2014-2021 BMW i3 Reliability Score: 8.1 out of 10

Reliability Score

8.1 / 10

Reliability score

Fewer owner complaints than similar compacts

A score of 7.0 means as many complaints as similar vehicles. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 62 powertrain complaints. A typical compact fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 101.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.2 points in the typical case.

Breakdown

Complaints overall62 complaints against about 101 for similar vehicles

8.1

Last three years10 complaints against about 31 for similar vehicles

8.8

Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced26 complaints against about 34 for similar vehicles

7.7

Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating0 complaints against about 17 for similar vehicles

9.9

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is 7.0, as many complaints as similar vehicles. A line shows a number once similar vehicles would draw at least 5 of its complaints (20 for the last three years).

By model year

20147.3
20158.5
20168.3
20178.6
20188.3
20198.4
2020n/a
2021n/a

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

By engine · 2015 to 2021 model years only

plug-in hybrid (engine not listed) 8.4/10

No clear difference from the electric. (21 powertrain complaints, about 26,000 built)

electric 8.4/10

No clear difference from the plug-in hybrid (engine not listed). (6 powertrain complaints, about 10,000 built)

A complaint counts toward an engine only when its VIN names the engine. These are powertrain complaints only, so they are fewer than the engine-code counts further down, which take complaints of every kind. Each score is that engine on its own against similar vehicles, worked out the same way as the score above.

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

Every complaint of any kind (brakes, airbags, electrical and the rest) whose VIN names the engine, across all model years. The score above counts only engine, transmission and drivetrain complaints, so its figures for the same engine are smaller. Fire, injury and death figures count complaints that report one.

Show

0.6-2cyl-PHEV

0.6L 2-cyl / 170 hp

161 complaints 26.8 per year Electric

2 fire reports

View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering

37

transmission

30

electrical

29

body

28

engine

20

BMW i3 Unidentified Engine

69 complaints 11.5 per year

1 fire report

View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering

14

body

11

electrical

11

safety systems

10

transmission

8

Battery & Propulsion Reliability

Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)

Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2014-2021 BMW i3

Pack option BMW i3 60 Ah pack (about 22 kWh, 2014-2017) Pack option BMW i3 94 Ah pack (33 kWh, 2017-2018) Pack option BMW i3 120 Ah pack (42.2 kWh, 2019-2021)

31 battery-related complaints 117 per 100,000 built 2 battery-related recalls

About 117 battery-related complaints per 100,000 plug-in hybrids built. The median across 14 plug-in hybrid generations in this database is 83.

2 fire reports

What kind of battery complaint?

What the 31 battery-related complaints describe. One complaint can name more than one of these, so the shares add up to more than 100%. They describe what owners complained about, not how often the vehicle fails.

Battery & propulsion recalls (2)

19V310000 HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 i3 BEV and i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high voltage electrical power.

Consequence: A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.

19V599000 HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 i3 BEV, i3 REx, and i8 vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high-voltage electrical power.

Consequence: A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.

Sample complaint excerpts

Electric Propulsion

[2014] TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. FROM A STOP, THE ASSIST WILL FUNCTION CORRECTLY UNTIL 30MPH. FROM THEN ON, THERE WILL BE NO POWER ASSIST UNTIL COMING TO A FULL STOP. THE PATTERN REPEATS ITSELF FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, IT COULD TAKE DAYS OR MONTHS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. BMW STATES THEY "CAN NOT REPRODUCE". THIS SITUATION MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSTABLE AND D
[2014] WHEN THE VEHICLE ENTERS A 'FAULT' MODE, SUCH AS DRIVE MOTOR MALFUNCTION, THE CARS DISCONTINUES POWER TO THE DRIVE MOTOR, ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO ROLL TO A STOP, THEN ELECTRONICALLY PUTS THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. AS LONG AS THE FAULT CODE EXISTS THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE PUSHED OR TOWED OUT OF HARMS WAY. I WAS ABOUT TO TURN ON TO A VERY BUSY 3-LANE [NO SHOULDER] HIGHWAY WHEN IT SHUT DOWN. NOT EVEN THE
[2014] THE BMW I3 ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAT COMES WITH A RANGE EXTENDER HAS A CRITICAL HAZARDOUS DESIGN FLAW. IT CANNOT CONSISTENTLY POWER THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED WHEN DRIVING ON A MODERATE INCLINE FOR A REASONABLE PERIOD. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU MAY BE DRIVING ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY AND RUN OUT OF ELECTRIC CHARGE AND THE RANGE EXTENDER WILL KICK IN. EVERYTHING IS FINE UNTIL YOU APPROACH A HI

