2016 BMW X1 Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 open recalls for the 2016 BMW X1. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, however old the vehicle is.

Recall data as of Oct 16, 2026 — NHTSA. For a live answer, run the check yourself, or see the latest recalls.

Front Retractor

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

What's wrong:
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. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Risk:
In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.
What to do:
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.

NHTSA campaign 16V747000 — quote this at the dealer.Reported Oct 17, 2016.

Body Roof And Pillars

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

What's wrong:
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
Risk:
In the event of a crash, the insufficient impact absorption can increase the risk of injury.
What to do:
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. Second notices will be sent as parts become available, starting on September 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 19V349000 — quote this at the dealer.Reported May 9, 2019.

Gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

What's wrong:
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.
Risk:
A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
What to do:
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. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 15V887000 — quote this at the dealer.Reported Dec 30, 2015.

Owner complaints

159filed with NHTSA · 1 in the last 12 months
Filed by yearpeak 2023
151617181920212223242526
Power Train
33
Visibility/Wiper
18
Structure
17
Electrical System
13

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 4 injuries

Reported by owners to NHTSA and not verified. Complaints often surface a problem months before a recall.

See the complaints at NHTSA

Other BMW X1 years

Every year links to that vehicle's full recall page.

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013

BMW X1, every year

How recall repairs work

  • Repairs are free at any franchised BMW dealer — regardless of the vehicle's age or whether you bought it new.
  • Bring the NHTSA campaign number; it's printed on each recall above and on the sheet you can print here.
  • Call ahead: some recalls are announced before parts are available, and the dealer can tell you when yours are in.
  • Your VIN tells the dealer whether your exact vehicle is affected — the free check accepts one and never stores it.

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