2017 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.

vehicle2017 / bmw / i3
known issues6 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-29)
complaints52 on file (2017-02-24 → 2026-09-17)
recalls3
investigations1
fars0 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Carbon fiber roof panel delaminationSTRUCTURE13 complaints2023-08 → 2026-07bmw-i3-2017-roof-delamination
  • 11753562 The carbon fiber roof panel is starting to delaminate and I am concerned that pieces could fly off and cause an accident
  • 11713691 The roof is delaminating causing a danger to my vehicle and others
Power steering assist lossSTEERING9 complaints2019-02 → 2021-09bmw-i3-2017-power-steering-loss
  • 11185433 WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT, STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT. I FELT RESISTANCE AND I CLEARLY NEEDED BOTH HANDS TO TURN THE WHEEL
  • 11310435 AFTER DRIVING SHORT DISTANCE ON A CITY STREET, SUDDENLY CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT SIDE, THE STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY ( IT FEELS LIKE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING)
Drivetrain malfunction with sudden power lossPOWER TRAIN6 complaints2019-02 → 2024-06bmw-i3-2017-drivetrain-malfunction
  • 11258342 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY'S HOV LANE (FULLY CHARGED, NOT ON THE EXTENDED RANGE), THE CAR GAVE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" AND THE PROPULSION DIED SHORTLY AFTER
  • 11182276 CAR STOPPED ALL OF SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY HEADS-UP. SIMPLY SAID CALL DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION PLEASE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MOST SCARY PART IS THAT THE SUDDEN STOP
Passenger airbag and seat sensor malfunctionAIR BAGS4 complaints2021-05 → 2025-12bmw-i3-2017-airbag-seat-sensor
  • 11582488 Message saying driver restraint failure, air bags may not deploy properly. Random event, has been an issue with bmw i3 models
  • 11417984 What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Passenger restraint failure/seat sensor not registering occupant
Unintended acceleration and speed control lossVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES4 complaints2019-06 → 2021-04bmw-i3-2017-unintended-acceleration
  • 11321891 WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN ECO PRO PLUS MOOD. WHILE SPEED IS ABOVE 56MPH THE VEHICLE WILL SOMTIMES AUTOMATICALLY BREAK TO 56 MPH
  • 11321023 TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 BMW I3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING
Vehicle fire while parked or chargingUNKNOWN OR OTHER3 complaints2017-08 → 2024-05bmw-i3-2017-parked-vehicle-fire
  • 11019184 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OFF AND STARTED ON FIRE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (BMW) BUT NO ONE HAS CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL
  • 11539266 In extreme heat (119 temp outside) BMW charger was plugged into port and melted. Could have caused a fire

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
522017-02-242026-09-1721STRUCTURE:12; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:11; STEERING:11; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:7; POWER TRAIN:6

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.
16V91400020/12/2016AIR BAGSBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 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
2010-20240legacy-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). 2017 BMW i3 vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2017/bmw/i3
@misc{wrenchpro_2017_bmw_i3_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2017 BMW i3},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2017/bmw/i3}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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