Vehicle Data Hub

2021 BMW X7 problems

NHTSA has received 71 complaints about the 2021 BMW X7, and 17% of them involve engine. Next are drivetrain & axles (15%) and electrical system (11%).

At a glance

Complaints
71 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Engine 17% of complaints
Crashes and fires
0 and 3
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Engine 17%
  • Drivetrain & axles 15%
  • Electrical system 11%
  • Seats 7%
  • Steering 7%
  • Cruise control 6%
  • Forward collision avoidance 6%
  • Fuel system 6%
  • Brakes 3%
  • Lane departure 3%

What the data shows

Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported.

Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the BMW X7 with enough data (71 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 9 safety recall campaigns.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

I was driving a car with family and all of a sudden we all started smelling a burning smell but we thought it must be from outside. However, in just few seconds the vents started throwing vapors so I stopped the car hoping it may stop if some minor damage. However, the hood started throwing oranges color fumes and by the time we all left the vehicle the entire front hood/engine area started burning. There were no indications of any faults in the car.

January 2022 Fire

Sunroof exploded, just driving down the road, and BOOM! Most of the glass exploded outward, but it was definitely a hazard. The sunroof cover was open about 8-10 inches to let light in, but the glass sunroof was closed.

November 2022 Injury

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X7. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was initially unable to determine the cause of the issue. The contact reached out to a BMW-certified technician who inspected the vehicle and confirmed a starter failure. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and denied a request for Goodwill assistance. The contact to paid for the repair out of pocket.

Reported at 83,400 miles, July 2026

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X7. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the front of the vehicle. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Reported at 80,000 miles, August 2026

Other model years of the X7

Best and worst years for the BMW X7