2021 BMW X7 Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

ENGINE

2 complaints

two fan blades came off and punctured my radiator. I replaced the radiator/fan for 4300 and when I picked it up, it said the power was limited and to get it to a BMW dealership right away and when I took it to BMW, they told me the engine was shot and cylinder four was completely destroyed. Then both through BMW corporate and the dealership that I bought the car at new in 2022 I was told there was nothing that they would do at all. In fact I was told it would cost $46,500 plus tax to replace the engine. The car is only worth 40 and I owe 29 I have been without a car for many months and I don’t know what to do with this card is essentially become a paperweight. I bought it brand new at arrowhead BMW for almost $115,000 with 3000 miles on it. Someone had purchased it new and brought it back and I’m not sure why exactly. It just doesn’t feel right that I should only be able to drive a car for 65,000 miles until it’s completely valueless furthermore, my attorney informed me that there was a class action lawsuit around my engine that was closed and it just doesn’t seem right that they would continue to make this engine. I’m hoping there’s some sort of resolved because it’s a very costly situation for me and my family

Oct 25, 2025

Car had an error message "drivetrain malfunction" car was drivable. Car has 87000 purchased in 2021. Car needs a new engine. Other Car owners having similar issues with the drivetrain malfunction

Mar 12, 2025

SEATS

2 complaints

Second row seats went down and locked, would not move. If my child had been in the seat, she would’ve been suffocated.

Aug 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X7. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the warning light illuminated "third row rear seats not fully locked". The contact stated that while transporting his children, the sensor did not recognize individuals seated on the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was advised that the failure might be due to detached or dislodged compression springs in the seat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

Jan 31, 2024

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

On Sunday, December 1, 2024, the high-pressure fuel pump failed while driving in a roundabout next to a freeway, causing the car to stop and the gearbox set itself to PARK. Bellevue BMW has ordered a new fuel pump ?control board? If there were any warning lamps or messages, they did not appear before the complete failure of the fuel pump. The BIG problem was that we were not able to shift into NEUTRAL so the car could be pushed safely to the side of the road. The tow truck operator had to put rolling skids on the tires in order to load it onto the towing platform. It was a very dangerous situation, with semi-trucks passing over nearby curbs on both sides of us. People tried to help, but no one could figure out how to get the car out of PARK into NEUTRAL.

Dec 10, 2024

The car’s fuel capacity and miles remaining projection after refueling, both indicate a 12 gallon capacity fuel tank, despite Toyota’s published 17.2 capacity fuel tank. Well documented online, the safety concern here is 1) the fuel level sensor is defective, 2) the gas tank neck design is defective, 3) the miles remaining calculator is calculating incorrectly creating stranded passenger risk, or 4) misleading marketing though not a safety issue, but would have deterred me from purchasing the car due poor distance range. If true, I would want Toyota to purchase the car back.

Mar 12, 2024

SERVICE BRAKES

2 complaints

When starting the vehicle and shifting into drive, "hard" brakes are felt. Brake pedal is "stuck" in a high position and cannot be compressed. The vehicle is extremely unstable - the car lurches forward when brakes are slightly released. Excessive brake pressure is required to prevent the vehicle from moving inadvertently. This persists for 10-60 seconds, then the brakes relax into the normal position and no other issues are experienced. Confirmed NO lights on dash or warnings sounded. This has been experienced 4 times in 6 months. Issue has been reported to dealership. After second occurrence, dealership took vehicle for diagnostics and updated software. After third occurrence, dealership took vehicle and replaced ABS module, with software update. Feedback from BMW is that they think a diagnostic is running at startup and when the vehicle is shifted into drive it is not finished with the cycle. Most recent visit to dealership was late November 2022. Issue occurred again on 12/8 in the afternoon. Vehicle was parked in carpool line at school. When line began moving, vehicle was started and shifted into gear. Hard brake immediately felt (this is after repairs from BMW). This recurrence prompted this submission.

Dec 09, 2022

When applying brakes and releasing the brakes there is a grinding sound. The grinding sound is pronounced when applying the brake and turning the steering wheel at the same time. When I took the vehicle to Checkered flag BMW of Virginia Beach, I was told per BMW engineering it was norm operating characteristic. The Shop Foreman said he had several customers complain about the same problem and duplicated the problem while driving my vehicle. He was the person that showed me the noise was much louder when turning the steering while braking. The report I received from the Service manager named the issue as brake/pad rotor stiction and pad vibration. The invoice stated that the loud noise was not a flaw or defect, but normal operating characteristic. Simply put and 85,000 vehicle grinding noise is okay. I believe there is a problem that will get much worse over time and become a very serious safety issue. So much so that I will take a loss and sell the vehicle.

