2017 Bmw I3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Bmw I3 has 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle was parked off and started on fire. upon further research i found out that my vehicle was not the only one that this has happened to. we contacted the manufacturer (bmw) but no one has called back. the vehicle was purchased in april.. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

13 complaints

19%

• THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OFF AND STARTED ON FIRE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (BMW) BUT NO ONE HAS CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL.
• CAR STOPPED ALL OF SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY HEADS-UP. SIMPLY SAID CALL DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION PLEASE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MOST SCARY PART IS THAT THE SUDDEN STOP
• In emergency situations when activating the horn, there is an unacceptable delay between when the horn is pressed and when there is actually sound produced. I have taken this up with the dealer and have been informed "that's just how it is." In looking across the internet, I see this is affecting al

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OFF AND STARTED ON FIRE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (BMW) BUT NO ONE HAS CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

11 complaints

16%

• ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A PARKING SPORT OR ACCELERATING FROM LOW VELOCITY, THE POWER STEERING ON LEFT APPEARS TO LOSE POWER. THE CAR BEGINS TO PULL VERY HEAVILY TO THE LEFT. THE ISSUE CONTINUES THE ENTIRE DRIVE. THE STEERING BECAME HARD. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE STEERING
• STEERING INTERMITTENTLY BECOMES HEAVY, MAKING VEHICLE HARDER TO CONTROL. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN CLEARS THE PROBLEM. IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF THE STEERING: YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO PREVENT YOU FROM TURNING THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS SOFT
• WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT, STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT. I FELT RESISTANCE AND I CLEARLY NEEDED BOTH HANDS TO TURN THE WHEEL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A PARKING SPORT OR ACCELERATING FROM LOW VELOCITY, THE POWER STEERING ON LEFT APPEARS TO LOSE POWER. THE CAR BEGINS TO PULL VERY HEAVILY TO THE LEFT. THE ISSUE CONTINUES THE ENTIRE DRIVE. THE STEERING BECAME HARD. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE STEERING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

10 complaints

14%

• The roof of my car is delaminating. It's discoloring and developing bubbles. I looked online and found this is a common issue with the vehicle. I believe this may be a structural concern considering the cars body is composite and the roof contributes to the structural integrity of the vehicle. Not t
• Carbon roof delaminating due to lack of UV protection. Parts of i3 roofs dethatching at highway speeds.
• Carbon roof delaminating due to lack of UV protection. Parts of i3 roofs dethatching at highway speeds.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“The roof of my car is delaminating. It's discoloring and developing bubbles. I looked online and found this is a common issue with the vehicle. I believe this may be a structural concern considering the cars body is composite and the roof contributes to the structural integrity of the vehicle. Not t”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

7 complaints

10%

• THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND I WAS REACHING IN THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (DOOR SHUT). MY THIGH MADE CONTACT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND LOCKED THE CAR. MY THIGH MAINTAINED CONTACT AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO ROLL-UP. IT THEN CONTINUED UNTIL IT COMPRESSED MY TORSO AND THE MOTOR KEPT ATTEMPTING TO GO UP WIT
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY'S HOV LANE (FULLY CHARGED, NOT ON THE EXTENDED RANGE), THE CAR GAVE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" AND THE PROPULSION DIED SHORTLY AFTER.
• A DAY AFTER THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE. WHILE DRIVING ON I 95 WITH RANGE EXTENDER, NOTICED THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION ALERT WITH RAPID DECELERATION NEEDING TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER QUICKLY. BMW ASSIST TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALER, WHO SAID IT WAS LACK OF ELECTRIC CHARGE, PLUGGED THE CAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND I WAS REACHING IN THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (DOOR SHUT). MY THIGH MADE CONTACT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND LOCKED THE CAR. MY THIGH MAINTAINED CONTACT AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO ROLL-UP. IT THEN CONTINUED UNTIL IT COMPRESSED MY TORSO AND THE MOTOR KEPT ATTEMPTING TO GO UP WIT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

• CAR STOPPED ALL OF SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY HEADS-UP. SIMPLY SAID CALL DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION PLEASE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MOST SCARY PART IS THAT THE SUDDEN STOP
• THERE IS RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION GOING UP HILL. ANTILOCK BRAKES SLOW TO ENGAGE ON STEEP DECLINES AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THERE IS TOO MUCH POWER TO THE REAR WHEEL, THE CAR SKIDS ON PAINTED SURFACES SUCH AS CROSS WALKS AND PAINTED YIELD SIGN
• A DAY AFTER THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE. WHILE DRIVING ON I 95 WITH RANGE EXTENDER, NOTICED THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION ALERT WITH RAPID DECELERATION NEEDING TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER QUICKLY. BMW ASSIST TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALER, WHO SAID IT WAS LACK OF ELECTRIC CHARGE, PLUGGED THE CAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“CAR STOPPED ALL OF SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY HEADS-UP. SIMPLY SAID CALL DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION PLEASE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MOST SCARY PART IS THAT THE SUDDEN STOP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 69 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OFF AND STARTED ON FIRE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (BMW) BUT NO ONE HAS CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A PARKING SPORT OR ACCELERATING FROM LOW VELOCITY, THE POWER STEERING ON LEFT APPEARS TO LOSE POWER. THE CAR BEGINS TO PULL VERY HEAVILY TO THE LEFT. THE ISSUE CONTINUES THE ENTIRE DRIVE. THE STEERING BECAME HARD. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE STEERING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: The roof of my car is delaminating. It's discoloring and developing bubbles. I looked online and found this is a common issue with the vehicle. I believe this may be a structural concern considering the cars body is composite and the roof contributes to the structural integrity of the vehicle. Not t
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND I WAS REACHING IN THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (DOOR SHUT). MY THIGH MADE CONTACT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND LOCKED THE CAR. MY THIGH MAINTAINED CONTACT AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO ROLL-UP. IT THEN CONTINUED UNTIL IT COMPRESSED MY TORSO AND THE MOTOR KEPT ATTEMPTING TO GO UP WIT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)