Wrench.Pro

2016 BMW i3: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2016 / bmw / i3
known issues4 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-30)
complaints33 on file (2016-05-19 → 2026-06-12)
recalls2
investigations1
fars1 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Carbon fiber roof panel delaminationSTRUCTURE9 complaints2023-08 → 2025-03bmw-i3-2016-roof-delamination
  • 11646070 The roof has bubbled and peeled away leaving an exposed permeable roof, meaning if it rains, water will get into the car because of the roof material being not safe, not strong, peeling away. Just terrible! Looking online, so many people with i3s ha e all had the same issue!
  • 11539150 The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the contact heard a whistling sound, and the roof detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was
  • 11548761 The roof is bubbling and peeling up. Water gets in it when it rains, then it bubbles greatly. BMW won’t fix it, repair shops don’t want to fix it because it’s an obscure roof. They recommend I take it to BMW which won’t fix it (roof replacement suggested). I just bought this car
Loss of propulsion with Range Extender engagedPOWER TRAIN4 complaints2016-05 → 2026-01bmw-i3-2016-rex-propulsion-loss
  • 11711282 While driving my 2016 BMW i3 with Range Extender, the vehicle experiences sudden and complete loss of propulsion at very low state of charge (0–1%). The car abruptly loses motive power, forcing me to pull over, sometimes while in traffic. After sitting for several minutes
  • 10865893 WHEN ELECTRIC RANGE IS OUT, THE ENGINE KICKS IN AND SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROP TO 50+MPH ON THE FREEWAY CLIMBING UP A HILL THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR WHICH SCARES ME AND I HAVE TO STAY ON THE LEFT LANE AND QUICKLY EXIT. I JUST READ THE LAWSUIT WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO ME
  • 11306969 STARTED THE CAR AFTER CHARGING IT OVERNIGHT AND "DRIVETRAIN: STOP CAREFULLY" AND "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY FINE BEFORE THIS
Intermittent power steering assist lossSTEERING9 complaints2019-08 → 2023-02bmw-i3-2016-power-steering-loss
  • 11438343 Vehicle experiences periodic loss of "power steering". Very difficult to steer or control. Steering does not re-center making control difficult. Steering is restored after shutting down the car for a few minutes. Dealership cannot find any faults or codes
  • 11404544 POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION - OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON PUBLIC ROADWAY - MAKING IT DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO NAVIGATE A TURN. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED
  • 11361132 EVERY 3 TO 21 DAYS, MY STEERING PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT. THIS OCCURS ON FLAT ROADS ON DRY PAVEMENT. I HAVE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT AT CITY DRIVING SPEEDS (0-35 MPH). ON ONE OCCASION THIS OCCURRED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING
Driver airbag module fault and warning lightAIR BAGS5 complaints2021-11 → 2026-06bmw-i3-2016-airbag-fault
  • 11743788 Driver airbag warning light illuminated. Vehicle was diagnosed at BMW of Sherman Oaks (RO# 176741) and confirmed as a faulty driver airbag module - part# 32-30-6-870-366. BMW technician found fault code 930904: Driver's airbag interval stage 1, resistance too high stored. BMW NA
  • 11439937 Involved in a frontal collision and air bag did not deploy. Airbag could've prevented more serious injuries suffered. I contacted the service center at BMW Roseville and left a message for the service manager, no return call. The vehicle has been inspected by an insurance
  • 11502605 The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated that the driver restraint warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, and the contact was informed that the front driver’s side air bag system was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
332016-05-192026-06-1230STRUCTURE:10; STEERING:8; AIR BAGS:6; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:5; POWER TRAIN:3

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
17V72000016/11/2017AIR BAGS:FRONTALBMW 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."During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.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.
17V08800009/02/2017FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSBMW 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.A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.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.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
DP22005closedPedestrian alert soundsELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM2023-01-272023-08-0722V063000NHTSA 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 electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-20241legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2016 BMW i3 vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2016/bmw/i3
@misc{wrenchpro_2016_bmw_i3_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2016 BMW i3},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2016/bmw/i3}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

hub · known-issues · methodology · license · research (interpretation)