Jul 07, 2022

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

Exploding moonroof while driving vehicle

Dec 09, 2022

Sunroof randomly exploded while driving in the middle of no where . No impact , no debris , no flying objects around at all

May 10, 2022

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS

1 complaint

Wheel/Tire makes shudders during a turn at low acceleration or going up a hill leading to uncontrolled acceleration. I have brought the car in for inspection and service and the issue could not be replicated by the techs, however the problem occurs with daily driving. An online search shows that this is a very common problem with the transfer case.

Nov 27, 2025

ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

Infotainment stopped working, no backup cam no safety features working

Nov 18, 2025

STEERING,POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

The transfer case in my BMW X7 began making grinding, jerking, shuttering around 65,000 miles. The dealer failed to diagnose the issue at that time when I brought it in at 71,000. (approximately $9,000–$10,000). Transfer cases "should be" designed to last well over 150,000miles. Maybe my car was a lemon but it seems to be a common theme/legal suite for BMW X7 owner.s This issue connitued causes sudden loss of power delivery, shuddering, and unpredictable handling—especially during acceleration or turning—which can increase the risk of an accident. Many BMW X7 owners have reported similar premature transfer case failures online, suggesting a widespread defect that may affect vehicle safety. BMW should investigate these failures and take accountability for transfer case defects that appear to occur prematurely and often shortly after warranty expiration. Consumer forums (like Bimmerpost and CarComplaints.com) show multiple reports of X7 transfer cases failing between 50K–90K miles.

Oct 27, 2025

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

The vehicle experiences a recurring drivetrain shuddering or slipping sensation at low speeds, especially when accelerating from a stop or while cornering. The issue originates from the transfer case, which has been identified as the malfunctioning component. The transfer case was previously serviced according to the manufacturer's official technical bulletin, but the problem returned after the prescribed post-repair evaluation period. The condition compromises vehicle stability and creates a potential safety risk, particularly when merging into traffic, turning at intersections, or navigating tight spaces — where unexpected hesitation or loss of traction can lead to a collision. The issue has been confirmed by authorized dealership technicians, and acknowledged by service personnel as a commonly recurring defect in this vehicle model. The manufacturer has not issued a recall but has documented the issue in an official service bulletin. The component is still installed in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. There were no dashboard warning lights or fault codes present prior to or during the symptoms. The only observable indication is the physical sensation of shuddering/slipping, which persists intermittently and without system alerts

Aug 26, 2025

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

After purchasing this vehicle I took the car in for PA state inspection at Joel Confer BMW in State College, PA to find out that he passenger side front headlight needs to be replaced. The reason for the replacement is because the LED running light has burnt out. Not only has the daytime running light burnt out but it was has burned out the module for the light. Because the module is also burned the entire headlight needs to be replaced at a cost of $8000. BMW will not cover this repair. My car is has approx 28k miles on it. My car is out of warranty as of October of 2024, but well within the mileage warranty. This is a safety hazard as the headlight needs to fully operable to pass PA state inspection. There were not any indicators of the problem before taking the vehicle in for state inspection.

Jul 02, 2025

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

The water pump pulley "exploded", causing the accessory belt to fall off which drives the alternator. The pulley "shrapnel" was thrown into the cooling system and damaging the hoses causing immediate loss of coolant. The loss of electrical power due to the alternator being inoperable and the loss of cooling could have caused the vehicle to malfunction in a dangerous manner. Fortunately, the vehicle displayed an error message and was towed to the dealer without further incident.

