2014 BMW I3 problems
The 2014 BMW I3 has 78 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (18%) concerns drivetrain & axles. Next are engine (13%) and air bags (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 78 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 23,000 miles 45 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 21 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 45 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 23,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2014 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the BMW I3 with enough data (33 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owned a 2014 BMW I3. The contact stated that another vehicle driving at a high rate of speed, crashed into the rear of the contacts vehicle which then caused the contacts vehicle to crash into the vehicle that was in front. A police report was filed. The driver sustained minor bruises and required medical attention. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. The insurance company was not able to determine what caused the air bags not to deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 BMW I3. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and remained stuck causing the vehicle to crash into a brick wall. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained chest and neck injuries, which required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000.
I turned right into a parking spot in front of a commercial buidling. I remember slowing down as I approached the parking space. As the car slowed, it suddenly jerked and then accelerated causing it to go over the concrete parking header and collide into building exterior and metal gate. The car was in slow speed as I entered the space. The sudden unexpected acceleration caught me by surprised as I could see my foot was not on the accelerator pedal.
A small piece of plastic easily punctured the tire and made it flat. The tires on the BMW I3 are prone to flats and easily get punctured. These are new tires by bridgestone that have never been tested in other vehicles and there are lots of flats by owners on this specific car.
While driving the vehicle suddenly jerked and lost all power while in motion on a city street. I can't imagine what would have happened if I was on the freeway with traffic. The message on the screen in my car stated drivetrain malfunction stop and turn off engine do not continue to drive call roadside assistance.