Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
625–50K
050–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
21 reports with mileage · 30 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
51 reports
10,650 miles · Jun 13, 2019
Steering
DROVE CAR 8 MILES AS NORMAL. GOT BACK IN CAR AND STEERING WAS ABNORMAL. FELT AS IF HAD A FLAT (WHICH DID NOT). IN STEERING, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT, AND NEEDED COUNTER STEERING. THE CENTER FEEL OF THE STEERING WAS DIFFERENT, AND EASY TO TURN TO THE LEFT. PARKED THE CAR, WAITED 5 MINUTES, AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. FOUND MULT…
Read full complaint
DROVE CAR 8 MILES AS NORMAL. GOT BACK IN CAR AND STEERING WAS ABNORMAL. FELT AS IF HAD A FLAT (WHICH DID NOT). IN STEERING, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT, AND NEEDED COUNTER STEERING. THE CENTER FEEL OF THE STEERING WAS DIFFERENT, AND EASY TO TURN TO THE LEFT. PARKED THE CAR, WAITED 5 MINUTES, AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. FOUND MULTIPLE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES ONLINE WITH THIS MODEL.
NHTSA ODI #11219871
1,000 miles · Mar 19, 2019
Steering
SOME TIMES THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY HEAVY ( HARD TO TURN) AND HAS A BIAS TO TURN ONE SIDE OVER THE OTHER. RESTARTING THE CAR AFTER 5 MINUTES MAKES IT OK. IT LOOKS LIKE A SOFTWARE ISSUE. IT HAPPENS SAY AT LEAST ONCE IN 2-3 MONTHS.
NHTSA ODI #11190142
9,380 miles · Mar 8, 2019
Steering
WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT, STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT. I FELT RESISTANCE AND I CLEARLY NEEDED BOTH HANDS TO TURN THE WHEEL.
NHTSA ODI #11185433
28,500 miles · Feb 26, 2019
Steering
STEERING INTERMITTENTLY BECOMES HEAVY, MAKING VEHICLE HARDER TO CONTROL. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN CLEARS THE PROBLEM. IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF THE STEERING: YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO PREVENT YOU FROM TURNING THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS SOFTWARE-RELATED RATHER THAN A PHY…
Read full complaint
STEERING INTERMITTENTLY BECOMES HEAVY, MAKING VEHICLE HARDER TO CONTROL. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN CLEARS THE PROBLEM. IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF THE STEERING: YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO PREVENT YOU FROM TURNING THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS SOFTWARE-RELATED RATHER THAN A PHYSICAL FAILURE SINCE NOT ONLY IS IT INTERMITTENT, BUT IT IS INCONSISTENT. AT ONE INTERSECTION THE STEERING MAY BE NORMAL TURNING LEFT BUT HEAVY TURNING RIGHT AND THE SITUATION MAY BE REVERSED A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AT THE NEXT TURNING. I HAVE 28000 MILES/ 2.5YEARS ON THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY STARTED OCCURRING WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. AT THE MOMENT THE PROBLEM OCCURS TOO RARELY TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER.
NHTSA ODI #11182515
9,600 miles · Feb 25, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
CAR STOPPED ALL OF SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY HEADS-UP. SIMPLY SAID CALL DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION PLEASE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MOST SCARY PART IS THAT THE SUDDEN STOP
NHTSA ODI #11182276
1 miles · Feb 5, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A PARKING SPORT OR ACCELERATING FROM LOW VELOCITY, THE POWER STEERING ON LEFT APPEARS TO LOSE POWER. THE CAR BEGINS TO PULL VERY HEAVILY TO THE LEFT. THE ISSUE CONTINUES THE ENTIRE DRIVE. THE STEERING BECAME HARD. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL
NHTSA ODI #11174542
1,300 miles · Feb 5, 2018
Electrical System
THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND I WAS REACHING IN THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (DOOR SHUT). MY THIGH MADE CONTACT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND LOCKED THE CAR. MY THIGH MAINTAINED CONTACT AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO ROLL-UP. IT THEN CONTINUED UNTIL IT COMPRESSED MY TORSO AND THE MOTOR KEPT ATTEMPTING TO GO UP WITHOUT STOPPING. I THEN PRESSED …
Read full complaint
THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND I WAS REACHING IN THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (DOOR SHUT). MY THIGH MADE CONTACT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND LOCKED THE CAR. MY THIGH MAINTAINED CONTACT AND THE WINDOW BEGAN TO ROLL-UP. IT THEN CONTINUED UNTIL IT COMPRESSED MY TORSO AND THE MOTOR KEPT ATTEMPTING TO GO UP WITHOUT STOPPING. I THEN PRESSED THE INTERNAL UNLOCK BUTTON AND IT STOPPED. THE I3 I WAS DRIVING WAS A LOANER VEHICLE FROM BMW AS MINE WAS IN THE SHOP.
NHTSA ODI #11067161
2,000 miles · Aug 23, 2017
Unknown Or Other
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OFF AND STARTED ON FIRE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (BMW) BUT NO ONE HAS CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL.
NHTSA ODI #11019184
4,025 miles · Mar 31, 2017
Suspension
RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM SNAPPED (STEEL FRACTURED) UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ROAD DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND THE FRACTURE OCCURRED AFTER GENTLY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND ALIGNMENT WENT WAY OUT
NHTSA ODI #10969709
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2017
Visibility/wiper
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS IRREGULAR, WHICH CAUSES EXTREME DISTORTION OF THE VIEW. DRIVING IS DANGEROUS AS THE DISTORTION CAUSES DIZZINESS. THE IMAGES I SEE ARE SEVERELY DISTORTED WITH THE CAR STOPPED OR IN MOTION BUT IT GETS WORSE WHEN MY CAR AND THE CAR AHEAD ARE IN MOTION AS BOTH THE ROAD AND THE CAR AHEAD ARE SHOWING VARIOUS DI…
Read full complaint
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS IRREGULAR, WHICH CAUSES EXTREME DISTORTION OF THE VIEW. DRIVING IS DANGEROUS AS THE DISTORTION CAUSES DIZZINESS. THE IMAGES I SEE ARE SEVERELY DISTORTED WITH THE CAR STOPPED OR IN MOTION BUT IT GETS WORSE WHEN MY CAR AND THE CAR AHEAD ARE IN MOTION AS BOTH THE ROAD AND THE CAR AHEAD ARE SHOWING VARIOUS DISTORTIONS AS THEY MOVE. THE BRAIN CAPTURES THESE DISTORTIONS WHICH ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FOR EACH EYE AND THAT IS CAUSING THE DIZZINESS AND DANGER. THE CAR HAS JUST 400 MILES AND DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS IS HAZARDOUS. THE DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM FOR ONE WEEK AND ACCORDING TO THE MILES IN/OUT, THEY DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR TO PERFORM A REAL INSPECTION OF MY COMPLAINS. THE DEALER WAS BRAMAN BMW, THE SERVICE PERSON WAS MARUF DIB MUCHALLAH AND HIS EMAIL IS MARUFM@BRAMANMIAMI.COM, 305-203-6184. I AM AFRAID THIS MAY BE A DEFECTIVE BATCH THAT MAY BE PUTTING OTHER LIVES AT RISK AS WELL. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 3/5/2017 AND ON ALL THE DAYS (NOT MANY) THAT I DROVE IT, I EXPERIENCED SEVERE DIZZINESS.
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion 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.
2017 BMW I3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration