Most common 2016 BMW X1 problems
Share of the 163 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW X1 complaints by model year
Best X1 years: 2022, 2021, 2019. Years to avoid: 2023, 2024, 2016, 2017, 2025. Compare all years →
2016 BMW X1 recalls (4)
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.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
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.
Remedy: 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.
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 BMW X1:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
What 2016 BMW X1 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 34 →
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X1. The contact stated while shifting into park (P), the contact became aware of a message to "Secure Vehicle with Parking Brake" displayed. The contact stated that she manually set the parking brake. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the shifter assembly needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the mechanic that the code for the failure was: 420106 (Selector lever locked in park). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X1. The contact stated that after arriving to the destination and shifting the vehicle into park(P), the message "Secure Vehicle against Rolling Malfunction" was displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission shifter lever control cable. The contact was informed that the transmission shifter lever control cable was abnormally stretched. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000.
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 20 →
About 24 months back the sunroof curtain of my BMW X1 started having problems when I retract or operate it. It used to make stretching noises when I tried to open my sunroof and after a few times I heard a crackling noise and before I can stop it the curtain tore. Initially it was a small tear, so it did not bother much but over time the curtain completely left the guide/rail on one side and started sagging. Given it is a sunroof the curtain is as long as the vehicle and so now it is sagging to a point that it obstructs driver's visibly in back mirror. BMW won't do anything about it saying it is out of warranty and ultimately to avoid accidents I had to remove the curtain completely. I also tried getting it fixed, but the issue is not just the curtain but the rails of the curtain which is a non-replaceable part :( I would have to replace full sunshade assembly which is upwards of $1600. …
The sunshade on the panoramic sunroof detached entirely along the passenger side of the car. It hangs down and impairs the driver's vision on the passenger side, preventing the driver from seeing oncoming traffic. Additionally the sunshade cannot be retracted for fear that it will hang down further impairing the driver's view in the rear view mirror. I am not driving my car unless absolutely necessary until this can be repaired. I contacted BMW and took the car to the local BMW dealership for inspection and a repair estimate. The inspection video can be found at www.mkvwa37.com/p/1574bg.html BMW refused to address this defect stating that the vehicle is outside its warranty period. This site has 16 complaints for the same defect with the same year and model of BMW.
Body & structure
The panoramic sunroof shade blind has become detached due to failing adhesive. The consequence of this failure renders the vehicle difficult to drive and impacts safety of occupants and non occupants. To illustrate this issue, it is easier to quote the incident. On driving the vehicle the sunroof shade became unattached from its rail (right side). A natural thing to do is attempt to open the shade and close again in the hope that it re-attaches itself. This only made the situation worse. The loose shade impedes the drivers view out the right side of the vehicle. Driving the vehicle, it is crucial that this view should be clear and unobstructed (especially when lane changing on a freeway!). A corollary to the above issue is that the sagging loose blind is a distraction to the driver of the vehicle. …
The sunroof shade is a common failure point on these cars that's not being addressed. A quick internet search provides hundreds of reports of the same with the 2016+ vehicles. While it may seem harmless, my 3 year old constantly had the sun beating on the top of his head, especially in the hot summer sun. I had to pay somebody to install 5% tint on the glass because the sun was enough to give his skin a light sunburn. BMW wants $2500 to fix what's obviously a defect.
2016 BMW X1 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 BMW X1 a good car?
Based on 163 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 X1 rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the X1 at the same age. It is one of the X1 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 BMW X1?
The transmission & drivetrain — 34 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission › lever and linkage › floor shift. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (20) and body & structure (17).
How many recalls does the 2016 BMW X1 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2016 BMW X1, the most recent from May 9, 2019 (roof and pillars). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW X1?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2021 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2024, 2016, 2017 and 2025. See the full BMW X1 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 BMW X1 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 36,000 miles; 74% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.