2021 BMW X1 recalls

1 safety recall, 10 owner complaints and a 5-star NHTSA crash rating. Official NHTSA data.

1Recalls
10Complaints
4Crashes & fires reported
5/5NHTSA overall rating

Not every 2021 BMW X1 is affected by every recall. Check your VIN to see open recalls on your exact vehicle.

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2021 BMW X1 recall list

Seat Belts recall

21V-554
July 21, 2021 · BMW of North America, LLC
Problem
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."
Safety risk
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).

2021 BMW X1 owner complaints

10 complaints filed with NHTSA, including 4 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries and 0 deaths.

Problems by component

Air Bags4
Electrical System3
Engine2
Forward Collision Avoidance2
Suspension1
Service Brakes1
Unknown or Other1

Recent complaints

October 22, 2026Engine

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X1. The contact stated that while reversing and parking the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that after the failure, the message “Engine HOT” was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally failed to start but was taken to the nearby residence. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

September 18, 2026Air BagsCrash1 injury

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 was towed to a tow lot. The driver was transported to the hospital for level two severe trauma to the neck, head, and chest with pain. The contact stated that there was a possibility that the failure was caused by the dealer. There was an air bag system sensor malfunction at the time of the purchase. The dealer was called and provided the documentation for previous work performed, but there was none about the air bag. The contact believed that the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The approximate

September 12, 2026Air BagsCrash

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.

August 11, 2026Electrical SystemEngine

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X1. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the navigation screen was glitching and became inoperable. The service message was displayed. There was a red triangle with an exclamation mark displayed. The vehicle was difficult to start. The contact stated that the failure was caused by a failure with the grounding cable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the grounding cable was underneath the vehicle. The battery was previously replaced. No additional repairs were completed. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the dealer for

January 24, 2026SuspensionService Brakes

At approximately 20,000 miles, the vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealer due to abnormal noises from the front suspension when turning the steering wheel. The dealer confirmed abnormal noise from the front struts when the wheels were turned while the vehicle was on a lift and diagnosed premature front strut failure. The affected components are available for inspection upon request. Repair was quoted but not performed. This condition involves a safety-critical suspension component and may affect vehicle handling, stability, and braking performance, particularly during turning or emergency maneuvers. This issue follows a prior safety-related brake failure at approximately 17,000 miles.

2021 BMW X1 crash test ratings

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2021 BMW X1 SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2021 BMW X1 SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Driver aids on the tested 2021 BMW X1: electronic stability control standard, forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard. Rollover risk: 14.3%.

2021 BMW X1 recall FAQ

Does the 2021 BMW X1 have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for the 2021 BMW X1. The most recent, filed July 21, 2021, concerns the seat belts.

What are the most common 2021 BMW X1 problems?

Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. The most reported area is air bags (4 reports), followed by electrical system.

Is the 2021 BMW X1 safe?

The 2021 BMW X1 earned up to a 5-star overall safety rating in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program crash tests.

How do I get a recall fixed on my 2021 BMW X1?

Contact any authorized BMW dealer. Recall repairs are free, even if you are not the original owner or the warranty has expired.