Jan 23, 2025

STEERING

1 complaint

2019-2022 BMW X7 Xdrive have a major issue with the transfer box which controls the adaptive steering at all front wheels. At low speeds or at driveline when accelerating in forward or reverse while turning the steering wheel the vehicle shudders or jerks causing the skipping like feeling in traction. This is a common issue which is reported by many and is now happening to my vehicle. BMW has not issued a recall, rather a recommended repair to change the oil on the transfer case and drive the vehicle for 125miles hoping the issue will go away. In most cases the issue does not go away and the transfer box needs to be replaced. The interesting thing is BMW is charging customers 500.00 for the transfer box oil change when its a known issue and hopefully if you are still under warranty will replace the transfer box if the issue persists at not cost. If not under warranty the cost of the part alone is 4350.00 for the transfer box, not including labor. This is a very major driver safety concern as it pertains to steering and handling of the vehicle. In my opinion, BMW should not be charging customers under warranty for the transfer box oil change in hopes of it resolving the issue. There should be a recall for the transfer box entirely as this is an issue on all BMW X7s. There is no warning lights regarding the transfer box issue. The issue is continues at all times while driving at low speeds and turning at the same time. This can cause someone to lose control of the vehicle in a turn and get into an accident. Please refer to BMW recommended repair SIB 27 02 20, link provided below. [XXX] If this is a known issue, and NHTSA is aware of the issue then why isnt there a recall to replace the transfer box entirely if the issue is confirmed by the dealer. Why put a band aid by replacing the oil on the transfer box when it will eventually return? If the vehicle is not under warranty, why should customer pay. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Nov 03, 2024

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

The transfer case became damaged causing shuddering and loss of power while turning and accelerating. Once failed all power lost to rear wheels. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request and the problem has been confirmed by BMW dealership and replacement is required. Any loss of control of your vehicle is a safety hazard. This is a widely known issue and a recall has already been issued for years 2013-2016. The problem still exist in later models mine being a 2021.

Jun 16, 2024

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

During highway speeds of every drive, the hood shakes/wobbles excessively, causing significant distraction to driver due to reflection of sunlight into driver’s eyes. This wobbling occurs in nearly the full width of the hood, between 3 and 18 inches from the windshield. Note: because video uploads are not permitted here, no attachment is provided, but can be given upon request.

Mar 12, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X7. The contact stated that while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's wife noticed a smoky fume in the interior of the vehicle. The contact's wife continued to drive the vehicle to the intended destination. The contact stated that when the wife returned to the vehicle, the contact's wife noticed that the smoky fume was still in the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The contact stated that upon removing items from the vehicle, the contact noticed that a cardboard box that was seated on the driver's rear seat was on fire. The contact extinguished the fire. No fire report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The contact then contacted BMW and requested the vehicle to be picked up. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer for two weeks. The contact was informed that the failure was due to no fault of the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 25,320.

Feb 02, 2024

Fire: 1

SEAT BELTS,ENGINE

1 complaint

2 Issues: 1) The water/coolant pump leaks and fails, leading to overheating. BMW says the following Service Bulletin does not apply: SIB 11 05 21 SERVICE ACTION: REPLACE THE MECHANICAL COOLANT PUMP I'm not really sure why or how it doesn't apply but it should. 2) The front passenger seatbelt has failed, in that it does not retract into its housing.

Jan 31, 2024

STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

While merging onto the highway the car violently jerked itself into the left lane without warning, nearly causing me to collide with another car. Error messages about "driver assistance" appeared. All screens then went black and the car rebooted. It pulled away from the direction I was driving several more times on my way home, but less severely. 3 weeks earlier multiple systems failed and power steering went out. That time the car was pulling me in the opposite direction I was steering. Was told it was a software issue that was fixed. Then this happened 3 weeks later.

Aug 28, 2023

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SEAT BELTS,SEATS

1 complaint

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.

Nov 18, 2022

Injuries: 1

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

When moisture gets into the cupholders of a BMW 2021 X7, it leaks into the electrical system for the airbag sensors and seatbelt sensors. This makes them USELESS in an accident. BMW currently has a lawsuit pending against this VERY ISSUE. A small amount of soda spilled in the cupholders by my daughter. It was quickly cleaned and dried- but this caused a leak and lead to the restraint system failure- which renders my airbags in the driver and passenger seats useless- along with the seatbelts. They will NOT work in the event of an accident. This was confirmed by Rick Hendrick BMW Charleston in Charleston, SC. BMW should recall the ACSM and make the area waterproof.

May 17, 2022

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

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. This was the most shocking incident we had to face with my family where there were two kids of 4 and 9 along with my wife and her parents who are senior citizens.

Jan 18, 2022

Fire: 1

⭐

4.8/5.0

67 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2021 BMW X7 have?

The 2021 BMW X7 currently has 25 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2021 BMW X7?

The most common problems reported for the 2021 BMW X7 are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2021 BMW X7 problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2021 BMW X7 comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.