2016 Bmw I3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
20,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 33 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 9 | 27.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 12.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Structure:Body: 10; Steering: 8; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 5; Power Train: 3; Engine: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2023: 11; 2024: 1; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10865893 · 2016-05-19 (May 19, 2016)
WHEN ELECTRIC RANGE IS OUT, THE ENGINE KICKS IN AND SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROP TO 50+MPH ON THE FREEWAY CLIMBING UP A HILL THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR WHICH SCARES ME AND I HAVE TO STAY ON THE LEFT LANE AND QUICKLY EXIT. I JUST READ THE LAWSUIT WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO ME TOO.
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11031969 · 2017-10-05 (October 5, 2017)
I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING AT AROUND 9:15 AM PREPARING TO PARK BMW I3 ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN TO THE GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BUT NOTICE THAT BRAKE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, MEANING THERE WAS NO FEELING OF VEHICLE WAS IN A LOCK POSITION DUE TO THE BRAKE BEING PRESSURED ON THE WHEEL. THEN ALL OF SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE WENT ACCELERATING OR "SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION". THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR THAT WAS ONLY HALF WAY UP AND WAS STI…
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11056791 · 2017-12-27 (December 27, 2017)
THE "STOP AND GO" CRUISE CONTROL HAS DISENGAGED OVER 100 TIMES AND HAS SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FOR NO REASON 5 TIMES. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE SHOWN BMW OVER 50 PHOTOS AND 3 VIDEOS OF THIS AND THEY FIND EVERY EXCUSE IN THE BOOK. I AM SCARED FOR MY LIFE WHEN USING THIS CRUISE CONTROL. BMW ALSO REFUSES TO TAKE THE CAR BACK.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11056791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11138912 · 2018-10-07 (October 7, 2018)
REAR HATCH GLASS SHATTERED AT TAIL LIGHTS. 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR. GLASS IS NOT REPLACEABLE, SO WHOLE HATCH ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED. VERY POOR DESIGN AND WASTEFUL. AROUND 2000.00 TO FIX
Owner-reported narrative. 8,744 miles reported. Look up ODI 11138912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11243170 · 2019-08-12 (August 12, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD SPEED ABOUT 40-50 MPH, STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME STIFF AND VERY HARD TO TURN. THE WHEEL DOES NOT WANT TO CENTER. IT HAPPENED RANDOMLY AND CAN'T BE REPRODUCE EASILY. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST W MONTHS. I FEEL IT VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE ROAD. IT FIXED ITSELF THE NEXT MORNING.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11243170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11252950 · 2019-09-03 (September 3, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW I3. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, BOTH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW NORTHWEST (4011 20TH ST E, TACOMA, WA 98424, [phone removed]); HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. AFTER ANOTHER TWO WEEKS, A REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER FROM THE MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT A SOFTWARE REPAIR WAS NEEDE…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11265243 · 2019-09-30 (September 30, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A TWO-LANE PAVED CITY STREET AT ABOUT 30 MPH THE STEERING BECAME HEAVY AND PULLED STRONGLY TO THE LEFT. CLEAR WEATHER, MODERATE TEMPERATURES. I STOPPED THE CAR AFTER A HALF MILE OR SO, SHUT IT OFF COMPLETELY THEN RESTARTED IT. THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. IT HAS NOT YET REAPPEARED. TIRE PRESSURES WERE ON THE LOW SIDE OF NORMAL. NONE WERE ABNORMALLY LOW AND THE TIRES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11265243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289932 · 2019-12-18 (December 18, 2019)
THE STEERING BECOMES HEAVY INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES LIKE THERE IS NO STEERING ASSIST. ALSO WHEEL DOES NOT COME BACK TO CENTER AFTER TURNS. TYPICALLY ON COLDER DAYS AND DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289932 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V088000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2017-02-09 (February 9, 2017)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. The fuel tank vent line may rub against the ribbed wire protection sleeve of the battery positive (B+) cable, creating a hole in the vent line and causing a fuel vapor leak.
Consequence: A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel vent line, replacing it as necessary, and install a clip to prevent it from chafing, free of charge. The recall beganApril 3, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V720000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2017-11-16 (November 16, 2017)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 BMW i3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Unbelted, small adult, drivers may be at a higher risk of neck injury in the event of a frontal crash. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the Driver air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at the dedicated i3 recall number 1-855-269-3361.
NHTSA campaign record ↗