2021 BMW X1
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 3 of 7 complaints (43%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 13 in 2020 to 7 in 2021.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,000–3,100 | 2,850–3,000 | 2,850–3,000 | 2,850–3,000 | 2,750 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–26 | 26–27 | 26–27 | 26–27 | 28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–23 / 31–32 | 23–24 / 31–33 | 23–24 / 31–33 | 23–24 / 31–33 | 25 / 34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 336–349 | 327–342 | 327–342 | 324–343 | 313 | |
| Complaints filed | 11 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 70 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
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 2021 BMW X1 have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 BMW X1?
Electrical: 3 of 7 NHTSA complaints (43%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 BMW X1 get?
EPA rates it 26–27 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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)
SEAT BELTS · Campaign 21V554000 · Jul 22, 2021
Defect: 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 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
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 customer service at 1-800-525-7417; 1-866-825-1525 (MINI); 1-877-877-3735 (Rolls Royce); and 1-888-270-9371 (Toyota).