2014 Bmw I3 REX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
5,242 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 22 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 50.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 22.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 18.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 11 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
Power Train: 11; Engine: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Electrical System: 5; Steering: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Seat Belts: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 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 (14). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2019: 4; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10606720 · 2014-06-28 (June 28, 2014)
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 IN ENCINITAS, THE I3 SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL ERROR. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, I GET A SLEW OF ERRORS, BATTERY CAN'T CHARGE, DISCHARGE AT HIGH RATE, DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION....UNTIL IT SAID IDRIVE SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN... *TR I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY BEFORE ALL SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. 5 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED, AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED SINCE (APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS). THEY HAVE REPLACED THE 12V BATTERY AND THE EME.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10625717 · 2014-08-16 (August 16, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING MY BMW I3 REX FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA TO THE BEACH NEAR SANTA CRUZ VIA HIGHWAY 17 WITH MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN. GETTING TO THE BEACH FROM MOST OF THE SF BAY AREA REQUIRES DRIVING OVER SOME COASTAL HILLS. AS I APPROACHED THE HILLS, MY EV BATTERY WAS VERY LOW. THE I3 WITH "REX" (SIMILAR TO THE CHEVY VOLT) HAS A GASOLINE ENGINE THAT ACTIVATES WHEN THE MAIN EV BATTERY IS DEPLETED. IN THESE HILLS, THE REX ENGINE TURNED ON. FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY AND KEPT PACE WITH MODERATE TRAFFIC IN THE SLOW LANE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10625717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10631791 · 2014-09-09 (September 9, 2014)
ON AUGUST 29, 1:25PM, WHEN I DROVE THE BMW I3 CAR IN THE COMCAST PARKING LOT INTO A PARK SPOT, THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS ALMOST SLOW DOWN TO ZERO AFTER I LEFT MY FOOT FROM THE ACCEL. PEDAL SINCE THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN WITHOUT ACCEL. PEDAL PRESSED. THEN, I PRESSED THE P BUTTON IN THE SWITCH KNOB AS I DID MANY TIMES OVER THE 700 MILES EXPERIENCES IN THIS CAR. THE CAR WAS ABRUPTLY SPEED UP WITH A VERY BIG TORQUE, I USED BY FOOT TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT DIDN'T WORK. THE CAR WAS IN AN AROUND 50-MILE-SPEED (ACCORDING TO AN OBSERVER IN THE COMCAST PAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 715 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644828 · 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)
DATE 09/05/2014 MILEAGE 4,078. ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM INDICATED "FAULT IN AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER." THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE TENSIONER FAULT. ADDITIONALLY THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED AIR BAG FAULT WAS CAUSED BY HIGH RESISTANCE IN A COIL SPRING AND REPLACED THE COIL SPRING. WARNING REPEATED AGAIN ON 09/15/14 AT 4,424 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP UPON TESTING FOUND FAULT CODE 9030BE3 AND PERFORMED TESTING UNDER THIS FAULT PROTOCOL. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE REPORTING THAT THE WARNING DID NOT REA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,078 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10648816 · 2014-10-20 (October 20, 2014)
BMW SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RECALL OR WARN DRIVERS ABUT THE I3 RANGE EXTENDER MODEL. SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A DEADLY FLAW IN THE CAR THAT I EXPERIENCED. YESTERDAY MORNING, THE BATTERY WAS LOW IN POWER AND I WAS IN REX MODE AND DRIVING UP THE CONEJO GRADE RETURNING TO LA FROM SANTA BARBARA. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR IN THE FAST LANE. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE PRECISE SPEED BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING INTO THE SUN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT OPERATE (SEE BELOW). SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10648816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10663972 · 2014-12-12 (December 12, 2014)
ADAPTIVE SPEED CONTROL WILL UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGERING UNEXPECTED BRAKING FORCE. THIS GREATLY INCREASES THE RISK OF BEING STUCK FROM THE REAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10676147 · 2015-01-16 (January 16, 2015)
I BOUGHT BMW I-3 IN 9/14. IT RAN FINE UNTIL LAST WEEKEND IN NOV. ON SAT. 11/29/14 WE WERE DRIVING ON I-5 NORTH AT ABOUT GORMAN EXIT CAR WENT ON GAS EXTENDER AND ALL OF SUDDEN SPEED DROPPED FROM 60-65 MILES TO 30 MILES AND BELOW AND WILL NOT GO FASTER THAN THAT ON FREEWAY DESPITE ME FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL. WE TOOK NEXT EXIT OF FRAZIER PARK DRIVING IN RIGHT MOST LANE WITH HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND ALL THE WAY UPTO PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB SAME THING HAPPENED. WE CHARGED THE CAR OVERNIGHT TO FULL CAPACITY AND DROVE BACK TO PORTER RANCH NEXT DAY. I WENT TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10723821 · 2015-06-07 (June 7, 2015)
FLAT TIRE, TIRE UNREPAIRABLE BIG HOLE AND RUPTURED AFTER NORMAL DRIVING. NO JACK GIVEN, NO SPARE TIRE GIVEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME CAR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723821 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.