RoadVitals

2016 BMW X1 Sav

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Apr 23, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jan 26, 2017
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
1 currently open
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 BMW X1 Sav, most frequently naming the airbags, driver assistance and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 187 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags112.5%
  • Driver assistance112.5%
  • Electrical112.5%
  • Engine112.5%
  • Fuel system112.5%
  • Interior & seats112.5%
  • Powertrain (other)112.5%
  • Seat belts112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 26, 2017
16,771 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: 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.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA21002OpenEngineering Analysis

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021

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 substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 23, 2019
Fire reported

WHEN I EXTEND THE PASSENGER SEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK, THE FUSE BLOWS UP. THERE ARE SPARKS UNDER THE SEAT. AFTER THAT ALL THE BUTTONS TOWARDS PASSENGER SEAT ARE NOT RESPONSIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SAME DAY AND THEY FIXED IT ON THE SAME DAY BY REPLACING THE FUSE. AS SOON AS I GOT THE CAR, I TRIED EXTENDING THE SEAT AND FUSE BLOWS UP AGAIN. THE DEALER TOOK IT FOR 2 WEEKS, CHECKS IT AND JUST RETURNS IT SAYING THE FAULTY WIRE HAS BEEN TRIMMED AND ADVISED ME NOT TO ADJUST THE SEAT. THEY DID NOT GIVE ME ANY PERMANENT SOLUTION. WHEN I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE REGARDING THIS MATTER, I GOT THE SAME RESPONSE ADVISING ME NOT TO ADJUST THE SEAT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. IT HAD 24K MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED AS OF TODAY.

NHTSA ID
11203032
Incident
Jun 15, 2017
Mileage
24,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 7, 2018

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. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED WITH CARS TRAVELING IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. BMW TECHS CANNOT ID THE PROBLEM AND SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT. THE PROBLEM IS INFREQUENT AND HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO OCCUR DURING A TEST DRIVE. MET TODAY WITH A BMW NA TECHNICAL SERVICE EXPERT WHO INSISTED THAT I WAS 'CONFUSING' THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM'S NORMAL OPERATION. NOT SO. MY LEASE ENDS IN 2 MONTHS AND I DON'T WANT THE NEXT OWNER TO GET RAMMED FROM BEHIND.

NHTSA ID
11149975
Incident
Oct 23, 2018
Mileage
20,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 18, 2017

2016 BMW X1 XDRIVE 28I HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT RANDOM TIMES. THE DELAY CAN TAKE UP TO 1 SECOND BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR RESPONDS AND THE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
11047223
Incident
Nov 17, 2017
Mileage
12,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Oct 30, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON 10/28, MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL OFFSET HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A CHEVY SILVERADO. THE IMPACT OCCURRED INSIDE OF A TURNING LANE WHERE THE CHEVY WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 15 MPH, AND MY DAUGHTER BEGAN ACCELERATING OUT OF THE TURN LANE AT 5-10MPH WHEN THEY COLLIDED. THE SILVERADO'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE BMWS DID NOT. NO FRONT AIRBAGS OR KNEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE WEARING HER SEATBELT, SO THIS ALSO BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY THE SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS DID NOT HOLD HER BACK FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. BMW 'S ALSO COME EQUIPPED WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS UPON ACCIDENT, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN EITHER. MY IMPRESSION IS THAT NONE OF THE BMW SAFETY SYSTEMS WENT INTO EFFECT DURING THIS COLLISION. BMW ASSIST ALSO NEVER CALLED, WHICH AGAIN IS ANOTHER TOUTED BMW SAFETY SYSTEM IN ALL THEIR CARS.

NHTSA ID
11041070
Incident
Oct 28, 2017

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B640416

STRUCTURE

Customer complains of a musty odor or damp front footwell carpet.

B611305

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.

B651523

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.

B514616

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

Upon opening and closing the tailgate, a creaking/groaning sound can be heard from tailgate actuator.

B840822

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via the Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose, the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the mobile communication network. Due to a production error, the telematics control units were delivered without an IMS configuration. The Connected Drive voice services (Concierge Call, BMW Assistance, and emergency call voice) can no longer be used regionally in the US in vehicle with telematics control units ATM-1 and TCB-4G. Voice control of the vehicle and all other telephone (paired mobile devices) functions are not affected. Emergency call location data is unaffected.

B610323

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The buttons on the gear selector switch (GWS) do not work, or the function indicator lighting has failed.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW X1 Sav by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017821
2016Viewing411
2015422155.5
2014594261.3
2013643251.0
2012000

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.