2022 BMW X7 Problems and Complaints

The 2022 BMW X7 is the German competitor to compete in the three-row full-size SUV segment which is dominated by domestic offerings like the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator. The Bavarian three-row SUV has dominated the sales for the international players by offering a posh cabin, two powerful engine options, a lot of payload capabilities, and a phenomenal driving experience. That said, the high $101,130 cost of ownership for the first 5 years offsets the impressive 81/100 reliability ratings by J.D. Power for many buyers. 

The reliability of the BMW X7 has been in the limelight since its launch because of an extensive recall schedule it was a part of. The German SUV had been recalled 16 times over just four model years for many different reasons. There have been some user complaints registered as well about some niggles that were too minor for the price bracket it falls in. Let’s see what some of these issues were and if it is worth investing a huge amount of money on a 2022 X7 against the like of the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 and the Audi Q7.

BMW X7 Complaints

The 2022 BMW X7 had a rocky start in the American car market with an extensive recall history, which we shall discuss later, and also accumulated quite a lot of complaints as well. There have been electrical issues in all the model years so far, be it small niggles or major breakdowns. The mechanical department is taken care of by the German carmaker but still, people have found the engine to stall in some cases. 

Let’s see what all issues were the most common in the 2022 X7: 

Electrical issues:

1. Seat niggles: People have reported the electrical functions in their seats to malfunction. The issue causes the ceasing of any movement/function of the seats. 
2. Infotainment issues: The infotainment system on the 2019 X7 is said to fluctuate and, in some cases, intermittently go black. This causes distraction and conceals important information from the driver. The system is also said to give connectivity issues with Android phones. 
3. Headlight issues: People have complained of a blue light emitting from the headlights. This light affects the visibility of oncoming traffic. Instances of aggressive reactions from the other vehicles have been reported. 
4. Miscellaneous electrical issues: The X7 is a tech-laden car and has a lot of electrical bits and pieces in the cabin that control many functions. These controls are said to fail or not work properly, causing the related functions to malfunction. 

Exterior issues: 

1. Exploding sunroof: Some 2020 X7 owners complained of the sunroof exploding without any plain impact. The broken glass fell into the cabin and caused cuts and bruises to the occupants.

Mechanical issues:

1. Braking issues: Owners of the 2019 BMW X5 have complained of the brakes losing electrical power. This causes the vehicle to collide with its surroundings. Although no injuries have been reported, BMW has issued a recall for the same (NHTSA Campaign Number 21V062000). 
2. Gear slipping: Some 2019 X7 owners have complained about the car shifting to Drive from Park/Neutral without any input from the driver. This has caused unintended movement of the SUV and has caused injuries to some. 
3. Steering issues: Some X7 owners have complained of the steering wheel losing electrical assistance while moving. This causes the SUV to lose control. In some cases, complete failure of the steering mechanism was reported by some owners.

Safety features issues:

1. ESC disabled: The ESC on the X7 disables as soon as a fault is detected and displayed to the driver on the driver’s display. This causes a lot of difficulties in handling the SUV. People have reported the system to disable in the smallest of instances, causing a lot of distraction, and potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

BMW X7 Recalls

The BMW X7 had been a part of 16 unique recalls over a period of four model years. The recalls were made for various reasons, in which some recalls were for less than 100 units. The 2019 BMW X7 tops the tally with 7 recalls, with the others following suit. The 2022 X7 has been free of recalls and has improved a lot in its previous model years. That said, the latest recall was made on March 10, 2021. 

A table containing details of all the other recalls is given below:

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks
1.	February 27, 2019	19V135000	Seats	In the cars equipped with the "business lounge seat" option, improperly tightened attachment bolts between the seat adapter and the vehicle increases the risk of injury during a crash.
2.	May 23, 2019	19V386000	Airbags	Improperly aligned driver and passenger head airbags may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
3.	July 3, 2019	19V513000	Fuel System	Crack in the high pressure fuel pump flange may cause fuel leakage that might stall the engine, increasing the risk of a crash.
4.	July 23, 2019	19V541000	Wheels	Insufficiently tightened left-side wheel bolts may loosen or detach which affects handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
5.	August 28, 2019	19V631000	Steering	Breakage of the steering rack pinion teeth may cause the vehicle to lose control, increasing the risk of a crash.
6.	September 27, 2019	19V684000	Back Over Prevention	Failure to display the rear-view image properly may cause the vehicle to collide with its surroundings. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors”.
7.	January 30, 2020	20V052000	Exterior Lighting	Inadequate reflection from the rear reflex reflectors reduces visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment”.
8.	August 7, 2020	20V465000	Powertrain	Failure of transmission housing due to an extra bolt in the starter motor may cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
9.	August 27, 2020	20V514000	Equipment	Incorrect tire size and cold tire inflation pressure information may cause installation of wrong tires, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected units also fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims”.
10.	September 1, 2020	20V528000	Exterior Lighting	Illumination of a blue light from the headlamps may confuse the oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment”.
11.	November 4, 2020	20V678000	Suspension	Separation of the right front control arm bearing bracket and the front axle support may affect the handling of the car, increasing the risk of a crash.
12.	December 9, 2020	20V761000	Electrical System	Improper assembly of the 48V battery and the starter generator may increase the electrical resistance at connections, increasing the risk of an electrical fire.
13.	January 29, 2021	21V031000	Steering	Improperly tightened universal joint connection in the steering column shaft may become loose and affect vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
14.	February 10, 2021	21V062000	Service Brakes	Improperly welded rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system could separate, causing loss of ABS and braking assistance. This also increases the risk of a crash.
15.	February 19, 2021	21V096000	Back Over Prevention	Failure to display the rear-view image properly may cause the vehicle to collide with its surroundings. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors”.
16.	Math 10, 2021	21V156000	Seats	Incorrect head restraints on the second-row outer seats may detach in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The recall was made by BMW of North America for 258 potentially affected units that also included the 2021 X5, the X5 M50i, the X7, the X7 M50i, and the Alpina XB7. The incorrect type of head restraints in the outer second-row seats could detach in a collision, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. The dealers replaced the head restraints free of charge.

Model Years	Airbags	Back Over Prevention	Electrical System	Equipment	Exterior Lighting	Fuel System	Powertrain	Seats	Service Brakes	Steering	Suspension	Wheels
2019	1	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	1
2020	0	2	0	0	2	0	1	0	1	1	1	0
2021	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	0
2022	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Which model year of the BMW X7 to avoid?

The BMW 2022 X7 is one of the best SUVs available in the market that has an over-engineered engine with tremendous performance and capabilities. It can also seat 6 people comfortably and not let them miss any feature that is required in the segment. The reliability of these features, though, has been rather shaky with numerous recalls made. Going through everything once, the 2019 BMW X7 is the most troublesome model year that has a higher risk of electrical and mechanical failures. 

Should you buy the 2022 BMW X7?

The 2022 BMW X7 strikes the perfect balance between comfort and performance, right from its base trim. There have been no recalls issued against the SUV’s name yet but the probability of getting one is pretty high considering the history of the SUV. If going the pre-owned route for the X7, make sure that the SUV has been checked for recalls and necessary repairs/replacements have been done.