2017 Bmw I3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
10,650 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 51 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 11 | 21.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 7.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.9% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 3 |
Steering: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Structure:Body: 9; Electrical System: 7; Power Train: 6; Air Bags: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 30 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 11; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 8; 2025: 7; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11174542 · 2019-02-05 (February 5, 2019)
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 RETURNED TO NORMAL
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11174542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11182515 · 2019-02-26 (February 26, 2019)
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 SOFTWARE-RELATED RATHER THAN A PHYSICAL FAILURE SINCE NOT ONLY IS IT INTERMITTENT, BUT IT IS INCONSISTENT. AT ONE INTERSECTION THE STEERING MAY BE NORMAL TURNING LEFT BUT HEAVY TURNING RIGHT AND THE SITUATION MAY BE REVERSED A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AT THE N…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11182515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11503225 · 2023-01-23 (January 23, 2023)
While driving on the freeway, the vehicle's electric motor suddenly died. Because this is an electric vehicle, the car came to a sudden and abrupt stop, with all the wheels locking up. The car would not shift into drive or neutral or reverse. It effectively died, with the only power coming from the 12-volt battery to power the dashboard and interior lights. It was effectively inoperable. The vehicle displayed the following error message: "DRIVETRAIN: only electric drive possible, limited driving range, continued driving possible, consult neares…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11503225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11552488 · 2023-10-29 (October 29, 2023)
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? There seems to be a series of faulty electrical/wiring issues happening with our 2017 BMW i3, most notably including the passenger seat/airbag registering system and control panel/console lighting. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? We are unsure how this issue impacts the passenger airbag system. BMW was also not able to tell us whether the passenger airbag is impacted by t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11552488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11592432 · 2024-06-04 (June 4, 2024)
The vehicle has just over 35000 miles of light normal use as a second family vehicle. It developed a loud grinding noise from the etransmission that quickly progressed to a vibration. It was taken to BMW Seattle where it was diagnosed as a known issue of the main transmission bearings disintegrating due to the effect of the permanent magnet motors on the metal roller bearings. The bearings were quietly modified by BMW for the 2019 model year due to this in an effort to mitigate the problem and subsequently BMW abandoned the permanent magnet mot…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11592432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221298 · 2019-06-19 (June 19, 2019)
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 SIGNS ON ROAD SURFACES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. THE WHEELS SPIN ON CROSSWALK PAINT. THE CAR HAS A BUILT IN GYROSCOPE AND PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN STARTING FROM A PARKED POSITION AFTER PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS ON A HILL. THE PULLING CONTINUES FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11408397 · 2021-04-16 (April 16, 2021)
ROADS WERE CLEAR BUT EDGES SLUSHY. TEMP WAS 27 DEGREES.DROVE 2 MILES AT 40ISH MPH TO STARBUCKS, GOT COFFEE. NORMAL REAR WHEEL DRIVE TRACTION ISSUES WHEN CHANGING LANES, ETC. I WAS DRIVING CAREFULLY AND ABOUT 5 MPH UNDER WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS DOING. ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM THE COFFEE DRIVE THROUGH, I CHANGED LANES (RIGHT TO LEFT) OVER A PILE OF SLUSH...NORMAL MILD TRACTION ISSUES. WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND HAD "RECOVERED" WHEN SUDDENLY MORE YELLOW TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (ONE ON DRIVERS CONTROL PANEL, ONE ON THE INFO PANEL)...READIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408397 at NHTSA ↗