BMW i3 complaints by model year
213 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 | 52 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2016 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2014 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2014–2019. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 7 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 4 |
| Structure | 7 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| Power train | 14 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Air bags | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Engine | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
BMW i3 recalls (8)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one i3 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19V599000 | Aug 14, 2019 | High-Voltage Electrical Power May Shut Down | 2019 | 97.1% |
| 19V310000 | Apr 17, 2019 | Electrical Power May Shutdown | 2018 | 92.4% |
| 18V652000 | Sep 20, 2018 | Risk of Shock or Fire from Charging Cable | 2018 | 98% |
| 17V720000 | Nov 16, 2017 | Excessive Neck Tension-Extension Force/FMVSS 208 | 2014–2018 | 94.6% |
| 17V088000 | Feb 9, 2017 | Fuel Vent Line may Chafe and Leak Fuel Vapor | 2014–2017 | 97% |
| 16V914000 | Dec 20, 2016 | Seat Mounted Air Bags may not Deploy | 2017 | 88.5% |
| 15V628000 | Oct 7, 2015 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag May not Deploy Properly | 2014, 2015 | 93.2% |
| 14V422000 | Jul 14, 2014 | Front Passenger Air Bag Improper Deployment | 2014 | 100% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
BMW i3 FAQ
How many recalls has the BMW i3 had?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns that cover at least one BMW i3 model year from 2014 to 2019. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which BMW i3 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 6 model years with settled counts, the 2014 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (54) and the 2019 the fewest (13). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common BMW i3 problems?
Across the 2014–2019 model years, owners most often name the steering, structure, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the BMW i3 get?
EPA rates the 2019 BMW i3 at 31 to 113 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.