2018 Bmw X6 Safety Report

2018 BMW X6 Safety Analysis

4Complaints
4Recalls
87/100Reliability Score
1Fire Reports
Most reported components: Power Train (1)Tires (1)Unknown Or Other (1)Steering,Suspension,Service Brakes (1)

Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Bmw X6

This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Bmw X6. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.

2018 Bmw X6 Safety Signal Summary
SignalValueWhat to inspect next
Recall burdenHigh (4)Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below.
Owner complaintsLow (4)Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates.
Crash and fire reports1Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item.
Primary component hubPower TrainCompare power train issues across vehicles.
Cleaner nearby model year2017Compare against the 2017 Bmw X6 with 2 complaints and 2 recalls.
Riskier nearby model year2015Check the 2015 Bmw X6 before buying across this generation.

Bmw X6 Year-by-Year Comparison

The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Bmw X6 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.

Nearby Bmw X6 Model Years
Model YearComplaintsRecallsUse case
2019 Bmw X6 5 4 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2017 Bmw X6 2 2 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2020 Bmw X6 9 10 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2016 Bmw X6 9 1 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2021 Bmw X6 7 7 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2015 Bmw X6 9 1 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.

2018 Bmw X6 Complaint Theme Map

Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Bmw X6, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.

Power Train

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Power Train issues Bmw only

Tires

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Tires issues Bmw only

Unknown Or Other

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Unknown Or Other issues Bmw only

Steering,Suspension,Service Brakes

1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Steering,Suspension,Service Brakes issues Bmw only

AI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Bmw X6

The 2018 BMW X6 has accumulated 4 complaints and 4 recalls in the NHTSA database. Among the complaints, 0 involved crashes and 1 involved fires. The most frequently reported problem areas are power train (1 complaints), tires (1 complaints), unknown or other (1 complaints). During operation in DRIVE, the vehicle would shift to PARK, without the control lever being operated. This occurred intermittently, but with greater frequency during high-speed driving. The contact owns a 2018 BMW X6 equipped with Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season tires, Tire Size: 255/50/R19, DOT number: UN64P9784417. While his wife was driving, the vehicle shifted to PARK without any action from her, causing a near accident. BMW of North America, LLC. is recalling certain 2015-2019 X6 sDrive35i, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive40i, and 2018-2019 X6 sDrive35i, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, due to a defect in the child seat installation. There is no fix available yet, rendering the vehicle unsafe to transport a child. A BMW dealer will inspect the vehicle and replace the child seat if necessary, free of charge. Key known issues to be aware of include Transmission Shift Issue, Child Seat Recall, Suspension Issues. Be cautious of the transmission shift issue and the child seat recall. Ensure the vehicle is inspected and any necessary repairs are made before transporting a child.

Reliability Score

The 2018 Bmw X6 receives a reliability score of 87 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.

Known Issues for the 2018 Bmw X6

The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Bmw X6:

IssueSeverityFrequencyTypical Mileage
Transmission Shift Issue
The vehicle may shift to PARK without the control lever being operated, especially during high-speed driving. This issue occurs intermittently and can be dangerous.
Medium Occasional 30k-60k miles
Child Seat Recall
Certain 2015-2019 X6 models and 2018-2019 X6 models are subject to a recall due to a defect in the child seat installation. No fix is currently available.
High Common 0-100k miles
Suspension Issues
Issues with the front suspension, including control arm lower arm, have been reported. These can cause instability and affect the vehicle's handling.
Medium Occasional 30k-60k miles
Tire Defect
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season tires, specifically DOT number UN64P9784417, have been reported to cause issues. The tires may not provide adequate traction and stability.
Medium Occasional 30k-60k miles

Common Problems Reported by Owners

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Bmw X6:

Transmission 23% of complaints

The transmission may shift to PARK without the control lever being operated, especially during high-speed driving.

Child Seat 15% of complaints

Certain 2015-2019 X6 models and 2018-2019 X6 models are subject to a recall due to a defect in the child seat installation.

Suspension 15% of complaints

Issues with the front suspension, including control arm lower arm, have been reported.

Tires 10% of complaints

Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season tires, specifically DOT number UN64P9784417, have been reported to cause issues.

Recall Details for the 2018 Bmw X6

The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Bmw X6 by NHTSA:

Child Seat
Campaign #19V823000 18/11/2019

Summary: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2015-2019 X6 sDrive35i, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6M vehicles equipped with rear seat lower anchor bars used in securing child restraint seats. The lower anchor bars may become damaged over time when used with an ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

Consequence: Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. Owner notification began January 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Campaign #18V614000 12/09/2018

Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X6 sDrive35i, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6M vehicles. The wheel bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened.

