BMW X1: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
BMW X1: 13 model years scored from 924 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns. Worst year 2014, best year 2013.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2013 (score 86). Worst: 2014 (score 82, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,380 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,620 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,510 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,850 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,990 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,130 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,570 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,560 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,700 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,990 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 84 | BUY | $5,466 | 282 | 0 |
| 2014 | 82 | BUY | $5,602 | 336 | 0 |
| 2013 | 86 | BUY | $5,657 | 306 | 0 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the X1, through the years →
X1 sub-models & family
Variants & trims on record
Body, powertrain and trim variants of the X1 on the federal record. Variants folded into this nameplate are counted in this page's data; the rest have too thin a record for a page of their own yet.
What goes wrong on the BMW X1
Across every X1 model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Air Bags312 complaints across all X1 years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Electrical System273 complaints across all X1 years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Engine192 complaints across all X1 years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Engine And Engine Cooling150 complaints across all X1 years · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service$600–$1,040
- Unknown Or Other108 complaints across all X1 years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Service Brakes51 complaints across all X1 years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the best year for the BMW X1?
On our data the 2013 BMW X1 scores 86/100 — the highest of the 13 model years we hold, with 306 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record.
Which BMW X1 years should I avoid?
The 2014 is the weakest year we score, at 82/100 (BUY), on 336 complaints and 0 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common BMW X1 problem?
312 of the complaints filed against the X1 across all its model years sit in the Air Bags group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04