BMW X1 Common Faults in the UK
E84 2009–2015 and F48 2015–2022 — compact premium SUV. Updated 23 October 2026.
This guide covers the E84 2009–2015 and F48 2015–2022. For any other version of the X1, see how to check any car for known faults.
The BMW X1 has four exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) recalls on DVSA’s list, each covering 71,128 to 322,745 vehicles across the BMW models it names (R/2022/255, R/2022/206, R/2018/341, R/2020/179), on cars built to May 2018, and a battery-cable recall on 2009–2011 builds (R/2018/132). What Car? ranks the 2015–2022 X1 eighth of 34 family SUVs at 96.6%, with non-engine electrics the main complaint, and reports stretched timing chains on the 2009–2015 diesel. The X1 passes the MOT 4.6 points above the average for cars of its age.
Largest DVSA recall for the X1: R/2022/255, 322,745 vehicles in the whole recall — Undetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold. See the 16 DVSA recalls listed for this model.
85.4% of BMW X1s pass the MOT first time, 4.5 points better than the national average for cars of the same age (80.9%). Counted from 11,546 DVSA tests on cars registered 2010–2022; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Compared against cars of the same registration years, because pass rates otherwise mostly measure how old a model's surviving fleet is.
See it by registration year and by mileage ↓The asking-price figures above are the middle 80% and the median of what sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026 — not what buyers pay — for BMW X1 cars registered 2009–2022. They are worked out from the cars on sale when this page is generated, and none is shown when fewer than 10 cars qualify. The road tax line comes from GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables (2026/27 rates). The fuel economy tile names the source it rests on or says there is no sourced figure, and the insurance tile gives no figure. We do not publish a UK price index, and no figure here should be quoted as one.
Best and worst years to buy
We name a year as a best or worst buy only where the DVSA MOT table further down does not rate it the other way.
These F48 registration years sit above all cars registered the same year on DVSA’s MOT table, and a car first registered from 2019 will normally have been built after 23 May 2018, the last build date of the four large EGR recalls on DVSA’s list (R/2022/255, R/2022/206, R/2018/341, R/2020/179). A car can be registered months after it was built, and small recalls such as the rear-light nuts (R/2019/071, built to 18 January 2019) still reach these years, so check by registration. What Car? ranked the 2015–2022 X1 eighth of 34 family SUVs at 96.6% (its page, updated 23 July 2025).
No year is named as one to avoid: DVSA’s MOT table rates no X1 registration year below the average for its year. The older cars carry the long recall list (the EGR recalls run to cars built in May 2015 and May 2018, the battery-cable recalls to 2011), and What Car? names the 2.0-litre diesel’s timing chain on the 2009–2015 car, so judge an older X1 by its registration, its service record and the checks below rather than by year.
Known faults — BMW X1 E84 2009–2015 and F48 2015–2022
How to read this list. Items marked Safety recall are DVSA safety recalls, shown with DVSA’s own reference. Whether a particular car is affected depends on when it was built: check it by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. Everything else in this list is owner-reported: what the UK publication named on each card reports from its owner surveys and tests. Those are worth checking on a viewing, but we hold no count of how many cars have each one, other than any survey share a card itself quotes. Treat an owner-reported item as a question to ask, not a fault this car has.
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) — cooler may leak, fire risk
- Symptoms
- DVSA wording across five recalls: the EGR cooler may leak over time and cause a thermal incident (R/2022/206), could leak, presenting a fire risk (R/2018/341), and could leak over time (R/2020/179); undetected EGR system leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold, and the engine management software is reprogrammed to detect them (R/2022/255); and on some diesels glycol leakage from the cooler may melt the intake manifold and in very rare cases cause a fire (R/2023/172). The cooler is inspected and replaced, or replaced outright.
- Years affected
- X1 built 4 May 2011 to 22 May 2015 (R/2018/341), 10 July 2011 to 22 May 2015 (R/2022/206), 25 March 2015 to 2 May 2017 (R/2020/179), 7 November 2014 to 23 May 2018 (R/2022/255) and 30 January 2018 (R/2023/172); DVSA gives each as one total shared with other BMW models
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under recall
- What to check before buying
- Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask for the BMW dealer record for each EGR recall that covers the car’s build date.
DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2022/255 322,745 (every model in the recall); R/2022/206 319,399 (every model in the recall); R/2018/341 225,449 (every model in the recall); R/2020/179 71,128 (every model in the recall); R/2023/172 4,923 (every model in the recall).
Electrical — positive battery cable to the distribution box
- Symptoms
- DVSA wording: the positive battery cable to the front distribution box behind the glove box can be damaged by vibration and frictional corrosion, which may cause a loss of electrical connection; the symptoms are being unable to gain entry or start the car, most commonly a flickering instrument panel or uneven engine performance, and a complete loss would also affect the lights. For petrol cars (R/2017/114) DVSA adds that in extreme cases the engine could cut out without warning while driving. The cable or its connection is repaired or replaced.
- Years affected
- X1 built 19 August 2009 to 15 June 2011 (R/2018/132) and 1 December 2009 to 13 October 2011, petrol engines (R/2017/114); DVSA gives each as one total shared with other BMW models
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under recall
- What to check before buying
- Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. On an early car, ask whether the cable repair was done, and watch the instrument panel for flickering on the test drive.
DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2018/132 311,848 (every model in the recall); R/2017/114 36,410 (every model in the recall).
Build-window recalls on 2016–2020 F48 cars (crankshaft sensor, rear lights, swivel bearings, tie rods, airbag igniter)
- Symptoms
- DVSA lists small recalls that each cover a few thousand cars or fewer: a software fault with the crankshaft sensor (R/2018/211), rear lights fixed with the wrong securing nuts (R/2019/071), front axle swivel bearings not made to specification, which could break and cause loss of wheel guidance (R/2018/171), a steering tie rod assembled without its spherical washer (R/2019/288) and an airbag igniter that may not have been correctly made (R/2017/011). What Car? names all five.
- Years affected
- X1 built 16 May to 8 June 2018 (R/2018/211), 5 October 2018 to 18 January 2019 (R/2019/071), 24 April to 1 May 2018 (R/2018/171), 2 April 2019 (R/2019/288) and 8 August to 14 November 2016 (R/2017/011)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under recall
- What to check before buying
- Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask a BMW dealer to confirm none applies to the VIN of a 2016–2019 car.
DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2018/211 4,025 (every model in the recall); R/2019/071 3,722; R/2017/011 668 (every model in the recall); R/2018/171 100 (every model in the recall); R/2019/288 19 (every model in the recall).
First-generation (E84) early builds — engine camshaft bolts and steering box
- Symptoms
- DVSA wording: the screws holding the variable camshaft timing (VANOS) housing may loosen and their heads break off, so the unit leaks oil internally and the engine may go into emergency mode (R/2014/068); and a component in the integrated control module is not to specification, so power-steering assistance may fail, with directional control kept but needing more driver effort (R/2012/081, the steering box is replaced). What Car? calls a recall for engine bolts that could loosen and leak oil, and one for a steering box that could cause power-steering failure, the two most serious of the first-generation X1’s five.
- Years affected
- X1 built 1 September 2009 to 30 November 2011 (R/2014/068) and 1 November 2011 to 31 March 2012 (R/2012/081)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under recall
- What to check before buying
- Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask whether the VANOS bolts and the steering box were replaced on a 2009–2012 car.
DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2014/068 2,967 (every model in the recall); R/2012/081 701 (every model in the recall).
Engine — 2.0-litre diesel timing chain (first generation)
- Symptoms
- What Car? says the first-generation X1’s 2.0-litre diesel has been the subject of a number of complaints of stretched and snapping timing chains; a snapped chain can mean replacing the whole engine, there is no real cure, and replacing the chain as a precaution is costly. Its page is dated 2 November 2016.
- Years affected
- E84 2009–2015 diesels
- What to check before buying
- Listen on a cold start and while driving for ticking, knocking or rattling from the engine, as What Car? advises, and ask for the service record; a rattle is a reason to walk away or to have a BMW specialist assess the chain.
Electrics — infotainment, DAB radio and sat-nav (F48)
- Symptoms
- What Car? says some owners complained of failures involving non-engine electrics, including the DAB radio, the sat-nav and the whole infotainment system, and had to wait a long time for parts and pay quite a lot. In its survey 12% of petrol X1s had a fault against 26% of diesels, and 40% of the faulty cars were undriveable and out for more than a week; BMW covered the cost of all the repair work.
- Years affected
- F48 2015–2022
- What to check before buying
- Work the radio, the sat-nav, every menu and phone pairing, and check no warning light stays on after start-up.
Diesel particulate filter — cars used for short trips (F48)
- Symptoms
- What Car? advises checking for diesel particulate filter problems on diesels that have not been on a motorway often, because the filter has to be hot enough to regenerate, which is best triggered at a constant, higher speed.
- Years affected
- F48 2015–2022 diesels
- What to check before buying
- Ask how the previous owner used the car (mostly short trips is the risk), check for a particulate filter warning light and ask for any related invoices.
More DVSA safety recalls for the BMW X1, largest first
These are the recalls DVSA lists for this model and its build years that the cards above do not already describe: every one of 10,000 or more vehicles, largest first, with DVSA’s own reference and figures. A recall covers only cars built in its dates and within its VIN range — check a particular car by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. “Critical” here means DVSA’s own notice tells owners not to drive the car until it is fixed. It is never a size: “Large” means DVSA lists 10,000 or more vehicles in the recall.
- Safety recall · R/2025/327Large recall — 38,466 vehicles
Replace the Driver’s Airbag – Takata PSDI-5
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
38,466 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 19 August 2009 and 25 June 2015 · recall launched 12 January 2026
- Safety recall · R/2017/132Large recall — 10,849 vehicles
Driveshaft universal joint may break
Due to insufficient strength the front universal joint in the rear front universal joint of the rear prop shaft may fail.
10,849 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 30 December 2010 and 29 April 2011 · recall launched 11 April 2017
Source: DVSA vehicle recalls file (every recall since 1992), published under the Open Government Licence. Where DVSA gives one figure for a recall that covers several models, it is shown as the whole recall’s total.
BMW X1 MOT results by year and mileage
Measured from DVSA’s own MOT test records for tests carried out in 2025, not from owner reports.
By registration year
Against all cars registered in the same year, the MOT pass rate for the X1 was higher in 7 and level in 3 of the 10 registration years from 2013 to 2022 with enough tests to measure. The widest gap above is 2013 registrations: 78.4% against 71.9%.
Pass rate here: passed on the day, cars fixed during the test included. Rows: every BMW X1 DVSA tested in 2025, by registration year (2013–2022), all engines and fuels together.
| Registered | X1 | All cars that year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022712 tests | 92.3% | 91.2% | +1.1 level |
| 2021758 tests | 93.4% | 90.1% | +3.3 higher |
| 2020752 tests | 92.0% | 88.7% | +3.3 higher |
| 20191,352 tests | 91.9% | 86.9% | +5.0 higher |
| 20181,536 tests | 88.5% | 84.5% | +4.0 higher |
| 20171,440 tests | 88.3% | 82.2% | +6.1 higher |
| 20161,332 tests | 85.1% | 79.4% | +5.7 higher |
| 2015437 tests | 79.6% | 76.7% | +2.9 level |
| 2014842 tests | 77.1% | 74.3% | +2.8 level |
| 2013801 tests | 78.4% | 71.9% | +6.5 higher |
By mileage at the test
Against cars of the same age on the same mileage, the pass rate for the X1 was higher in every one of the 3 mileage bands with enough tests. How other models compare at the same mileage.
Show the table by mileage (3 bands)
| Mileage | X1 | Same age and mileage | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20k–40k2,336 tests | 92.3% | 89.2% | +3.0 higher |
| 40k–60k2,660 tests | 89.4% | 83.9% | +5.5 higher |
| 60k–80k2,275 tests | 84.9% | 78.4% | +6.5 higher |
Only a major or dangerous defect fails an MOT. A minor defect is recorded on the certificate and the car still passes, and an advisory is not a failure at all.
We don’t give a recall count for the BMW X1: whether a recall applies depends on the individual car. Check the one you are looking at by entering its registration on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall checker, and see how to check a car for known faults for the other free checks.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months) (3,459,000 tests). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Odometer readings below 100 or above 400,000 miles are discarded as misreadings, and cars under three years old are excluded because no MOT is yet due. Sampled from nine months of 2025 (January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November). Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Registration years shown are cars 3 to 12 years old when tested; the smallest rests on 437 tests. A gap is called level when it is under one percentage point or inside the 95% sampling margin for that number of tests. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere
Buyers who want a compact premium SUV and will ask for the dealer record for the EGR and battery-cable recalls on an older car, check the infotainment, and listen for the timing chain on a 2009–2015 diesel.
Anyone buying a 2009–2015 diesel without a service record and a cold-start listen, or any X1 without checking its recalls by registration.
Alternatives to consider
If the BMW X1 doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:
- →Audi Q3
- →Volkswagen Tiguan common faults
- →Mercedes GLA
- →Skoda Karoq common faults
BMW X1: questions buyers ask
What are the most common faults on a used BMW X1 in the UK?
The BMW X1 has four exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) recalls on DVSA’s list, each covering 71,128 to 322,745 vehicles across the BMW models it names (R/2022/255, R/2022/206, R/2018/341, R/2020/179), on cars built to May 2018, and a battery-cable recall on 2009–2011 builds (R/2018/132). What Car? ranks the 2015–2022 X1 eighth of 34 family SUVs at 96.6%, with non-engine electrics the main complaint, and reports stretched timing chains on the 2009–2015 diesel. The X1 passes the MOT 4.6 points above the average for cars of its age.
What is the best year to buy a used BMW X1 in the UK?
Best-buy years: 2019, 2020, 2021. These F48 registration years sit above all cars registered the same year on DVSA’s MOT table, and a car first registered from 2019 will normally have been built after 23 May 2018, the last build date of the four large EGR recalls on DVSA’s list (R/2022/255, R/2022/206, R/2018/341, R/2020/179). A car can be registered months after it was built, and small recalls such as the rear-light nuts (R/2019/071, built to 18 January 2019) still reach these years, so check by registration. What Car? ranked the 2015–2022 X1 eighth of 34 family SUVs at 96.6% (its page, updated 23 July 2025).
What years of BMW X1 should I avoid in the UK?
No specific year of the E84 2009–2015 and F48 2015–2022 BMW X1 is generally avoided. No year is named as one to avoid: DVSA’s MOT table rates no X1 registration year below the average for its year. The older cars carry the long recall list (the EGR recalls run to cars built in May 2015 and May 2018, the battery-cable recalls to 2011), and What Car? names the 2.0-litre diesel’s timing chain on the 2009–2015 car, so judge an older X1 by its registration, its service record and the checks below rather than by year.
How much does a used BMW X1 cost in the UK in 2026?
What sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026, for BMW X1 cars registered 2009–2022: £4,995–£15,999, median £8,795 — the range is the middle 80% of asking prices. Those are asking prices, not what buyers paid, and not a UK price index. Prices vary by mileage, region and trim, so compare several adverts of the same year and mileage band before negotiating.
What is the road tax (VED) on a BMW X1 in the UK?
Annual road tax (VED): £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
What real-world fuel economy does a BMW X1 achieve on UK roads?
No sourced real-world figure for the X1, so none is printed: the official lab figure depends on the engine and on the test cycle the car was approved under, so use the figure for the exact version you are looking at.
How does a BMW X1 compare to its rivals?
Strong alternatives in the UK: Audi Q3, Volkswagen Tiguan, Mercedes GLA, Skoda Karoq. Choose based on dealer network in your area, parts availability, and your priorities (running cost vs. cabin quality vs. badge).
Who is the BMW X1 most suitable for?
Buyers who want a compact premium SUV and will ask for the dealer record for the EGR and battery-cable recalls on an older car, check the infotainment, and listen for the timing chain on a 2009–2015 diesel.
Who should NOT buy a BMW X1?
Anyone buying a 2009–2015 diesel without a service record and a cold-start listen, or any X1 without checking its recalls by registration.
Are there safety recalls on the BMW X1?
