Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2014 BMW i3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Excessive Neck Tension-Extension Force/FMVSS 208
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the Driver air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at the dedicated i3 recall number 1-855-269-3361.
Fuel Vent Line may Chafe and Leak Fuel Vapor
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel vent line, replacing it as necessary, and install a clip to prevent it from chafing, free of charge. The recall beganApril 3, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag May not Deploy Properly
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.
- Remedy
- MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Front Passenger Air Bag Improper Deployment
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the air bag deploys improperly in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bags, the seat occupant may be at an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (54)
54 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 54 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 14 | 25.9% |
| Engine | 9 | 16.7% |
| Air bags | 8 | 14.8% |
| Steering | 7 | 13% |
| Structure | 7 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 11.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 11.1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 9.3% |
| Wheels | 5 | 9.3% |
| Suspension | 3 | 5.6% |
How 2014 compares with other i3 years
Best and worst i3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 54 | 4 |
| 2015 | 47 | 3 |
| 2016 | 33 | 2 |
| 2017 | 52 | 3 |
| 2018 | 14 | 3 |
| 2019 | 13 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 124 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- —
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 124 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric · Automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 137 / 111 / 124 | $600 | — |
| 0.6 L 2-cyl · Automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 41 / 37 / 39 | $2,100 | 40 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2014 i3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2014 BMW i3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2014 BMW i3 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 17V720000 (air bag), 17V088000 (fuel system), 15V628000 (air bag), 14V422000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2014 BMW i3 problems?
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (14), Engine (9), Air bags (8) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2014 BMW i3 get?
EPA rates the Electric · Automatic version at 137 city, 111 highway and 124 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2014 i3 compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2019 BMW i3 model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (13) and the 2014 the most (54). The 2014 drew 54. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.