The 2017 BMW I3 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 54,636 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 6, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS17V7200002017-11-1632,000 affected
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)…
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
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.
AIR BAGS16V9140002016-12-203,506 affected
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,…
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.
Complaints by component
STEERING
11
1injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
11
1fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
POWER TRAIN
6
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS
3
1crashes2injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2
SERVICE BRAKES
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
2
Total complaints70
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“The roof is delaminating causing a danger to my vehicle and others”
“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…”
“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…”
“There was an electrical fault in the door handle, specifically for the comfort access function circuit inside the handle itself. There was smoke and extreme heat. Luckily no fire started, before the battery was disconnected. Our understanding is, this is a known problem with the circuit board…”
“There was an electrical fault in the door handle, specifically for the comfort access function circuit inside the handle itself. There was smoke and extreme heat. Luckily no fire started, before the battery was disconnected. Our understanding is, this is a known problem with the circuit board…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP22005 Opened 2023-01-27 · closed 2023-08-07
Pedestrian alert sounds
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2017 BMW I3 as of
July 6, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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