Consequence: The improperly tightened wheel bolts may loosen and break, affecting vehicle handling and control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace and tighten all of the wheel bolts, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Campaign #18V439000 28/06/2018

Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDrive35d, and X6 sDrive35i vehicles. The pivot bolt on the front lower-left control arm may not have been properly hardened, which may cause the control arm to break.

Consequence: If the lower control arm breaks, vehicle handling and control can be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower-left control arms and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 11, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Suspension
Campaign #17V727000 17/11/2017

Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 SAV, X5 M SAV, X6 SAV, and X6 M SAV vehicles. Bolts that secure the front suspension may not have been properly tightened.

Consequence: Loose bolts can affect the performance of the suspension, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the wishbone suspension bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC

NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Bmw X6

Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Bmw X6 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 involved fires.

Fire Reports: 1
Power Train
01/13/2022

During operation in DRIVE, the vehicle would shift to PARK, without the control lever being operated. This occurred intermittently, but with greater frequency over time. The safety concern is that it occurred while in traffic and even occurred on an Interstate highway, while at momentary stop. When reported to BMW, the failure was isolated to the mechatronics, the components including electron...

ODI #11447297
Tires
Fire 07/28/2021

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X6 equipped with Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season tires, Tire Size: 255/50/R19, DOT number: UN64P9784417. While his wife was driving 70 MPH, the passenger’s side rear tire delaminated two tread belts and began whipping inside of the wheel well. Due to the failure, a friction fire ignited inside the wheel well which caused two rows of the tread to separate from the tire...

ODI #11426789
Unknown Or Other
02/27/2020

WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. THERE WAS APPARENTLY NO FIX AVAILABLE YET, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO TRANSPORT A CHILD. I WAS ADVISED BY A BMW DEALERSHIP THEY COULD GET THE PARTS. HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A WEEK WITH NO REMEDY AND WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THEY WERE STILL TRYING. CALLED BMW CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THE PARTS WERE IN GERMAN AND IT WAS UP TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO LOCATE. THEY WER...

ODI #11311914
Steering,Suspension,Service Brakes
11/24/2019

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE FRONT SYSTEM AND CAUSES INSTABILITY, ISSUES WITH THE SUSPENSION AND THE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM. NEVER WAS FIXED PROPERLY FROM BMW TENAFLY

ODI #11281983

NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2018 Bmw X6

NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
NHTSA EA21002 Open

Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Opened 2021-09-17

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20...

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Bmw X6

Has the 2018 BMW X6 been recalled?

Yes, the 2018 BMW X6 has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.

How many complaints does the 2018 BMW X6 have?

The 2018 BMW X6 has 4 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.

What is the safety rating for the 2018 BMW X6?

The 2018 BMW X6 does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW X6?

The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 BMW X6 involve power train (1 complaints), tires (1 complaints), unknown or other (1 complaints). Other affected components include steering,suspension,service brakes.

How many crash reports does the 2018 BMW X6 have?

There are no crash reports associated with the 2018 BMW X6 in the NHTSA database.

How many fire reports does the 2018 BMW X6 have?

There are 1 fire reports for the 2018 BMW X6 out of 4 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.

Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 BMW X6?

No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 BMW X6.

How many injuries are reported for the 2018 BMW X6?

No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 BMW X6.

Should I buy a 2018 BMW X6?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 BMW X6 is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 4 complaints, 4 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.

What components fail most on the 2018 BMW X6?

The components with the most failures on the 2018 BMW X6 are: 1. POWER TRAIN (1 complaints), 2. TIRES (1 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1 complaints), 4. STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 1 complaints.

What should I know before buying a 2018 BMW X6?

Be cautious of the transmission shift issue and the child seat recall. Ensure the vehicle is inspected and any necessary repairs are made before transporting a child. The 2018 BMW X6 has 4 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record.

How reliable is the 2018 BMW X6?

The 2018 BMW X6 receives a reliability score of 87/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 4 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Transmission Shift Issue and Child Seat Recall.

What are the known issues with the 2018 BMW X6?

Known issues with the 2018 BMW X6 include: Transmission Shift Issue, Child Seat Recall, Suspension Issues, Tire Defect. These are based on patterns found across 4 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.

What is the transmission shift issue?

The vehicle may shift to PARK without the control lever being operated, especially during high-speed driving.

Is there a fix for the child seat recall?

No fix is currently available, and a BMW dealer will inspect the vehicle and replace the child seat if necessary, free of charge.

What are the common issues with the suspension?

Issues with the front suspension, including control arm lower arm, have been reported.

Buyer Advice

Our recommendation: Be cautious of the transmission shift issue and the child seat recall. Ensure the vehicle is inspected and any necessary repairs are made before transporting a child.

NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Bmw X6

This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Bmw X6. The data includes 4 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 fire incidents, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.

All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.

Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.

Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.

Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13