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2019 BMW X1 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2019 BMW X1 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 13owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 10%fail the UK MOT
13 complaints, against an average of 69 for the other 12 BMW X1 model years.
Every BMW X1 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2019 BMW X1?
The components named most often in the 13 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2019 BMW X1 been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Steering: Linkages: Tie Rod Assembly BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2019 X2 xDrive28i, MINI Cooper S Convertible, Countryman, and John Cooper Works Countryman vehicles. The steering gear tie rod may have been assembled incorrectly, which may result in excessive wear of the tie rod end, eventually causing it to break.
Risk: A broken steering tie rod would lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the tie rods and ball joints as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Structure: Body: Roof And Pillars 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.
Exterior Lighting: Tail Lights BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles. Contaminated hardware may cause the attachment brackets of the taillight housings to crack, causing the lights to loosen or possibly detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If a taillight detaches from the vehicle, it would no longer provide the required lighting to following traffic, or it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will properly secure the taillights, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Is the 2019 BMW X1 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAUndetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold
Risk: Undetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold.
Fix: The engine management control unit (DDE) will be programmed with improved software incorporating the latest OBD functionality.
UK DVSAThe exhaust gas recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident
Risk: The Exhaust Gas Recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the EGR cooler module will be replaced.
UK DVSAThe steering gear tie rod may not have been assembled with the required spherical washer
Risk: The steering gear tie rod may not have been assembled with a required spherical washer
Fix: Both steering gear tie rods will be checked and if affected tie rod/s and accompanying swivel bearing/s will be replaced
UK DVSARear lights may be fixed with incorrect securing nuts
Risk: The rear lights of affected vehicles might be fixed with securing nuts which may not have been produced to supplier specifications.
Fix: The rear lights will be checked and if necessary replaced.
UK DVSASoftware fault with crankshaft sensor
Risk: The affected vehicles may be equipped with a crankshaft sensor with a software fault. The crankshaft sensor cannot process the signal values from the crankshaft transmitter due to an improper firmware level. The firmware does not compensate sufficiently the temperature gradients and the magnetic field strength of the sensor electronic. If the crankshaft sensor cannot process the signal values from the transmitter the Digital Diesel Electronic (DDE) will notice that and change to the emergency operation mode. The emergency mode will be displayed by the check control message engine malfunction . The driver may notice a rough running engine and a reduced driving power (70%). However an engine stalling during driving conditions cannot be excluded.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the crankshaft sensor will be replaced with a new version.
EU Safety GateDefects in the winding of cell-internal foils in the high-voltage batteries can lead to the occurrence of increased self-discharge.This can cause high voltage cell modules to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateA spherical-collar disk is missing on the tie rod end of the steering gear.Consequently, the steering gear might break due to excessive wear, leading to a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe nuts of the rear light brackets may be contaminated with oil.Oil can cause cracks in the light brackets and the rear lights may separate from the vehicle leading to an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2019 BMW X1 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2019, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2019 BMW X1 owners report?
12 of the 13 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
While releasing the manual telescope lever on my 2019 BMW X1 (under 75k miles) to adjust the steering wheel, the steering column completely bypassed its factory structural travel stop and jammed rock-solid in the farthest extended position and will not budge. The steering wheel is now physically wedged against my torso, making it impossible to maintain the federally recommended 10-to-12-inch safety clearance from the driver's airbag. Independent mechanics have refused to touch the vehicle due to the liability and safety risks of breaking the collapsible column or for fear of accidentally…
On [XXX] at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2019 BMW X1 northbound on the [XXX] in Manhattan at a steady highway speed when the powered rear liftgate unexpectedly opened approximately halfway without any intentional activation. The key fob was stationary in the center cupholder. I did not activate any liftgate controls. I became aware of the opening after hearing wind noise and another motorist honking. A folding cart and a child’s travel car seat fell from the cargo area onto the highway. I subsequently returned and recovered both items near the concrete median. The cart sustained…
My car began shaking at low speeds when turning. Brought it to a mechanic to investigate and they performed a recommended manufacturer alteration on the car related to rear differential vent. That did not fix the issue and mechanic said a full rear differential replacement was required and it was a safety issue. If the rear differential failed while driving it could cause a serious accident. He suggested that the manufacturer knew there was an issue because they had this upgrade in their service literature. My concern is that the manufacture knew of a potential safety defect and did not…
A recall was issued for similar vehicles (X1) but ended with the 2018 model year (Recall 24V-608). This issue continues to be present in the 2019 model year. The thermostats in subsequent year models continue to leak, presenting a hazard. An engine warning lamp triggered an inspection at BMW Honolulu which identified the thermostat leak issue requiring “immediate attention.” In addition, BMW engine mounts in the same model year vehicle have failed in less than 6 years of operation which could present a significant operational hazard. This issue was identified at the same time as the thermostat…
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X1. The contact stated that the emergency call error light illuminated the instrument panel. In December of 2024, the contact received notification regarding an extended warranty coverage for the battery to be replaced. The contact was unable to immediately take the vehicle to the dealer due to other reasons. Once the contact was able to take the vehicle to the dealer, the contact was informed that the time frame for the Battery Extended Warranty coverage for the replacement of the battery had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of…
SOS Malfunction For the past two years, I have received a notice on my dashboard that there is a problem with the Emergency Call System. However, the message appears intermittently for weeks or months at a time.211/400
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X1. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change and was informed that the vehicle was leaking coolant. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the contact became aware that there was coolant on the ground underneath the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer determined that the water pump had failed. The dealer confirmed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. The water pump was replaced…
Emergency call (SOS) system is malfunctioning. This prevents the vehicle from communicating if an accident happens. BMW service stated the problem could be caused by water leaking on to the telematics control unit from the shark fin antenna, which would require replacing the unit. The TCU is located under the head liner beneath the shark fin. The head liner has to be removed to diagnosis and replace the TCU. This is poor engineering placement makes the fix difficult and very costly. The life saving feature is compromised!
The car is equipped with Driving Assistant. BMW Active Driving Assistant is a collection of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies. Active Driving Assistant includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. BMW Active Driving Assistant systems help a driver to avoid a collision. The package includes advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that are increasingly common as standard equipment for mainstream and luxury brands alike. Forward-collision…
MY 2019 X1 WITH 17000 MILES ON IT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE BLINKING WITH NO RHYME OR REASON. I WAS NOT EVEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE LANE ONTO THE SHOULDER TO A SAFE AREA. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY AND IT WAS TERRIFYING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BMW X1. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V349000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT CALLED ELMHURST BMW (500 W LAKE ST, ELMHURST, IL 60126) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THE DATE FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BMW X1. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V349000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HENDRICK BMW NORTHLAKE (10720 NORTHLAKE AUTO PLAZA BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28269, (704) 321-8126) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
2019 BMW X1: questions owners ask
Is the 2019 BMW X1 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 BMW X1; the most common categories were electrical system (5, 38.5%), structure (3, 23.1%), engine (2, 15.4%). There are 3 safety recalls. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 3 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 BMW X1?
Across 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (38.5% of complaints), structure (23.1% of complaints), engine (15.4% of complaints), air bags (7.7% of complaints), engine and engine cooling (7.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2019 BMW X1 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2019 BMW X1; the most recent (campaign 19V601000, 2019-08-14) concerns Steering: Linkages: Tie Rod Assembly. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own X1
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2019 only.