What breaks most · 2014 to 2019 model years
BMW i3 problems by year
Owners have filed 212 safety complaints with NHTSA about the BMW i3 across model years 2014 to 2019. Three years stand out: 2014 for powertrain and transmission complaints, 2017 for steering complaints and 2015 for steering complaints. The quietest years are 2016.
- Years to check closely: 2014, 2017, 2015
- Fewest complaints: 2016
- Complaints on file
- 2122014 to 2019, all trims
- Worst year
- 201454 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 102 fires · 8 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 23kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 16Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 3 | 4 | Powertrain and transmission (14) | |
| 47 | 1 | 3 | Steering (15) | |
| 33 | 3 | 2 | Body and structure (10) | |
| 51 | 2 | 3 | Steering (11) | |
| 14 | 0 | 3 | Speed control and throttle (3) | |
| 13 | 1 | 1 | Electrical system (6) |
What fails on the 2014 BMW i3
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 26% |
14 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 17% |
9 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2014 BMW i3 |
| Air bags | 15% |
8 | 2 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 13% |
7 | 0 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2014 BMW i3 |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 13% |
7 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 11% |
6 | 1 | Shop all speed control and throttle parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 11% |
6 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2014 BMW i3 |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 9% |
5 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2014 BMW i3 |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Sudden unintended deceleration on highway Complete loss of propulsion Thermal warning / overheating Date: May 11, 2026 Mileage: approximately 18,966+ Vehicle: 2014 BMW i3 REx, VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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After driving short distance on a city street, suddenly car started pulling to the left or to the right side, the steering became very heavy ( it feels like power steering stopped working).
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While driving on highway or side streets multiple episodes of intermittent heavy, sluggish, or loose steering has occurred requiring the vehicle to be stopped, shut off and restarted to fix the problem.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which BMW i3 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2014, 2017, 2015 carry the most filings on the BMW i3. The 2014 alone has 54 complaints, led by powertrain and transmission.
What is the most common BMW i3 problem?
On the 2014 model year, the most-reported component is powertrain and transmission with 14 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do BMW i3 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all BMW i3 complaints that include mileage is about 23,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.