2015 BMW I3 problems
The 2015 BMW I3 has 63 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (24%) concerns steering. Next are air bags (14%) and body & structure (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 63 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 30,000 miles 40 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 | 14 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 18 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 40 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 30,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 30,000 miles (13 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 82% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2015 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the BMW I3 with enough data (44 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 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* the contact owns a 2015 BMW I3. The contact stated that the vehicle charging port overheated while charging and melted. The vehicle was taken to BMW of rochester hills, 45550 dequindre rd, shelby charter twp, mi 48317, and was diagnosed but the contact was not aware what was the diagnostic. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fee. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was not available.
I turned on the car, opened the gate and put the car in reverse. I pressed the gas peddle lightly and the car flew out of the driveway, hit the gate, flew out into the street and hit a parked car. During this time, the car brakes never worked. It was as if the gas peddle was stuck and the brakes did not work to stop the car.
While driving, steering became heavy, notchy. It would not center itself; for example, around a turn, the steering wheel would stay in the direction I turned. This has happened several times over the last few months! It seems there is a bug in the software. BMW can't find anything wrong. Several forms have been created over this problem.
The car suddenly slows to 5MPH under some conditions. This can be easily avoided by returning programming to international. While driving my car home in winter in rain I need to have heat, wiper and defroster on. My house is in hills. Unfortunately on return trip my battery in winter is depleted and the onboard gas engine generator is unable to keep up with hill climb and needed heating and wiper. The car will drop from 55MPH to 5MPH without warning.