2015 BMW X1 Sav Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 BMW X1 Sav, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags2963.0%
- Engine510.9%
- Brakes36.5%
- Powertrain (other)24.3%
- Steering24.3%
- Driver assistance24.3%
- Fuel system12.2%
- Electrical12.2%
- Other / unspecified12.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLED AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED: (190801030). THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK AND CHEST INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER THAT WAS A CHILD SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE FOR THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT HAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED 4 MONTHS AGO UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 ( AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM THE BMW DEALERSHIP STATING THE RECALL OF THE DRIVER'S AIR-BAG, THAT THEY HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THE RECALL. WHEN I CALLED TO SCHEDULE THE SERVICE I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. I CALLED ON10/16/17, WAS INFORMED AS SOON AS THE PART WAS IN THEY WOULD CALL ME. I CALLED AGAIN TODAY, 12/20/17 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS STILL ABOUT 13 WEEKS OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY SENDING THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 20 AIRBAGS AT A TIME AND THAT THE IS THE REASON THAT IT IS TAKING SO LONG. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IT WILL TAKE OVER 23 WEEKS FOR ME TO RECEIVE THE PART/AIRBAG THAT I NEED TO HAVE REPLACED. MY RECALL LETTER STATED THAT IF THE BMW CENTER IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME THAT I SHOULD NOTIFY THE ADMINISTRATOR, NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THE LETTER FOR THE RECALL IS DATED SEPTEMBER 2017.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON MARCH 29, 2019 I TOOK MY CAR IN DUE TO A COOLANT INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT. NALLEY BMW INDICATED IT WAS DUE TO A NEED FOR A RADIATOR. THIS IS THE FOURTH RADIATOR NALLEY BMW AND GLOBAL BMW HAVE REPLACED WITH THE LAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOUR REPLACEMENTS OF A RADIATOR IN UNDER TWO YEARS. THEY WILL REPAIR THE RADIATOR AND ALLOW DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME. I WILL DRIVE ABOUT 500 MORE MILES BEFORE THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES BACK ON INDICATING TROUBLE. EACH TIME, THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON, THE RADIATOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES. MARCH 29TH WOULD MAKE THE FOURTH TIME THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED IN UNDER TWO YEARS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X1. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 52 MPH ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED DARK SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS IMMEDIATELY ALERTED BY SOMEONE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE RAIN. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BRAMAN BMW JUPITER (561-609-0144, LOCATED AT 1555 W INDIANTOWN RD, JUPITER, FL 33458) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ASSIGNED A TECHNICIAN TO OVERSEE AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT DID NOT STATE IF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,800.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY TIRES ARE WORN OUT PAST ACCEPTABLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION AND YET THE DEALER INSPECTED MY CAR AND PASSED IT AND REGISTERED IT. CHASSIS CORRODED AND WHEELS ROTTING. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON THE 14TYH AND DEALER DIDN'T DELIVER IT UNTIL THE 21ST BECAUSE OF APPARENT MISSING TITLE. THE CAR NEEDED SERVICE AND AIR FILTER AND DURING THE SERVICE, THE OTHER (BMW) DEALER FOUND THE ISSUES ATTACHED. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION LISTING A 90 LIMITED WARRANTY AND WAS WONDERING IF THE PURCHASE DEALER OWES ME TO FIX SOME OF THOSE ITEMS, PARTICULARLY TIRES THAT ARE BEYOND SAFE. I ALMOST SKID AND HIT ANOTHER CAR TODAY ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE POOR STATE OF THE TIRES....
VEHICLE COULD NOT STOP GOING DOWNHILL AND CRASHED INTO 2 PARKED CARS BEFORE OVERTURNING; FELT LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X1 SAV. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO UNITED BMW (1501 ALPHARETTA HWY, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009, (678) 430-3775), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,500.
