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2014 Bmw I3 Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2014 Bmw I3 carries 4 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering frontal and hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Engine mount bracket cracking or fracturing.” BMW vehicles use Condition-Based Service (CBS) — the dashboard shows each service item with its own remaining mileage and time, calculated by sensors. The schedule below shows BMW's underlying targets. BMW Ultimate Care covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of factory-scheduled maintenance on most new vehicles.

4 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Campaign #17V720000 · Nov 16, 2017

Issue: 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."

Risk: During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.

Fix: 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, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Campaign #17V088000 · Sep 2, 2017

Issue: 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.

Risk: A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #15V628000 · Jul 10, 2015

Issue: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.

Fix: MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Campaign #14V422000 · Jul 14, 2014

Issue: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling a certain model year BMW i3 vehicle manufactured March 31, 2014, and certain 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop vehicles manufactured February 2, 2014 to May 30, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an air bag inflator that was not assembled correctly. This could cause the air bag to not deploy properly in the event of an accident.

Risk: If the air bag deploys improperly in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bags, the seat occupant may be at an increased risk of injury.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2014 Bmw I3.

Reported to NHTSA

Engine mount bracket cracking or fracturing

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2019-09 → 2022-05

“I've had to replace the engine motor mount bolts twice in 3 years”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11425902
“I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I ACCELERATED THE REAR OF THE CAR FELT LIKE IT GOT REAR ENDED. I WALKED AROUND THE CAR, NOTHING WAS WRONG. IT DROVE FINE UP TO 40 MPH, THEN ON THE HIGHWAY, IT MADE A RRRR SOUND. THE NEXT DAY I FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT SNAPPED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11270293
“THE LEFT BRACKET FOR THE ELECTRIC ENGINE IS CRACKED AND THE DEALER WANTS SUBSTANTIALLY MORE FOR A REPLACEMENT ONE WHICH HAPPENS TO BE COMPLETELY REDESIGNED FROM A CHEAP PLASTIC PART WHICH EQUIPS MY CAR TO A MORE STUDY AND IMPROVED ONE FOR THE LATEST MODELS OF THE SAME MAKE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11390283

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Carbon fiber body panel delamination

STRUCTURE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2023-08 → 2024-10

“The carbon fiber roof is delaminating and a portion of it came off and hit the front windshield of another car, causing them to partially lose control of their vehicle almost causing an accident”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11618578
“A large portion of the car's hood (carbon laminate?) has ripped off and is surely to continue to tear and fly off while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11613788
“Roof is bubbling showing signs of delamination. Structural integrity is in question. I believe it is due to the carbon fiber epoxy material degrading due to sunlight exposure”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11539259

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire punctures and flats after minor road contact

TIRES, WHEELS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2015-06 → 2016-12

“GETTING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT VERY LOW SPEED OF 2-3 MILES PER HOUR TOUCHED A CURB AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT IMMEDIATELY THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. 5 DAYS LATER, A PIECE OF PLASTIC PUNCTURED ANOTHER TIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10723833
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10723834
“BMW ARE MANUFACTURING NEWER MODEL TIRES FOR THEIR I3 . THESE TIRES ARE VERY NARROW COMPARED TO OTHER CARS THAT GET EASILY WORN OUT . THE TIRE TREAD READINGS SHOW THAT THEY ARE BELOW SAFETY LEVEL, WITHIN 12K MILES OF DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10938614

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Drivetrain malfunction and loss of propulsion power

POWER TRAIN

11 NHTSA complaints · 2015-10 → 2024-06

“When the vehicle depletes it's battery and switches over to the range extender or the gas engine, the car will suddenly shut off and a drivetrain error appears. This seems to only happen when the car is traveling over 55 mph”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11594331
“I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING TO ME OR OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES PUTTING MY SAFETY AND OTHER'S SAFETY AT GREAT RISK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11325412
“WHEN THE VEHICLE ENTERS A 'FAULT' MODE, SUCH AS DRIVE MOTOR MALFUNCTION, THE CARS DISCONTINUES POWER TO THE DRIVE MOTOR, ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO ROLL TO A STOP, THEN ELECTRONICALLY PUTS THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11103478

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Intermittent loss of power steering assist

STEERING

7 NHTSA complaints · 2019-02 → 2023-06

“TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. FROM A STOP, THE ASSIST WILL FUNCTION CORRECTLY UNTIL 30MPH. FROM THEN ON, THERE WILL BE NO POWER ASSIST UNTIL COMING TO A FULL STOP. THE PATTERN REPEATS ITSELF FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11182758
“WHILE PULLING ONTO THE ROAD MY CAR STARTED PULLING STRONGLY TOWARDS THE LEFT AND WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. IT HAD VERY HEAVY DIFFICULT STEERING. IT FELT ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING I'VE FELT IN THE TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11256755
“While driving through a parking lot at slow speeds on 6/24/2023 around 6:30 pm in Phoenix AZ, I noticed the steering felt very heavy and the car pulled hard to the left”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11528759

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag and seatbelt warning system faults

AIR BAGS

8 NHTSA complaints · 2015-03 → 2023-12

“I am writing to bring to your attention a persistent issue I have been facing with my 2014 BMW i3, VIN: [XXX]”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11562353
“Light shows on dash for airbag. I took to the dealership and they said there was a problem and needed to be replaced. The airbag was defective”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11514405
“PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WOULD FAIL TO DETECT A PASSENGER AFTER DRIVE LASTING 20 MINUTES OR MORE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THIS STATE BECAUSE NO FAULT CODES ARE REGISTERED IN THE SEAT SENSOR OR ANYWHERE ELSE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10895727

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil Service (CBS)

Every 10,000 mi

Replace BMW Longlife-04 (LL-04) full-synthetic oil and filter every 10,000 miles or annually — whichever the CBS system signals first. M-series engines may require shorter intervals; check the vehicle-specific iDrive screen.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Brake Fluid Service (CBS)

Every 24,000 mi

Replace DOT 4 LV brake fluid every 2 years regardless of mileage. CBS triggers based on time, not miles, due to moisture absorption.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Vehicle Check / Inspection (CBS)

Every 30,000 mi

Multi-point inspection covering brakes, suspension, steering, exhaust, fluids, lighting, and underbody. CBS signals every 30,000 miles or 2 years.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free with any paid service. A flashlight and 10 minutes covers the basics yourself.

Engine Air Filter

Every 40,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 40,000 miles. Higher-performance N55, B58, and S58 engines should be inspected at every oil service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

B48 (2.0L turbo) and B58 (3.0L turbo) require new spark plugs every 60,000 miles. N20/N55 engines often spec 45,000 miles. M-series typically 30,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid (ZF 8HP)

Every 60,000 mi

BMW labels the ZF 8HP automatic as 'lifetime fill,' but independent transmission specialists strongly recommend replacement every 60,000 miles. Use BMW-spec ZF Lifeguard 8 — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD and xDrive AWD: replace rear diff fluid every 60,000 miles, sooner with M-Sport or active differential. M-cars require BMW SAF-XO synthetic.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

xDrive Transfer Case Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

BMW xDrive AWD: replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Skipping this causes the most common xDrive failure — actuator stuck in 100/0 split.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Microfilter (Cabin Air Filter)

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the activated-carbon microfilter every 30,000 miles. Most BMWs have a single combined cabin/charcoal filter behind the engine bay firewall.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Engine Coolant (G48 / HT-12)

On condition / lifetime

BMW labels coolant as lifetime fill on most modern vehicles. Independent BMW specialists recommend replacement every 4-5 years to prevent water-pump and thermostat housing degradation.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

2 crashes 2010–2024

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. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

3

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2014 Bmw I3 reflects BMW's published service intervals and the Condition-Based Service system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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