The automaker states that the 2023 BMW X1 incorporates all “the latest safety and technology features and an unwavering eagerness for exploration and adventure.” However, owners whose luxury SUVs exhibit delayed acceleration issues aren’t convinced that their vehicles are safe. And the threat of brakes and airbags not working 100% is not the kind of adventure owners are seeking!
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2023
Most Common Problems
The most common problems linked to the 2023 BMW X1 are related to safety. There aren’t a lot of complaints, but they all concern airbags. And there are 2 recalls, one for airbags and the other for seatbelts.
In terms of numbers, the most common components and systems associated with complaints are brakes and electronic stability control. All of these report that the recall repair is not yet available. There are also a significant number of airbag-related complaints, again all complaining that the recall repair wasn’t available at that time.
When combined, 65% of the complaints are due to recall repairs not being available. All these people are, or have been, faced with the threat that something could go badly wrong with their vehicles while they wait (or waited) for parts to become available for recall repairs.
Most of the other 45% of complaints are because of issues that relate to delayed acceleration. While most are listed as being powertrain problems, other components and systems implicated in these complaints include the electrical system, engine, and fuel/propulsion system.
Additionally, there is an unrelated steering complaint that reports how a BMW X1 abruptly cut into the opposite lane three times in two months. Luckily, there was no oncoming traffic.
Recalls
Launched in the fourth quarter of 2022, the 2023 BMW X1 was the subject of its first recall in mid-February 2023. Along with 2022 BMW X1 models and 2022-2023 BMW iX models, 2023 BMW X1 models have drivers’ airbags that may not deploy as intended. The second recall, issued in mid-April 2023, focuses on second-row seat belts that may malfunction. The third, issued in February 2024, affects a wide range of BMW vehicles that have an integrated brake system malfunction.
Don’t be stuck with a lemon. You have legal rights to cash, return or buyback.
The law makes BMW pay legal fees.
We've fixed thousands of lemon problems. Message or call 877-795-3666 today.
Incorrectly Manufactured Airbags
NHTSA Campaign Number 23V079000, dated February 14, 2023, states that as many as 15,803 BMW vehicles may be affected by the recall. These include X1 xDrive28i vehicles. The problem is that the front driver’s airbag may have been manufactured incorrectly. As a result, it may not deploy as intended if the BMW crashes, increasing the risk of injury.
Owners were notified and told that dealers would replace the affected airbag free of charge. A complaint dated March 20, 2023, states that when the Driver Restraint System Malfunction warning light was illuminated on February 13, he went to a dealer who confirmed that this airbag needed to be replaced. Additionally, a second airbag was faulty and also needed replacement. However, the dealer stated the parts required for the recall repair weren’t available. The X1 had only 2,000 miles on the clock and the owner wasn’t told which airbags were faulty.
Similar complaints were filed with the NHTSA until May 2023 when, presumably, the parts became available.
Improperly Installed Seat Belts
NHTSA Campaign Number 23V260000 affects 1,465 BMW X1 xDrive28i and M35i small-sized SUVs. The concern is that the second-row seat belts may malfunction due to an installation error. The recall warns that the seat belts on the second-row outboard seats may have been “pinched by an interior trim panel during vehicle assembly.”
Owner notification letters were scheduled to be mailed on June 2, 2023, telling them that dealers would inspect and adjust the interior trim panel as necessary. Luckily for owners, no spare parts were required for the recall “repair.”
Integrated Brake System Malfunction
NHTSA Campaign Number 24V104000 affects a total of 79,670 BMW vehicles including the 2023 X1 xDrive28i. The recall notification warns that the integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) systems to not function properly.
The problem is that a loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either way, it increases the risk of a crash.
According to the recall notice dated February 12, 2024, states that letters were to be mailed on April 5, 2024, telling owners their faulty integrated brake systems would be replaced free of charge. However, complaints indicate that some owners were notified during February but they were told the part required to do the recall repair wasn’t available. By late June, complaints were still drawing the NHTSA’s attention to the fact that these parts were unavailable.
Delayed Acceleration
An owner from Virginia states that when the X1 is on any slight incline and parked when the driver places it in Reverse or Drive it exhibits delayed acceleration. “The vehicle will roll backward or forward for about one or two feet before the vehicle responds to the accelerator pedal and the transmission gear selected.” Depressing the brake pedal does stop it. If it rolls back at any speed (3-4 mph) the vehicle’s automatic braking system engages and stops the vehicle. The dealer did a software update to remedy “drive-off characteristics” and installed “throttle input lag.” However, the rollaway failure continued to occur.
An owner from California describes delayed acceleration from a stop or rolling stop. “The hesitation is random and unpredictable. The vehicle will be unresponsive for a second or two and then a surge of acceleration will jolt the vehicle forward. This causes an unsafe situation in which defensive maneuvering can be delayed. Accelerating from a stop sign or traffic light can become dangerous due to the significant lag between stepping on the gas pedal and the movement of the vehicle.
Another owner from California states that the issue is inexcusable. “A second delay on accelerating from a stop making a turn onto or merging onto a highway could result in a collision.”
An owner from Pennsylvania calls the issue “a serious turbo lag.” After stepping “on the gas it would take a few seconds for the car to move. I was very nervous driving it, as it was difficult to judge when I could enter or cross a stream of traffic safely. This is a serious safety issue.” The dealership installed a software update but it made no difference. They contacted BMW and were told, “the car was designed to work that way.”
Recurring Issues? Get Help
Just because your 2023 BMW X1 powertrain, airbags, brakes, or seat belts malfunction doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a lemon. But if the dealership remains unable to do the recall repair, or you have recurring issues with serious implications, it might be. They don’t need to be about airbags or seat belts. It may be that you have identified problems that other owners haven’t complained to the NHTSA about.
If you have had recurring problems that affect the use of your X1, Lemberg Law will assess your problems free of charge. We have negotiated many settlements for our clients who have found themselves with lemons. All you have to do is contact us by calling our Helpline or filling out a contact form. The law says that BMW must pay the legal fees for lemon law cases, so it’s not going to cost you anything.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