AT AROUND 8000 MILES THE CAR WOULD HESITATE UPON HARD ACCELERATION, (MERGING INTO TRAFFIC) THE CAR BECAME UNPREDICTABLE, SOMETIMES IT WOULD PREFORM AS DESIGNED OTHER TIMES IT WOULD PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT FROM OTHER OWNERS AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A FIX. I CALLED BMWNA AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. AFTER A FEW OF TRYING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT UNSUCCESSFUL THE CAR ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT, I TOOK IT BACK IN AND AFTER A WEEK THEY HAD DECIDED TO REPROGRAM IT, UPON DRIVING THE CAR I NOTICED IT WAS MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE AND DROVE LIKE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CAR. HOWEVER IT DISPLAYED THE PROBLEM ON 2 MORE OCCASIONS JUST NOT AS SEVERE. I CALLED BMWNA AND UPDATED THEM, THEY SENT A FIELD ENGINEER OUT WHO LOOKED OVER THE CAR AND TOLD ME "JUST DRIVE IT IN SPORT MODE", I DONT FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD DRIVE IN SPORT MODE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I CALLED BMWNA AND TOLD THEM OF THE RESULTS AND ASKED THEM TO TAKE THE CAR BACK, THEY REFUSED. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND UNPREDICTABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON HIGHWAY, WHEN SPEED REACHES BETWEEN 60 TO 80 MPH, THE CAR FEELS UNSTABLE. IT IS LIKE THE TWO FRONT TIRES ARE RUNNING OUT OF AIR AND I HAVE TO FIGHT TO STEER THE CAR TO KEEP IT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I TOOK IT INTO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND THEY TESTED THE ALIGNMENT AND INFLATED THE TIRES TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECS BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO AND NOTHING ELSE.
THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON CITY STREET AND WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON CITY STREET AND WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY
FOR THE FOURTH TIME SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF THE NEW CAR, DRIVING ON CITY STREET IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC, BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE TO REV ABOVE THE 3,000 RPM LEVEL. (AT THE LAST EVENT I WATCHED THE TACHOMETER GAUGE AS I WAS BRAKING.) EACH TIME I HAD TO PANIC-DEPRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT. EACH TIME I COULD FEEL THE PULSATION OF THE ABS BRAKE ON THE PEDAL. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND REPORTED THE CHRONIC MALFUNCTION. I WAITED FOR A RESPONSE UNTIL THIS MORNING WHEN I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ANNOUNCING THAT MY CAR WAS READY FOR PICK-UP, WITHOUT ANY MENTION OF DISPOSITION OR REPAIR. WHEN I CALLED AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON MARCH 29, 2019 I TOOK MY CAR IN DUE TO A COOLANT INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT. NALLEY BMW INDICATED IT WAS DUE TO A NEED FOR A RADIATOR. THIS IS THE FOURTH RADIATOR NALLEY BMW AND GLOBAL BMW HAVE REPLACED WITH THE LAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOUR REPLACEMENTS OF A RADIATOR IN UNDER TWO YEARS. THEY WILL REPAIR THE RADIATOR AND ALLOW DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME. I WILL DRIVE ABOUT 500 MORE MILES BEFORE THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES BACK ON INDICATING TROUBLE. EACH TIME, THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON, THE RADIATOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES. MARCH 29TH WOULD MAKE THE FOURTH TIME THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED IN UNDER TWO YEARS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
SERVICE ENGINE SOON, ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, COOLANT LEVEL LOW, MAY DRIVE AT REDUCED SPEED. THESE ARE ALL THE ALERTS AND MESSAGES THAT POPPED UP WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THINKING MY VEHICLE WOULD STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH IT'S RELATIVELY NEW AND UNDER 9K MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUFFERED FROM RODENT DAMAGE, AND THAT THE WARRANTY WILL NOT BE COVERING THE DAMAGES AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH MY AUTO INSURANCE. I INQUIRED ABOUT WHY THE RODENTS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE WIRING AND ALL THEY CAN SAY WAS TO HIRE PEST CONTROL AND THEY WOULD HELP ME RID OF RODENT ISSUES AT HOME. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT BMW HAD BEEN USING SOY BASED INGREDIENTS TO PRODUCE SOME OF THEIR WIRING PARTS AND COATING. THIS OF COURSE WAS NOT DISCLOSED AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT IT IF I HADN'T FACED WITH SUCH CIRCUMSTANCE. SO BOTTOM LINE, THERE IS NO RESOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE AND I WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN IF RODENTS DECIDE TO HAVE A PARTY AGAIN IN MY VEHICLE OR I CAN MOVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY TIRES ARE WORN OUT PAST ACCEPTABLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION AND YET THE DEALER INSPECTED MY CAR AND PASSED IT AND REGISTERED IT. CHASSIS CORRODED AND WHEELS ROTTING. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON THE 14TYH AND DEALER DIDN'T DELIVER IT UNTIL THE 21ST BECAUSE OF APPARENT MISSING TITLE. THE CAR NEEDED SERVICE AND AIR FILTER AND DURING THE SERVICE, THE OTHER (BMW) DEALER FOUND THE ISSUES ATTACHED. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION LISTING A 90 LIMITED WARRANTY AND WAS WONDERING IF THE PURCHASE DEALER OWES ME TO FIX SOME OF THOSE ITEMS, PARTICULARLY TIRES THAT ARE BEYOND SAFE. I ALMOST SKID AND HIT ANOTHER CAR TODAY ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE POOR STATE OF THE TIRES....
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .