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2016 BMW X1

Gas
Large Cars
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
75 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaints2 crash · 2 fire · 5 injured reported 163
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 BMW X1 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV. The most efficient version, the X1 xDrive28i, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 163 complaints, most often about the power train.

BMW X1 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
BMW X1 · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
X1 xDrive28iGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223125$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36936.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
X1 xDrive28i8 / 10LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower228 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes one configuration rather than every trim (seen: xDrive28i). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length174.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)71.7 in
Height63.4 in
Wheelbase105.1 in
Track, front61.4 in
Track, rear61.4 in
Curb weight3,660 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: xDrive28I 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 BMW X1 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Structure

106,182 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Mar 10, 2015 – May 2, 2019
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2019 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles. In the event of a crash where the occupants head contacts the B-pillar, the pillar may not absorb an adequate amount of the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact." Risk In the event of a crash, the insufficient impact absorption can increase the risk of injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vertical trim pieces on the upper portion of the interior B-Pillars, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 1, 2019. Second notices will be sent as parts become available, starting on September 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign 19V349000 reported May 9, 2019 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

16,771 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Jun 16, 2016 – Nov 24, 2016
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 X1 xDrive28i and X1 sDrive28i vehicles. The affected vehicles have an instrument panel that may not allow the front passenger air bag to deploy properly in the event of a crash. Risk In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began May 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign 17V062000 reported Jan 26, 2017 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

15,455 vehicles 90% reported repaired built May 12, 2016 – Oct 14, 2016
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." Risk In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign 16V747000 reported Oct 17, 2016 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Steering

2 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Oct 19, 2015 – Oct 19, 2015
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicle manufactured November 24, 2015, and one BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) manufactured October, 19 2015. The steering gearbox may have been manufactured with incorrect parts. Risk A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash. Fix BMW will replace the steering gearbox, free of charge. Affected vehicles are located in dealer inventory and will be remedied before customer retail. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF
NHTSA campaign 15V887000 reported Dec 30, 2015 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific X1

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. BMW publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 BMW X1, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2016 BMW X1

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this X1 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
163complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 15 · 2021: 26 · 2022: 30 · 2023: 38 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Unspecified 64
Power Train 34
Visibility/Wiper 20
Structure 17
Electrical System 13
Engine 9

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Sun shade mechanism will not open, causing the sun shade to tear. Seems that sun shade is off the track, or hung and will not allow for closure on this Bmw X1
Electrical System at 60,000 miles Jan 30, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11390750
The engine mounts have failed on my car. I have only 14 thousand miles on the auto and do only city driving. Had this not been discovered during a routine oil change the results could have been catastrophic. There may be a problem with either the mounting hardware or the weight of the engine
Engine at 14,000 miles Dec 3, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11377820
Your box was bad it would jump out a gear force me to hit a curb at one time. All wheel drive was bad. Back wheels push front wheels so front tires wear out about every 2000 miles, no notice of recall given. Air bag problem no notice of recall sent. Roof unsafe not air bags. Seat belts, no recall notice sent.
Air Bags at 7,000 miles Jul 27, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11341727
The contact owns a 2016 Bmw X1. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the retractable sunroof head liner detached from the sliding track causing the head liner fabric to crumble and block the rear view mirror. The contact was informed that the head liner needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted.
Visibility/Wiper at 36,000 miles Oct 23, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11365926
The contact owns a 2016 Bmw X1. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v349000 (structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
Structure Nov 13, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11279744
Occasionally when the adaptive cruise control is active, the collision warning will light and the brakes automatically applied even though there is nothing in front of the car. This has occurred on a straight, flat road with no shadows, undulations, or cars anywhere in sight.
Vehicle Speed Control at 20,000 miles Nov 7, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11149975

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by BMW itself: 9 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 9 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every X1 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 36k

miles, typically

Half the 38 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 19,000 and 51,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 6
10k–20k 4
20k–30k 5
30k–40k 5
40k–50k 8
50k–60k 3
60k–70k 3
70k–80k 2
80k–90k 0
90k–100k 0
100k–150k 2
150k + 0

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian miles
Unspecified1334,000

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every BMW warranty extension (46) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 406
Most recentmanufacturer date 2025-07-31
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 404 service bulletins, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

  • B010925 Warranty extension
    2025-07-31 · Power Train
  • The limited warranty for the automatic transmissions Selector Lever Magnetic Shift Interlock Mechanism (Gearshift lug assembly portion) has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles, as determined by the vehicles original first in-service / delivery date, when a gearshift lug repair kit installation procedure is required to be performed to address a displayed Check Control message (CCM) that state
  • B840324 Service bulletin
    2024-10-12 · Electrical System
  • The “End of life” or “Emergency call system error” Check Control message appears in the vehicle. The following fault memory entry is stored: B7F341 – Emergency battery: Hardware faulty
  • B010419 Warranty extension
    2024-09-16 · Engine
  • For this vehicle, the EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles, from the original 10 years/120,000 miles, as determined from the original in-service date. This coverage is subject to the same vehicle eligibility requirements, limitations, and exclusion criteria that apply to the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warr
  • B640416 Service bulletin
    2024-01-19 · Structure
  • Customer complains of a musty odor or damp front footwell carpet.
  • B611305 Service bulletin
    2024-01-11 · Electrical System
  • The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.
  • B160623 Service bulletin
    2023-12-20 · Engine And Engine Cooling
  • Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE
  • B521723 Service bulletin
    2023-12-11 · Seats
  • Customer states one of the front seats is inoperative. The seat heater and power supply are inoperative .During the vehicle test, the seat module does not respond. The power supply fuse for the seat module is found to have blown.
  • B612723 Service bulletin
    2023-12-08 · Electrical System
  • When using the Key Reader to retrieve CBS information from the customer key, no current vehicle data is available, or the data does not match the maintenance schedule.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 BMW X1 failed the emissions check on 4.8% of first inspections — close to the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.8% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 4.8%

failed emissions

844 initial inspections of 815 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 X1Every 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check4.8%4.2%838
Failed the safety inspection2.8%2.2%844
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.12%0.27%844
Miles driven a year9,15410,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer93,922103,109odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Common questions about the 2016 X1

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 BMW X1 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 BMW X1. The most serious on file is 19V349000, covering Structure. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 BMW X1?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2016 BMW X1 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (75/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 BMW X1?

For the 2016 BMW X1, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 BMW X1?

Transport Canada measured it at 174.8 in long, 71.7 in wide (body, without mirrors), 63.4 in tall, on a 105.1 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,660 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 BMW X1?

Owners have filed 163 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW X1, most often about unspecified, power train, visibility/wiper. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 5 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 BMW X1?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 BMW X1 is 8 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, LEV-III SULEV30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 BMW X1?

The manufacturer has filed 406 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 BMW X1, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2025-07-31. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 BMW X1 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 BMW X1 failed the emissions check on 4.8% of first inspections — close to the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.8% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations1 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates1 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints163NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins406NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA8 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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