2018 Bmw I3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
17,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 21.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Steering: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Power Train: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (3). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 11234935 · 2019-07-25 (July 25, 2019)
IT'S MY 7TH MONTH DRIVING BRAND NEW 2018 I3 BEV. AFTER GOT OFF THE WORK TODAY, THE JULY 25TH, 2019, THE CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. I HAD NO PROBLEM I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT SO I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR AND IT WAS JUST FINE. I REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL GOT HEAVIER THAN USUAL AND QUITE DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT WOULDN'T STAY CENTER BUT KEPT MOVING TO THE LEFT WHILE BEING REALLY HEAVY. EVEN ON THE FLAT PAVEMENT. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE WITH I3. MOST OF THEM SAID TURNING THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11234935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11468829 · 2022-06-12 (June 12, 2022)
Hello , I am owning a BMW i3REX (2018). Recently like many other users experienced multiple times the loss of power steering after starting the vehicle. While previous events like this were short lived and resolved with stopping, turning off and on the vehicle, this time it was on entering a highway, where the car suddenly lost its power steering and could not be driven properly. I had to exit , switched the car off and restart after a couple of minutes, which resolved this problem completely. I am reporting this to you, as I see this as a majo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11468829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11464231 · 2022-05-11 (May 11, 2022)
On May 2, 2022, the car began to power down involuntarily every time I applied the brakes. This happened 2-3 times, and I was able to restart. The final time was in the middle of an intersection, the car would not restart, could not be placed in neutral to be moved out of the intersection, and I had to have a police tow. The tow service took it to Sport Motoring, where they performed a diagnosis on May 3, 2022. The diagnosis shows 8 faults in the EME module, among other things. I located a recall (Recall #19V310000) for the 2018 i3 which detai…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11464231 at NHTSA ↗