2016 Bmw i3: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
33
Complaints
2
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
60.6
Severity index
Severity index 60.6 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 10 | 30.3% |
| STEERING | 8 | 24.2% |
| AIR BAGS | 6 | 18.2% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 | 15.2% |
| POWER TRAIN | 3 | 9.1% |
| ENGINE | 2 | 6.1% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 | 6.1% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 | 6.1% |
The single most-reported system is STRUCTURE, cited in 10 of 33 complaints (30.3%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 2 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.5x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17V720000 | 16/11/2017 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 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 Mot |
| 17V088000 | 09/02/2017 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.