2018 Bmw I3: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 11323782 · 2020-05-07 (May 7, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2018 BMW I3 EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE: ECOPIA, SIZE: 175/55/R20, DOT NUMBER: (NOT AVAILABLE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE SUSTAINED A BLOWOUT. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TIRE REPAIR FACILITY. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WERE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ALSO DUE TO BLOWOUTS…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11365847 · 2020-10-22 (October 22, 2020)
I CAME OUT OF THE PUBLIC GARAGE WHERE I CHARGED MY 2018 BMW I3'S AT A CHARGE POINT STATION FOR A LITTLE LESS THAN 4 HOURS (ABOUT 47 MILES RANGE), AND SUDDENLY WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, A BIG RED ERROR MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD (DRIVETRAIN SOMETHING....) AND THE CAR STOPPED. I TRIED TO RESTART IT A FEW TIMES AND EVENTUALLY IT STARTED AGAIN AND ALLOWED ME TO GO BACK HOME. I READ A FEW THINGS ONLINE CONFIRMING THAT THERE IS NO WARNING MESSAGE AND THAT THE CAR CAN JUST STOP LIKE THAT AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IT HAPPEN ON A FREEWAY WHEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,176 miles reported. Look up ODI 11365847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387716 · 2021-01-12 (January 12, 2021)
CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATES FOR NO REASON CAUSING SUDDEN DECELERATION. OCCURS RANDOMLYN DURING CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS. BMW DEALER HAS RECIBRATED THE SENSOR AND UPDATED THE SOFTWARE. NO IMPROVEMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11451014 · 2022-02-08 (February 8, 2022)
The contact owns a 2018 BMW i3. The contact stated that while driving in the rain at approximately 45 - 50 MPH, the vehicle had unintended acceleration and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle came to a full stop after getting stuck in the mud on the side of the road. The failure nearly caused a collision. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The fail…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11451014 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 ↗
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 11505089 · 2023-02-02 (February 2, 2023)
"Driver restraint system malfunction" light came on today. BMW i3's have had recalls in their past models due to design flaws in their airbag systems and assembly. While my car's year hasn't had a recall, searching the web shows that this issue is extremely common on BMW cars. And when the car is out of warranty (after 3 years), the cost for fixing this issue is exhorbitant. BMW should be pushed to fix this issue at no cost versus charging customers thousands for their faulty safety system design.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11505089 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗18V652000 · Equipment:Electrical
Reported: 2018-09-20 (September 20, 2018)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
Consequence: An electrical shock or a fire can increase the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the charging cable, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V310000 · Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery | Hybrid Propulsion System
Reported: 2019-04-17 (April 17, 2019)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 i3 BEV and i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high voltage electrical power.
Consequence: A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EME module, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