2013 Bmw X1 SAV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
43,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 64 complaints (48.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 10.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 10.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 31 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
Air Bags: 31; Electrical System: 10; Engine: 9; Power Train: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Exterior Lighting: 2; Seat Belts: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 31 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 10 |
2013: 4; 2014: 6; 2015: 2; 2016: 13; 2017: 21; 2018: 8; 2019: 10
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10551745 · 2013-11-11 (November 11, 2013)
THE BRAKES POWER ASSIST FAILED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IN A LOW SPEED RESIDENTIAL AREA. BRAKES REQUIRED MORE EFFORT BUT THEY DID EVENTUALLY GRAB, ALTHOUGH NOT BEFORE MOMENTUM CARRIED THE VEHICLE PARTIALLY INTO CROSS-TRAFFIC. AN ALERT DRIVER SOUNDED HIS/HER HORN AND SWERVED SLIGHTLY TO AVOID ME. TO DATE THIS WAS A ONE-TIME INCIDENT, BUT I HAVE BEEN KEEPING UNNECESSARY DRIVING TO A MINIMUM. UPON LEARNING THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL AND THAT A RECALL IS PENDING, I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THERE IS NOTHING HE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,682 miles reported. Look up ODI 10551745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554749 · 2013-12-04 (December 4, 2013)
I WAS GOING 50 MPH ON THE SAWMILL PARKWAY. THERE WAS A RED LIGHT AHEAD AND I TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO STOP. THE CAR DID NOTHING SO I PUSHED HARDER ON THE PEDAL. IT TOOK A LOT OF STRENGTH TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. I CONTINUED 20 MINUTES TO MY GARAGE IN MANHATTAN WITH NO INCIDENT. I ARRIVED HOME TO FIND A RECALL LETTER FROM BMW INFORMING ME OF A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE POWER BRAKES: "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-454: VACUUM PUMP OIL SUPPLY". WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY HAD NO IDEA OF THIS RECALL. WHEN I GO ON BMW'S WEBSITE AND INPUT MY VIN, …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627326 · 2014-08-21 (August 21, 2014)
BMW X1 LEASED IN MAY 2013: SDRIVE 28I *1ST DEFECT NOTICED: NAV SCREEN & INTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD CUT OFF. COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE OTHER DEFECTS/*ENGINE FAILURE AT HWY SPEEDS:GENERALLY FOLLOWING NAVIGATION BLACK-OUTS- ENGINE, WITHOUT WARNING, CUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. /*ENGINE FAILURE WITH FULL ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING FAILURE- NO POWER STEERING- NIGHT TIME/*AUTO START STOP-VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES IN TRAFFIC/*UNPROMPTED ACCELERATION /*BRAKE FAILURE 100% /*GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11103526 · 2018-06-23 (June 23, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING AND THE NYS THURWAY AND MY CAR SHUT DOWN BECAUSE I FOUND THAT MY GROUND CABLE TO THE BATTERY RUSTED OR ROTTED THEN BROKE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COVER AROUND THE CABLE PROTECTING IT FROM THE WEATHER. IT CONNECTS FROM THE BATTERY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WHERE THE SNOW AND RAIN GET TO IT. EVERY CAR I HAVE OWNED HAD A BATTERY WITH PLASTIC COVERING. THE CAR WILL STALL AND SHUTDOWN. THEY KNOW OF THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10875803 · 2016-06-22 (June 22, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION GOES FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. HAPPENED THREE TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN PARK, TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND WORKED NORMALLY. TWO DAYS LATER IT HAPPENS AGAIN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND 2 MINUTES BEFORE TAKING THE HIGHWAY AND THIS TIME THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED (REAR WILL WILL NOT MOVE) WITH THE ENGINE SO BEFORE TOWING THE PROCESS TO ALLOWING TOWING IS IMPLEMENTED. TAKEN TO BMW AND THEY SAY ITS NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES. NO ANALYSIS OF ANY COMPO…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,547 miles reported. Look up ODI 10875803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10991532 · 2017-05-24 (May 24, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X1. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BMW OF ARLINGTON 1105 E LAMAR BLVD ARLINGTON TX 7601[phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10991532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11081578 · 2018-03-27 (March 27, 2018)
THE POWER STEERING IS VERY ROUGH DOES NOT ALWAYS TURN THE CAR WELL
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11081578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10607754 · 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)
I STARTED THE ENGINE, THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND: "ENGINE MALFUNCTION: REDUCED ENGINE POWER. SAFE TO CONTINUE, DRIVE WITH CAUTION. PLEASE TAKE VEHICLE TO NEAREST SERVICE CENTER." I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS CLEARLY SHAKING PERIODICALLY. I CALLED A FRIEND AND THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE AN INJECTION PROBLEM, AMONG SEVERAL OTHER POTENTIAL ISSUES. I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY TO TRY AND GET TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP (45 MILES AWAY), AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES (GOING ABOUT 50 MPH) IT GOT REALLY BAD. IT STARTED TO SHAKE SO MUC…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607754 at NHTSA ↗