High-Voltage Battery

[2014] AC Compressor for the car battery system failed. There was a check engine light that was on steady, but not flashing. The electric range in the car reduced by 20 to 30% as a result of this fault. It was brought into the BMW dealership for inspection and they determined that was a short in the AC compressor and that the whole AC compressor system would need to be replaced; compressor, lines and r
[2014] AFTER A RECENT SOFTWARE UPDATE, THE COMPUTER IS UNABLE TO INDICATE THE ACCURATE STATE OF CHARGE, CAUSING UNEXPECTED POWER LOSS. MY RANGE EXTENDER WAS NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE BEFORE POWER LOSS, AND THE CAR INDICATED 50+ MILES OF RANGE REMAINING. I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED, WHICH TOOK ME FROM 65 MPH TO A DEAD STOP IN A MANNER OF SECONDS. *TR
[2016] While driving my 2016 BMW i3 with Range Extender, the vehicle experiences sudden and complete loss of propulsion at very low state of charge (0–1%). The car abruptly loses motive power, forcing me to pull over, sometimes while in traffic. After sitting for several minutes, limited power may return, but the vehicle often shuts down again, and in some cases the Range Extender engine does not engage

12V Auxiliary Battery

[2014] Car had all warning light came on one day. We brought to a local dealer and they told me it was due to 12V battery was not charging. 1. I asked to a service rep if 12V battery could be issue w/o full diagnostic which they charged me extra. He said they needed to do it to figure out. 2. After replacing the battery, it still had error message. After a few days, I was told car needs software update
[2017] While driving on the freeway, the vehicle's electric motor suddenly died. Because this is an electric vehicle, the car came to a sudden and abrupt stop, with all the wheels locking up. The car would not shift into drive or neutral or reverse. It effectively died, with the only power coming from the 12-volt battery to power the dashboard and interior lights. It was effectively inoperable. The vehic
[2018] On May 2, 2022, the car began to power down involuntarily every time I applied the brakes. This happened 2-3 times, and I was able to restart. The final time was in the middle of an intersection, the car would not restart, could not be placed in neutral to be moved out of the intersection, and I had to have a police tow. The tow service took it to Sport Motoring, where they performed a diagnosis o

Charging System

[2014] TWO ISSUES: 1. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH, WITH BATTERY POWER DRAINED, THE REX (RESERVE ENGINE) TURNS ON. SUDDENLY, SPEED DROPS FROM 65 MPH TO 40 MPH WHILE ON A 2-LANE CA FREEWAY, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE REAR-ENDED BY TRAFFIC. ONE MONTH LATER, SAME SITUATION, SAME PROBLEM. 2. MANUFACTURER STATES A COMBINED MILEAGE RANGE OF 80 MILES ON BATTERY, 60 MILES ON REX (RESERVE ENGINE), FOR A C
[2015] THE CHARGING CABLE WON'T UNLOCK FROM THE CAR BECAUSE OF A BAD ACTUATOR AND SOFTWARE BUG, AND THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FOR THE RANGE EXTENDER FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. BOTH ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS. BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE PARTS, BUT DOES NOT MAKE THE REPAIR BEFORE SELLING THE CARS. IT IS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH FOR DEFECTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED. TH
[2019] On July 4, 2021, I realized that the charge port on my BMW i3 would not accept a charge plug - it appeared to be blocked. I took the car to the dealer and they informed me that the charge port had been damaged (melted) by heat from a defective charger. In addition to public charging, I had typically been using a home charger - a MUSTART Level 2 40-amp charge cable purchased from Amazon on February