DVSA lists 16 safety recalls for the BMW X1 that this guide shows or names, the largest first: R/2022/255 (322,745 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 7 November 2014 and 23 May 2018): Undetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold; R/2022/206 (319,399 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 10 July 2011 and 22 May 2015): The exhaust gas recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident; R/2018/132 (311,848 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 19 August 2009 and 15 June 2011): Plug in contact cable may malfunction. Whether a particular car is affected depends on its build date and VIN, so check its registration on GOV.UK (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy.
Is the Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) — cooler may leak, fire risk on the BMW X1 a serious problem?
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) — cooler may leak, fire risk on the BMW X1 is covered by DVSA safety recall R/2022/255. Symptoms: DVSA wording across five recalls: the EGR cooler may leak over time and cause a thermal incident (R/2022/206), could leak, presenting a fire risk (R/2018/341), and could leak over time (R/2020/179); undetected EGR system leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold, and the engine management software is reprogrammed to detect them (R/2022/255); and on some diesels glycol leakage from the cooler may melt the intake manifold and in very rare cases cause a fire (R/2023/172). The cooler is inspected and replaced, or replaced outright. Years affected: X1 built 4 May 2011 to 22 May 2015 (R/2018/341), 10 July 2011 to 22 May 2015 (R/2022/206), 25 March 2015 to 2 May 2017 (R/2020/179), 7 November 2014 to 23 May 2018 (R/2022/255) and 30 January 2018 (R/2023/172); DVSA gives each as one total shared with other BMW models. Indicative repair cost in the UK: Free under recall. What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask for the BMW dealer record for each EGR recall that covers the car’s build date.
Is the Electrical — positive battery cable to the distribution box on the BMW X1 a serious problem?
Electrical — positive battery cable to the distribution box on the BMW X1 is covered by DVSA safety recall R/2018/132. Symptoms: DVSA wording: the positive battery cable to the front distribution box behind the glove box can be damaged by vibration and frictional corrosion, which may cause a loss of electrical connection; the symptoms are being unable to gain entry or start the car, most commonly a flickering instrument panel or uneven engine performance, and a complete loss would also affect the lights. For petrol cars (R/2017/114) DVSA adds that in extreme cases the engine could cut out without warning while driving. The cable or its connection is repaired or replaced. Years affected: X1 built 19 August 2009 to 15 June 2011 (R/2018/132) and 1 December 2009 to 13 October 2011, petrol engines (R/2017/114); DVSA gives each as one total shared with other BMW models. Indicative repair cost in the UK: Free under recall. What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. On an early car, ask whether the cable repair was done, and watch the instrument panel for flickering on the test drive.
Is the Engine — 2.0-litre diesel timing chain (first generation) on the BMW X1 a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: Engine — 2.0-litre diesel timing chain (first generation) is reported by What Car? for the BMW X1, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: What Car? says the first-generation X1’s 2.0-litre diesel has been the subject of a number of complaints of stretched and snapping timing chains; a snapped chain can mean replacing the whole engine, there is no real cure, and replacing the chain as a precaution is costly. Its page is dated 2 November 2016. Years affected: E84 2009–2015 diesels. What to check before buying: Listen on a cold start and while driving for ticking, knocking or rattling from the engine, as What Car? advises, and ask for the service record; a rattle is a reason to walk away or to have a BMW specialist assess the chain.
Check these next
The guide above is about the BMW X1 as a model. These are about the car in front of you.
- Browse BMW X1 listings on AutozaEvery one listed now.
- Check any car by its registrationFree: its MOT history, tax status and any open recall, from a number plate.
- Work out the road tax for the X1Vehicle tax (VED) by registration date, CO2 and list price.
- Work out the monthly payment on a £8,795 X1The median asking price on Autoza on 29 October 2026, not what buyers pay: change it to the car you are looking at.
- What is your X1 worth?A price range from dealers' asking prices for comparable cars.
More checks on a BMW X1
A fault list tells you what goes wrong; these tell you about the car in front of you.
Looking to buy a BMW X1 in the UK?
Search Autoza listings filtered by year, mileage, and region. Every dealer page shows the business name, address and contact details, so you can check the business before you enquire.