Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 BMW X1 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This week, again, the rear hatch came down on me as I was loading groceries and while I tried to fend it off, giving me a bruise on my lower arm The rear hatch door randomly closes while I am loading/unloading the rear of the X1. In the past I thought it might be the key fob being bumped in a purse or pocket, but NO. It happens randomly. It beeps its warning thank goodness, but has put me, my grandchildren, and others helping load at risk several times since we purchased this car in 2017. I thought this might be peculiar to my car alone, but now see others with the same complaint! I will not let my grandchildren stand around the back of the car when loading. BMW will be sued by someone, bet on it, if it hasn't already happened, if any child or animal is injured due to this problem. The force was strong enough to bump and bruise an adult, let alone a child! …
While we were driving on the freeway probably about 65 mph, we heard a big explosion right next to us! We thought someone shot as us, the car swerved for a second, we noticed our the sunroof was exploded. We stopped and examined the evidence, no sign of rocks or object hit at the car
The rear hatch constantly closes on it's own when putting things in or pulling things out of the trunk. I've had my head hit by the lid or had to scramble to prevent it from hurting someone else. This is a safety hazard that BMW refuses to fix.
My car has a warning code saying, " secure vehicle form rolling". There is a fault spring within the shift column. BMW is not covering it as a recall even though it could roll and hit someone or something.
Automatic tailgate malfunctions. Toe kick functions respond erratically 50% of the time. The tailgate has closed on my head while loading/unloading. It has opened while driving on the highway. It has opened only halfway and stalled while stationary, and more important it has stalled halfway while closing. I recently pressed the close button and drove off with the tailgate half closed, and didn't realize it until someone behind me blew the horn. Items in the cargo area could tumble to the highway and create a possible hazard. It has been in the BMW service depart 6 to 8 times and inspected at least twice by someone from BMW of n. America. Inasmuch as it is erratic they claim they have been unable to duplicate the problem. I contend it is an inconvenience which should be corrected under warranty, but more importantly it could be a safety issue. …
The tailgate automatically starts closing on me when I am loading or unloading. It starts beeping so I at least get a warning but I have to put my hand up and stop it from crashing on my head. I have told my dealership about this since the first few times it happened, but was told there was nothing wrong with it. Note my feet are not going under the bumper (and that feature does not work on this car ever anyway). This happens when car is stopped and turned off. However one time the trunk opened on me when I was stopped in traffic at a red light and had to get out of the car to go shut it. Not convenient.
The tailgate consistently closes on its own. Without my foot even being near the sensor that is located under the backend. T has slammed me in a back a few times when I've had my headphones in and did not hear the beeping. I won't even let my knees get anything out of it. The dealership in fl has allegedly fixed it but continues to do it. It did it on the dealership as well. I moved in and continue to do it took it to a dealership here in pennsylvania and they say nothing is wrong. When it hit you in the back it hurts really bad.
Rear hatch unexpectedly closes and will hit you if you can't move quickly enough. I suspect it happens if your feet move under the bumper when loading or unloading the vehicle, triggering the automatic open/close sensors. Car parked. An warning beep occurs but this only happens after the hatch has started to close. It will hit you. I have only had the car 2 weeks and it has happened 3 times. Online others have complained of this happening.
The rear hatch of the BMW will spontaneously close without warning - causing the door to slam into ones head. There is no way of deactivating the foot sensor to block the hatch from inadvertently closing while a person is in the vicinity of the hatch door. -BMW is stationary with key fob in pocket - loading items into rear cargo area - without warning the hatch quickly starts closing hitting a person in the head with tremendous force
Rear hatch opens and closes spontaneously if key fob is in your possession and you are in the vicinity of the rear hatch. BMW service adviser said this is a design issue and there is no available fix. Vehicle is stationary when this occurs. I have experienced this at least six times in the last four months. Spontaneous closing is particularly dangerous if you are in the open hatch area and the hatch starts to come down on you...
Related recalls
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.
Body complaints in other X1 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2017 BMW X1?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the body & structure of the 2017 BMW X1, 15% of the model year's 164 complaints. The component named most often is body (23 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 BMW X1 body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-349 (roof and pillars, May 9, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2017 BMW X1 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 10,000 miles, and 82% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.