Regenerative Braking

[2015] THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) IN THE I3 IS SINGLE CAMERA BASED, AND WILL DEACTIVATE DURING A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS (SUCH AS DRIVING INTO DIRECT SUNLIGHT WHICH BLINDS THE CAMERA.) THIS IS A DESIGN LIMITATION, BUT NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN ACC DEACTIVATES, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY GOES INTO FULL REGEN BRAKING WITHOUT WARNING. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS IS A SUDDEN AND SIGNIFICANT DECELERATION T
[2015] THE CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY TURNS ITSELF OFF AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY GOES INTO REGENERATIVE BRAKING. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. IT HAS HAPPENED UNDER MANY DIFFERENT DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT ON FREEWAYS AND BACK ROADS.
[2015] THE ACC (ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL) SURPRISINGLY STOPS WORKING WHEN FACING A BRIGHT SUN. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN, BUT IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGH SPEEDS IF SOMEONE IS BEHIND ME. WHEN THE SUN HITS THE CAMERA, THE ACC SHUTS DOWN (WITH A WARNING ON THE SCREEN) AND THE REGEN BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN MUCH MORE THAN COASTING. I HA

Hybrid Drivetrain

[2015] The contact owns a 2015 BMW I3. The contact stated that after turning on the fan, there was plastic particles blowing out of the vents. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the particles were blowing out of the vents while activating the A/C or the heater. The contact stated that the failure became a recurring failure, and the vehicle was

Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. The rate divides those complaints by the electrified versions built, from the production counts makers report to NHTSA, and it is not adjusted for age. Death and injury figures count complaints that report one, not the number an owner typed in.

Battery: BMW i3 60 Ah pack (about 22 kWh, 2014-2017)

Lithium-ion (cathode not published) · Samsung SDI · Eight modules of 12 cells (96 cells), under the floor

View full pack reference →

▼ You're looking at: i3 i3 and i3 with Range Extender (60 Ah) (2014-2016)

EPA range 81 mi ·MPGe combined 124

About the pack

Capacity

18.8 kWh

usable · 21.6 total

Fast charge

50 kW

peak

Warranty floor

70%

capacity floor at 8 yr / 100k mi

Pack overview

ChemistryLithium-ion (cathode not published)

Cell supplierSamsung SDI

Cell formatNot published

Voltage (nominal)360 V

CoolingLiquid (air-conditioning refrigerant circuit; can be heated)

ArchitectureEight modules of 12 cells (96 cells), under the floor

Warranty 8 yr / 100k mi

Capacity floor70%

Known issues

Low

BMW's technical data lists the 60 Ah battery at 21.6 kWh gross and 18.8 kWh net, at 360 volts, with a 7.4 kW on-board charger and 50 kW DC charging through a CCS port. The optional range extender is a 647 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine that drives a generator and does not power the wheels.

Manufacturer spec

Low

BMW describes the battery as eight modules of 12 cells each, cooled by the air-conditioning refrigerant, with the fluid also able to warm the pack through a heat exchanger.

Manufacturer

Low

BMW made DC fast charging standard on the i3 for model year 2015. It was an option on the 2014 car.

Manufacturer

Low

NHTSA 17V-088 (February 2017) covers 2014-2017 i3 cars with the range extender. The fuel tank vent line may rub against the 12-volt battery cable's sleeve and leak fuel vapor. Dealers inspect the line, replace it as necessary and add a clip, free of charge. This is not a high-voltage battery recall.

NHTSA recall

Low

BMW's warranty covers the high-voltage battery against defects for 8 years or 100,000 miles and against excessive capacity loss for the same period, defined as a net capacity below 70 percent of its original value at a BMW center's check. On range-extender cars registered in California-emission states the traction battery is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles.

OEM warranty

How this pack ages (industry context)

Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).

OEM warranty floor on this pack: 8 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.

Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.

Battery: BMW i3 60 Ah pack (about 22 kWh, 2014-2017)

Lithium-ion (cathode not published) · Samsung SDI · Eight modules of 12 cells (96 cells), under the floor

View full pack reference →

▼ You're looking at: i3 i3 60 Ah, sold beside the 94 Ah car; no range extender (2017-2017)

EPA range 81-114 mi ·MPGe combined 118-124

EPA figures span the trims and model years this entry covers.

About the pack

Capacity

18.8 kWh

usable · 21.6 total

Fast charge

50 kW

peak

Warranty floor

70%

capacity floor at 8 yr / 100k mi

Pack overview

ChemistryLithium-ion (cathode not published)

Cell supplierSamsung SDI

Cell formatNot published

Voltage (nominal)360 V

CoolingLiquid (air-conditioning refrigerant circuit; can be heated)

ArchitectureEight modules of 12 cells (96 cells), under the floor

Warranty 8 yr / 100k mi

Capacity floor70%

Known issues

Low

BMW's technical data lists the 60 Ah battery at 21.6 kWh gross and 18.8 kWh net, at 360 volts, with a 7.4 kW on-board charger and 50 kW DC charging through a CCS port. The optional range extender is a 647 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine that drives a generator and does not power the wheels.

Manufacturer spec

Low

BMW describes the battery as eight modules of 12 cells each, cooled by the air-conditioning refrigerant, with the fluid also able to warm the pack through a heat exchanger.

Manufacturer

Low

BMW made DC fast charging standard on the i3 for model year 2015. It was an option on the 2014 car.

Manufacturer

Low

NHTSA 17V-088 (February 2017) covers 2014-2017 i3 cars with the range extender. The fuel tank vent line may rub against the 12-volt battery cable's sleeve and leak fuel vapor. Dealers inspect the line, replace it as necessary and add a clip, free of charge. This is not a high-voltage battery recall.

NHTSA recall

Low

BMW's warranty covers the high-voltage battery against defects for 8 years or 100,000 miles and against excessive capacity loss for the same period, defined as a net capacity below 70 percent of its original value at a BMW center's check. On range-extender cars registered in California-emission states the traction battery is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles.

OEM warranty

How this pack ages (industry context)

Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).

OEM warranty floor on this pack: 8 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.

Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.

Battery: BMW i3 94 Ah pack (33 kWh, 2017-2018)

Lithium-ion (cathode not published) · Samsung SDI · Eight modules of 12 cells (96 cells), under the floor

View full pack reference →

▼ You're looking at: i3 i3 and i3 with Range Extender (94 Ah); i3s added for 2018 (2017-2018)

EPA range 81-114 mi ·MPGe combined 112-124

EPA figures span the trims and model years this entry covers.

About the pack

Capacity

27.2 kWh

usable · 33.2 total

Fast charge

50 kW

peak

Warranty floor

70%

capacity floor at 8 yr / 100k mi

Pack overview

ChemistryLithium-ion (cathode not published)

Cell supplierSamsung SDI

Cell formatNot published

Voltage (nominal)353 V

CoolingLiquid (air-conditioning refrigerant circuit; can be heated)

ArchitectureEight modules of 12 cells (96 cells), under the floor

Warranty 8 yr / 100k mi

Capacity floor70%

Known issues

High

NHTSA 19V-310 (April 2019) covers 159 i3 cars from model year 2018. A circuit board problem in the Electric Motor Electronics module may shut down the supply of high-voltage power and cause a loss of propulsion. Dealers replace the module free of charge.

NHTSA recall

Medium

NHTSA 18V-652 (September 2018) covers certain 2018 i3 cars and other BMW plug-in models supplied with a TurboCord portable charger. Capacitors in the charger may fail, which can cause a shock hazard or a fire. Dealers inspect the charging cable and replace it if necessary, free of charge.

NHTSA recall

Low

BMW raised the i3's battery to 94 Ah for model year 2017, with 33 kWh in total of which 27.2 kWh can be used, in a pack with the same exterior dimensions. BMW says it charges in about 4.5 hours on a Level 2 charger and to 80 percent in less than 40 minutes on a DC fast charger. The optional range extender is a 647 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine that drives a generator and does not power the wheels.

Manufacturer

Low

BMW's warranty covers the high-voltage battery against defects for 8 years or 100,000 miles and against excessive capacity loss for the same period, defined as a net capacity below 70 percent of its original value at a BMW center's check. On range-extender cars registered in California-emission states the traction battery is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles.

OEM warranty

How this pack ages (industry context)

Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).

OEM warranty floor on this pack: 8 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.

Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.

Battery: BMW i3 120 Ah pack (42.2 kWh, 2019-2021)

Lithium-ion (cathode not published) · Eight modules of 12 cells (96 cells), under the floor

View full pack reference →

▼ You're looking at: i3 i3, i3s and both with Range Extender (120 Ah) (2019-2021)

EPA range 153 mi ·MPGe combined 113

About the pack

Capacity

37.9 kWh

usable · 42.2 total

Fast charge

50 kW

peak

Warranty floor

70%

capacity floor at 8 yr / 100k mi

Pack overview

ChemistryLithium-ion (cathode not published)

Cell supplierNot published

Cell formatNot published

Voltage (nominal)352 V

CoolingLiquid (air-conditioning refrigerant circuit; can be heated)

ArchitectureEight modules of 12 cells (96 cells), under the floor

Warranty 8 yr / 100k mi

Capacity floor70%

Known issues

High

NHTSA 19V-599 (August 2019) covers 139 vehicles, about 133 of them i3 cars from model year 2019. A circuit board problem in the Electric Motor Electronics module may shut down the supply of high-voltage power. Dealers replace the module free of charge.

NHTSA recall

Low

BMW's 2019 release gives the 120 Ah battery a gross energy content of 42.2 kWh and a net content of 37.9 kWh at 352 volts, in a pack whose exterior dimensions did not change. It lists 6.5 hours for a full Level 2 charge and 0.7 hours to 80 percent on DC, and says the battery is built at BMW's Dingolfing plant. The optional range extender is a 647 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine that drives a generator and does not power the wheels.

Manufacturer

Low

BMW's warranty covers the high-voltage battery against defects for 8 years or 100,000 miles and against excessive capacity loss for the same period, defined as a net capacity below 70 percent of its original value at a BMW center's check. On range-extender cars registered in California-emission states the traction battery is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles.

OEM warranty

How this pack ages (industry context)

Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).

OEM warranty floor on this pack: 8 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.

Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the BMW i3, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Steering: 51 owner complaints

Electrical System: 40 owner complaints

Body/Trim: 39 owner complaints

Transmission: 38 owner complaints

Safety Systems: 27 owner complaints

What to check on a used 2014-2021 BMW i3

On a used 2014-2021 BMW i3, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the steering (51), the electrical system (40) and the body and structure (39). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-08. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

Turn the wheel from lock to lock while parked, then drive straight on a level road with a light grip.Safety. NHTSA has 51 owner complaints on the 2014-2021 BMW i3 about the steering.
Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 40 owner complaints on the 2014-2021 BMW i3 about the electrical system.
Open and close every door, the hood and the trunk or hatch. Check the latches, the seals and the gaps between panels.Minor. NHTSA has 39 owner complaints on the 2014-2021 BMW i3 about the body and structure.
Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 38 owner complaints on the 2014-2021 BMW i3 about the transmission and drivetrain.
Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 27 owner complaints on the 2014-2021 BMW i3 about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
Accelerate hard once from a stop and once from 40 mph, and hold a steady highway speed.Safety. NHTSA has 12 owner complaints on the 2014-2021 BMW i3 about the electric drive system.

Open the full inspection checklist for the 2014-2021 BMW i3

Recalls (8)

19V599000Aug 14, 2019serious

Hybrid Propulsion System

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 i3 BEV, i3 REx, and i8 vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high-voltage electrical power.

19V310000Apr 17, 2019serious

Hybrid Propulsion System

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 i3 BEV and i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high voltage electrical power.

18V652000Sep 20, 2018critical

Equipment

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.

17V720000Nov 16, 2017serious

Air Bags

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 BMW i3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Unbelted, small adult, drivers may be at a higher risk of neck injury in the event of a frontal crash. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

17V088000Feb 9, 2017serious

Fuel System

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. The fuel tank vent line may rub against the ribbed wire protection sleeve of the battery positive (B+) cable, creating a hole in the vent line and causing a fuel vapor leak.

Show 3 older recalls

16V914000Dec 20, 2016serious

Air Bags

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

15V628000Oct 7, 2015serious

Air Bags

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

14V422000Jul 14, 2014serious

Air Bags

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling a certain model year BMW i3 vehicle manufactured March 31, 2014, and certain 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop vehicles manufactured February 2, 2014 to May 30, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an air bag inflator that was not assembled correctly. This could cause the air bag to not deploy properly in the event of an accident.

Alternatives in Compact EV

2 engines / 1,077 complaints

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2014-2021 BMW i3 complaints?

Owners have filed 230 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014-2021 BMW i3. The systems they name most often are the steering, the electrical system and the body and trim.

Is the 2014-2021 BMW i3 a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 230 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014-2021 BMW i3. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014-2021 BMW i3 have?

NHTSA has 230 owner complaints on file for the 2014-2021 BMW i3 as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2014-2021 BMW i3?

NHTSA lists 8 recalls covering some 2014-2021 BMW i3 vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used BMW i3?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the steering, the electrical system and the body and trim, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

Does the i3 have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2014-2021 BMW i3. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 230 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-18.