The Used Car Index

2015 BMW I3 problems

NHTSA lists 47 complaints for the 2015 BMW I3, 1 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW I3.

At a glance

Complaints
47
With crash
1
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
32,000
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
294

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
STEERING1531.9%
AIR BAGS714.9%
STRUCTURE714.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM612.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL612.8%
POWER TRAIN48.5%
ENGINE36.4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM24.3%
SEAT BELTS24.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER24.3%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY7
AIR BAGSSENSOR1
VISIBILITYDEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
loss of control1940.4%0.75
structural or corrosion919.1%0.84
electrical electronic817.0%0.71
restraint or airbag714.9%0.99
fire or overheating24.3%0.74
mechanical failure24.3%0.80
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate3983.0%0.88
low714.9%0.72
high12.1%1.00

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 47 tagged complaints of 47 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

3 recalls.

17V720000

Date: 2017-11-16. Systems: AIR BAGS.

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."

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

17V088000

Date: 2017-02-09. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

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.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

15V628000

Date: 2015-10-07. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requ (excerpt)

Consequence: In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger. (excerpt)

Remedy: MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

DP22005

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 pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: 22V063000.

Manufacturer communications

294 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM134
EQUIPMENT96
STEERING26
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING20
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY20
STRUCTURE17
VISIBILITY16
ENGINE14

11012072

Date: 2024-12-04. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date.

11012073

Date: 2024-12-04. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

the High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date.

10249438

Date: 2024-01-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

The Supplemental Restraint SystemA A?A A A A s (SRS) air bag warning lamp is illuminated, and the air bag control unitA A?A A A A s (ACSM4i) fault memory has stored one or both of the following fault codes: 930904 Airbag Driver 1st Stage: "Resistance too largeA A?A A A A 93090A Airbag Driver 2nd

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10214990

Date: 2022-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded the NBT HU and was introduced in 3/2014.

10205606

Date: 2021-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.

For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Fuel Injectors to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date.

10204657

Date: 2021-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vents).

10204660

Date: 2021-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded the NBT HU and was introduced in 3/2014.

10201145

Date: 2021-07-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vent). The following fault code is saved in the IHKA (integrated automatic heating/air conditioning system) control unit: 801189 - Engine mixed air right: Initialization fault.

10200487

Date: 2021-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

TELEMATICS UNIT DEACTIVATION DUE TO 3G CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY DISCONTINUATION: The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February 2022.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
I347

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2015

Sources

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