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BMW · NHTSA safety record

2017 BMW I3

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

51

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2017 BMW I3 have filed 51 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2017 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 11 of them (22%). The typical failure was reported at 10,650 miles, the median across the 21 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 9 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 6 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V720000 · November 16, 2017

The defect
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."
The risk
During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.
The 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.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 32,000 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

17V088000 · February 9, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The 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.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 19,130 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

16V914000 · December 20, 2016

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
The risk
If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 3,506 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 51.

STEERING 11 22%
STRUCTURE 11 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11 22%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 14%
POWER TRAIN 6 12%
AIR BAGS 3 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 6%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 4%
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness 1 2%
ENGINE 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 11.

2017 2019 2026
2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

Summary On September 30, 2025, the passenger in a 2017 BMW i3 REX was involved in a severe frontal collision with a Gas Company Utility Vehicle. The impact struck the driver’s side extending toward the passenger side, causing the vehicle to spin violently and nearly flip. The passenger reports seatbelt failure with excessive slack, leading to partial ejection from the seat, mid-thigh restraint, and collision with the steering wheel. The head lodged under the steering column, resulting in loss of consciousness and a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with ongoing neurological issues. Only the driver’s curtain and seat airbags deployed; the steering wheel and passenger frontal airbags did

NHTSA complaint 11705719, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · crash · towed · 26,680 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 BMW I3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT STRUGGLED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HE STEERED THE VEHICLE INTO A WOODED AREA WHERE HE HIT A TRASH DUMPSTER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A HEADACHE AND INJURIES TO HIS BACK AND NECK AREA. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE. THE POLICE WAS CALLED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF BUENA PARK (6750 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621) TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STATE WHAT THE

NHTSA complaint 11321023, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

1 injured · 22,000 miles

WHILEEXITING A PARKING PLACE ALONG A CURB - SLIGHT VEER OUT,ON DRY PAVEMENT, NIGHTIME, ON AN AVERAGECITY STREET. STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME BULLISH. WITHIN 100 FEET AND IN THE PROCESSOF THE 1ST UPCOMING90-DEGREE RIGHT-HANDTURN ALL MANNER OF WARNINGS WENT OFF, "PEDESTRIAN WARNING FAULTY,INCREASED STEER EFFORT (DUH!) CHASSIS STABILIZATION. I ALSO FELTIMMEDIATEPAININ MY RIGHT FOREARM AND SO THE ORDER OF WARNINGS MAY BE A BIT OFF. I HAVE BEEN WEARING A BRACE ON MY ARM SINCE THAT EVE FOR PAIN RELIEFFROM HAVING TO TORQUE ON THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SO HARD TO AVOID CROSSING OVER INTO THE ADJACENTLANE.STEERING IS LIKE DRIVING WITH BOTH FRONT WHEELS NEARLY FLAT. ONBOARD TIRE PRESSURE SHOWS ALL WERE AND

NHTSA complaint 11270342, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

fire

A BMW i3 caught fire in our garage. Maintenance on the car had been performed the day prior and it was found that the mechanic left the oil cap off. It took less than 7 minutes from the time the car started smoking to the point where the entire home was engulfed in flames. The fire department was onsite a couple of minutes after the car started smoking. It took 4 fire departments approximately 2 hours to extinguish this fire. A car should not be designed in a way in which an oil cap can cause the complete destruction of a home that quickly putting people’s lives at risk. The car was picked up by Geico, so we do not know if it is still available for investigation, but the fire investigators

NHTSA complaint 11588266, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
The carbon fiber roof panel is starting to delaminate and I am concerned that pieces could fly off and cause an accident.

NHTSA complaint 11753562. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
On May 30, 2026, I was driving on the NJ Turnpike with high winds and I heard loud sounds like hard rain on the roof of my BMW i3. I saw sheets flying off the roof. When I parked the car, the clear coat covering the roof had delaminated, exposing the carbon fiber. The BMW collision shop told me that the roof panel has to be replaced and it is costly.

NHTSA complaint 11746860. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
I bought the car new in 2017. Last summer, I noticed bubbles on the roof. On May 30, 2026, as I was driving 65 mph on the NJ Turnpike, I heard sounds on the roof like hard rain but it was not raining. I saw large sheets flying off my roof towards other cars, and some flying sheets were large enough to obscure a windshield. When I stopped, I saw more sheets hanging loose from the roof and I peeled off what I could. I think this is dangerous and understand it is common on BMW i3s (which are made of carbon fiber) and other BMW cars.

NHTSA complaint 11741143. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
We have experienced a mechanical issue with the harness system. Specifically, the straps become extremely difficult to tighten or loosen over time. To adjust them, I have to pull with the full force of a 200lb adult, to the point where it literally shakes the car. Despite following all manufacturer instructions—including cleaning the adjuster area and checking for twisted straps—the problem persists. Evenflo recently closed our support case (#00609796) and sent a replacement seat, which suggests an acknowledgement of the problem. Before I return the impacted seat (as Evenflo Requested), I wanted to reach out here promptly. I am particularly concerned because this appears to be a systemic

NHTSA complaint 11729647, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
After purchasing this car used, I signed up for MyBMW remote services. My account portal stated Emergency SOS call button and crash detection services were active on my car. I decided to test, and it turns out it's not, due to the issue in SIB 84 09 22. The car will just receive a call failed message, since it's trying to do voice calls in 3G, due to the improperly programmed 4G telematics unit. So BMW knows with 100% certainty this feature will not work on the car, and the car gives no advance warning in is inoperable. Yet they are still informing me in the portal that it is active. I feel if the system is inoperable without any warning, a service bulletin without a recall is not enough.

NHTSA complaint 11727315, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
The roof is delaminating causing a danger to my vehicle and others

NHTSA complaint 11713691. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the BMW I3

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 13 1 —
2018 14 3 —
2016 33 2 —
2015 47 3 —
2014 53 4 —

Other 2017 BMW models

X1 155 X3 92 X5 73 330I 41 430I 24 540I 20 530I 18 328D 11

Every BMW on this site — 249 vehicles, 484 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst