Most common 2020 BMW X1 problems
Share of the 13 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 →
2020 BMW X1 recalls (1)
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X1 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i and X2 sDrive28i, 2020 MINI Clubman Cooper S All4, 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and Cooper S E) and MINI Hardtop 4 Door (Cooper and Cooper S) vehicles.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or MINI customer service at…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2020 BMW X1:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2020 BMW X1 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X1. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 10 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. During the failure, the messages, "Chassis Stabilization: Drive Moderately," "Collision Warning System Malfunction," "Pedestrian Warning Reduced," and "Drivetrain: Continued Driving Possible" were displayed. The vehicle was pulled over into a remote emergency lane and driven 10 miles to an exit. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a short circuit to ground at the throttle body. The contact was informed that the throttle ground wire and controller needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
I had a series of concerning incidents with my car. The trunk door was getting stuck halfway, but I was able to close it after turning on the engine. I also encountered a malfunction error on the backup camera, a Drive Train warning sign, and the car alarm going off by itself. The most alarming issue was when the car started smoking and then caught fire underneath the hood near the driver's side windshield. Thankfully, my father and I were able to put out the flames with a water hose before calling 911 to report the incident to the fire department. The car is considered a total per Geico Insurance.
Engine & cooling
On Sept 8, 2021, on I-5, North of Marysville, WA, a truck threw a rock through the lower radiator of our X1. We were very lucky that we stopped and found the coolant running out. Otherwise the engine might have seized at highway speed , causing an accident. We lost all coolant and car was hauled to BMW, Seattle on 9/9/21. On 9/10 service rep Josh Logan advised: "We confirmed that it does not come with a guard, but when you order a new part, that does come in conjunction." and that: "no warranty coverage, as it does not cover damages, so you would have to go through your insurance for that one." We did so and USAA covered the amount above the $1000 deductible. It is unacceptable that the need for the rock shield was clearly a known condition, yet when damage occurred due to it not being installed from new, that the replacement was not covered under warranty.
Wastegate actuator turbo failure. Causes sudden loss of power to engine. Turbo function impacted. Drivetrain malfunction warning on dashboard. No prior warning sent. Problem with wastegate has been confirmed by Independent Service Center. Found similar issue with BMW E-Series Model 530e xdrive sedan Production dates 2/22/17-6/18/20 which extended warranty to 15 yr/150000 miles for same part. [redacted]
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X1. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 10 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. During the failure, the messages, "Chassis Stabilization: Drive Moderately," "Collision Warning System Malfunction," "Pedestrian Warning Reduced," and "Drivetrain: Continued Driving Possible" were displayed. The vehicle was pulled over into a remote emergency lane and driven 10 miles to an exit. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a short circuit to ground at the throttle body. The contact was informed that the throttle ground wire and controller needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
The fuel tank got punctured on the freeway causing the car to lose power. The problem seems that BMW plastic fuel tank is located on the right side at the bottom of the car so any stone or particle on the freeway can puncture the plastic tank from the bottom causing no fuel and the car losing power. Seems like that is problem with design and BMW is aware of it since the new models of the car starting 2023 have an extra underbody protection for the fuel tank which is missing on the previous year models.
2020 BMW X1 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 33 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 23 / 31 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 BMW X1 a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 X1 rates better than average: 77% fewer complaints than a typical year of the X1 at the same age. 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 2020 BMW X1?
The transmission & drivetrain — 4 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and fuel & propulsion system (3).
How many recalls does the 2020 BMW X1 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2020 BMW X1, the most recent from May 20, 2020 (curtain). 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 2020 BMW X1 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 50% 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.