The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 4 of 13 complaints (31%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed held steady at 13 in both 2019 and 2020.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 13
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,850–$3,000
- Combined MPG
- 26–27
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,000–3,100 | 3,000–3,100 | 2,850–3,000 | 2,850–3,000 | 2,850–3,000 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–26 | 25–26 | 26–27 | 26–27 | 26–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–23 / 31–32 | 22–23 / 31–32 | 23–24 / 31–33 | 23–24 / 31–33 | 23–24 / 31–33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 337–349 | 336–349 | 327–342 | 327–342 | 324–343 | |
| Complaints filed | 60 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 1 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 BMW X1 have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 BMW X1?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 4 of 13 NHTSA complaints (31%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 BMW X1 get?
EPA rates it 26–27 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 BMW X1?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,000 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 23 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $3,000 (high) | 342 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 327 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE; AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X1 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i and X2 sDrive28i, 2020 MINI Clubman Cooper S All4, 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and Cooper S E) and MINI Hardtop 4 Door (Cooper and Cooper S) vehicles. Due to a problem with the rollover sensor within the air bag control unit, in the event of a rollover crash, the head air bag, seat belt pretensioners and other safety systems, may not activate.
- Consequence
- If the safety systems do not deploy as intended in a roll over crash, it may increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.