing the vehicle’s electrical system that the vehicle has been shifted into park.

While there are plenty of other complaints, not many of them are repeated by multiple customers. A couple of repeated complaints, though, don’t exactly affect the car’s reliability, but they are fairly annoying to deal with; the car’s trunk struts fail, causing the hatch to close on people while they’re unloading, and the sunroof/moonroof breaks.

Surprisingly, there aren’t too many recalls for this generation. Those that do exist generally affect so few cars that we wouldn’t worry about them much. The one that stands out, though, affects 106,182 X1s from 2016 to 2019, and pertains to occupant injury in the event of a crash. The B-pillar does not meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard since it may not absorb an adequate amount of the impact.

Summary: X1 Generations Could Be Worse

As far as X1 reliability goes, it could be far worse. BMW, as a brand, has a particular reputation for unreliable cars that cost a ton to fix – fortunately, the X1 doesn’t seem to fit the bill as closely as some other models. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, though. It’s still a BMW, so there are a host of common problems throughout each generation. The current-gen X1 just recently came out for the 2023 model year, and already has five recalls and reports of brake failure and a few reports of hesitation regarding the auto-start-stop function. The second-gen fares slightly worse, with a few hundred complaints about the 2016 and 2017 model years. We’d avoid those two model years, but the last few years of the 2nd-gen are proving reasonably reliable so far. If you want to find yourself behind the wheel of BMW’s smallest SUV, go for either a brand-new one with a solid warranty, or a late-second-gen model.

Sources: BMW, J.D. Power, NHTSA, Car Complaints, Consumer Reports