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RecallScanner Severity Profile

BMW I3

Watch3 recall campaigns, verify by VIN.
0
RecallScore
Critical
1
Fire risk
1
Crash risk
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
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All Recalls

3 campaigns
3 recalls 1 critical🔥 1 fire risk💥 2 crash risk
Model year
Airbag
Nov 16, 2017
3093 days ago

Your airbag may not protect small drivers properly in a frontal crash.

Affected: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 2018
CRASH RISK
NHTSA
Summary

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.

Fuel System
Sep 2, 2017
3168 days ago

Your fuel tank vent line can rub through and leak fuel vapor, causing a fire.

Affected: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 2017
FIRE RISK
NHTSA
Summary

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.

Other
Apr 17, 2019
2576 days ago

Your electric motor can shut down and leave you without power on the road.

Affected: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM · 2018
CRASH RISK
NHTSA
Summary

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 i3 BEV and i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high voltage electrical power.

Consequence

A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EME module, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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Full analysis: how to read the BMW I3 recall history
Year range, common components, complaint patterns, and how to use this page.

Understanding the BMW I3 recall history

The BMW I3 currently has 3 recall campaigns indexed from the NHTSA public database. Each recall represents a formal campaign to fix a defect at no cost to the current owner. Owner complaints are self-reported incidents that haven't (yet) resulted in a recall but can indicate emerging patterns worth watching.

The most frequent recall categories for the I3 in our dataset are air bag (1), and fuel system (1). These clusters matter when you're shopping for a used I3: recalls in these systems tend to be the ones most likely to have been skipped by previous owners, because they aren't always visible during a routine test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

The tracked recalls span model years 2017–2018, with campaigns reported to NHTSA between 2017 and 2019. Not every model year carries every recall. Each campaign is scoped to a specific year range and often a specific build window, which is why a VIN lookup is the only way to know whether a particular I3 is actually affected by any of these campaigns.

How to use this page

The safest path for an owner is to run your VIN through the checker above. A VIN query hits NHTSA's live API and tells you whether your specific I3 has an open, unresolved recall. If you're researching a used I3before buying, use the recall list below to understand the model's full history, then check the seller's VIN to see whether prior owners actually completed the free repairs. Many don't, and unresolved recalls can linger for years.

Figures are generated live from the RecallScanner dataset, which is sourced from NHTSA's public recall and complaint APIs and refreshed daily. RecallScanner is independent and not affiliated with BMW or any U.S. government agency.

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