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BMW · NHTSA safety record

2014 BMW X1

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 54 safety complaints about the 2014 BMW X1 with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 2 mention a fire and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the engine and its cooling and the air bags.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 24 complaints, 44% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 90,000 miles, the median across the 23 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2020 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

54 complaints on file

54

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints halved year on year: 7 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 23 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24 · 44%
ENGINE 17 · 31%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16 · 30%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8 · 15%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 · 9%
AIR BAGS 4 · 7%
POWER TRAIN 4 · 7%
STEERING 2 · 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 2%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 · 2%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 · 2%
0 12 23

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 54.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 19.

20 15 10 5
20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2014 BMW X1. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP

24V608000 · August 13, 2024

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
The risk
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 720,796 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

20V017000 · January 15, 2020

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 59,965 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

fire · crash · towed

Vehicle: 2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i Incident Date: 11/21/2025 Location: Interstate highway in Wisconsin Description of the Issue: My husband was driving our 2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i when he was involved in a front-end collision at approximately 40 mph. He struck the rear of another vehicle with the front passenger-side portion of the BMW. Despite the force and angle of the crash, neither the driver airbag nor the passenger airbag deployed. Immediately after impact, heavy smoke began coming through the dashboard vents within seconds, and the vehicle caught fire within approximately one minute. The entire front of the vehicle was destroyed by the fire. The airbags never deployed at any point,

NHTSA complaint 11700856, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

While driving home, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. When I turned the car off the smoke was billowing and coming into the car through the ventilation system. I came back to the car a while later and saw that the hood had a large round burn mark and all non-metal parts connected to the engine were melted. The car is currently inoperable. I called the BMW dealership that provides maintenance for my car and they told me of recall but said they didnt have a remedy at this time.

NHTSA complaint 11622383. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 121,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X1. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the dealer stated that the oil pump and timing chain had failed, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the warranty would not cover the repair. A case was filed. The failure mileage was 121,000.

NHTSA complaint 11515997. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 145,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X1. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the resident. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint 11633187. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I own a 2014 BMW X1 equipped with the N20 engine. The vehicle has been producing smoke from the exhaust/tailpipe after it has been sitting, and the vehicle appears to be burning engine oil very quickly. I am concerned that the malfunction involves the turbocharger engine-oil supply/feed system. BMW has previously documented a similar condition involving N20/N26 engines in Service Information Bulletin SI B11 16 15, which includes the E84 BMW X1 and addresses smoke from the exhaust associated with engine oil leaking through the turbocharger system. I am concerned about the safety risk because the vehicle is burning oil and producing visible exhaust smoke. I am concerned that continued oil

NHTSA complaint 11767175, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving on the highway and all of my dashboard lights began to flicker, my windshield wipers came on and my doors began to lock and unlock then the car shut off while I was driving.

NHTSA complaint 11727003. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

70,850 miles

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X1. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that after shifting to park(P), there was white smoke coming from under the hood, with a burning plastic odor. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there were no authorized dealers close by. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 70,850.

NHTSA complaint 11719114. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Car was taken in for service for a water pump recall. When I receive the car back there is a radiator photo on the dashboard as if there is low coolant. After returning the car to BMW they are stating that the water pump part that was fixed has nothing to do with why there is now a coolant leak from the back of the radiator. The fuel leak is coming from the fuel pump.

NHTSA complaint 11693406. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I believe there is a class action lawsuit for timing chains and oil pumps on BMW years 2012-2015 with N20/N26 engines. My vehicle is an exact match for this recall but it dos not show for BMW or even on your website. How do I proceed with this matter since it is something that I should not have to pay for. Can you please advise further.

NHTSA complaint 11690304. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the BMW X1

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 17 3 —
2024 30 3 —
2023 70 6 —
2021 9 1 —
2020 13 1 —
2019 11 3 —
2018 59 4 —
2017 156 2 —
2016 159 3 —
2015 52 2 —
2013 38 2 —

Other 2014 BMW models

Every BMW on this site — 257 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst