2019 BMW X1

Showing the 2019 X1 xDrive28iBr. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 2.0 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 18, 2026.

Fuel economy
25–26 mpgcombined; city 22–23, highway 31–32; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$15,480–$16,100U.S. average; Ohio $14,580–$15,170 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
3over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
13filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2019 X1. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 X1. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical system5000
Structure3000
Engine2000
Unknown or other2000
Air bags1000
Engine and engine cooling1000
Forward collision avoidance1103
Power train1000
Steering1000
Suspension1000
Visibility/wiper1000
What the columns count

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2013102
  2. 2014114
  3. 201594
  4. 2016163
  5. 2017164
  6. 201859
  7. 201913
  8. 202013
  9. 20219
  10. 20221
  11. 202370
  12. 202430
  13. 202517
  14. 20261

Every X1 year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2019 X1 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Steering: linkages

NHTSA campaign 19V601000 · reported Aug 14, 2019 · 32 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the tie rods and ball joints as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2019 X2 xDrive28i, MINI Cooper S Convertible, Countryman, and John Cooper Works Countryman vehicles. The steering gear tie rod may have been assembled incorrectly, which may result in excessive wear of the tie rod end, eventually causing it to break.

Risk: A broken steering tie rod would lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA's record and documents

Structure: body

NHTSA campaign 19V349000 · reported May 9, 2019 · 106,182 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign

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. 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.

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Exterior lighting: tail lights

NHTSA campaign 19V074000 · reported Jan 30, 2019 · 5,920 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will properly secure the taillights, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles. Contaminated hardware may cause the attachment brackets of the taillight housings to crack, causing the lights to loosen or possibly detach from the vehicle.

Risk: If a taillight detaches from the vehicle, it would no longer provide the required lighting to following traffic, or it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 68 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2019 X1, the latest on Jun 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (28), equipment (19), engine and engine cooling (10), structure (8), engine (4).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2019 X1.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: large cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
X1 sDrive28i
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline23 / 32 / 26
X1 xDrive28i
All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline22 / 31 / 25

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data