Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW i3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure10
- Steering8
- Air bags6
- Electrical system5
- Power train3
- Engine2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Unknown or other2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2016 BMW i3 failed the safety check 0.87% of the time — 56% less often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 52,004 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2016
10,532 new BMW i3 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were Germany (2,862), the United Kingdom (2,519), France (1,373).
- Average mass
- 1,355 kg
- Average power
- 74 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol/electric 52% · Electric 48%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
439 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 23% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €44,828.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel186
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde158
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm128
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld94
- Band beschadigd51
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht36
- Remschijf ernstig gecorrodeerd20
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage18
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
2,113 cars built in 2016 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 35 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 2,147 of these cars first registered in 2016 took their annual MOT test. 87% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2016 the figure was 79%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 4.7% | 6.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.6% | 6.1% |
| Visibility | 3.2% | 3.5% |
| Brakes | 1.1% | 4.3% |
| Suspension | 0.9% | 4.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.7% | 1.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
147 of these cars first registered in 2016 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 114,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
83 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 99% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 BMW I3 5 HB RWD | — | 0.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- —
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2016 BMW i3.
| 2024544 15 Aug 2024 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "N… |
| 2017068 10 Feb 2017 | Fuel System On certain i3 REX models, a section of the fuel tank vent line could chafe against an adjacent ribbed wire protector. Over time, this chaffing could lead to the… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What BMW told its dealers about the 2016 BMW i3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11012073 | the High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date. |
| 11012072 | The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date. |
| 10253322 | For this vehicle, the EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. This coverage is subject to the same vehicle eligibility requirements, limitations, and exclusion criteria that apply to the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Vehicles that are registered in California or a State that has fully adopted the State of California PZEV(SULEV) / TZEV emission regulations (As applicable, State of registration, model, and model year dependent), the emissio |
| 10249438 | The Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) air bag warning lamp is illuminated, and the air bag control units (ACSM4i) fault memory has stored one or both of the following fault codes: 930904 Airbag Driver 1st Stage: "Resistance too large 93090A Airbag Driver 2nd Stage: Resistance too large" |
| 10249027 | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints. |
| 10216793 | TEC26 Turbo Charger Return |
| 10216792 | Tec25 Wishbone Return |
| 10216791 | Tech24 Snap-in Adapter Return |
| 10216758 | MINI engine oil part number transition and model year 2016 engine oils |
| 10216757 | MINI "Enhanced" dealer self authorized (DSA)K goodwill program |
| 10214990 | The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded the NBT HU and was introduced in 3/2014. This uses map North America EVO. The Headunit High 4 (HU-H4, also called MGU21) superseded the MGU starting with certain MY2021 vehicles with option code 6U3 Live Cockpit Professional. This uses map North America JOY. The ENTRY Media/Navigation (HU-B) is the low line business version of the navigati |
| 10205606 | For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Fuel Injectors to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. |
| 10204660 | The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded the NBT HU and was introduced in 3/2014. This uses map North America EVO. The Headunit High 3 (HU-H3, also called MGU) superseded the NBT-EVO starting with certain MY2019 vehicles with option code 6U3 Live Cockpit Professional or 6U2 Live Cockpit Plus. This uses map North America LIVE. The ENTRY Media/Navigation (HU-B) is the low line busi |
| 10204657 | Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vents). |
| 10201145 | Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vent). The following fault code is saved in the IHKA (integrated automatic heating/air conditioning system) control unit: 801189 - Engine mixed air right: Initialization fault. |
| 10200487 | TELEMATICS UNIT DEACTIVATION DUE TO 3G CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY DISCONTINUATION: The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February 2022. |
| 10198907 | DELIVERY STOP: CHARGING CABLE (NON-TURBOCORD VERSION): BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective May 3, 2021) on a small number of Model Year 2021 BMW i3 vehicles that were produced between March 1, 2021 and April 26, 2021. The vehicle cannot be charged on Level 1 because the Occasional Use Charging Cable (Standard OUC/Level 1/Mode 2), may have not been included. |
| 10193496 | The vehicle may exhibit any of the following at very low State of Charge (SOC) ? less than 8%: - Power loss or high voltage system shutdown while running range extender (REx). - Inconsistent performance of the REx. - High voltage system shutdown in vehicles without REx. - Excessively high range displayed in instrument cluster. |
| 10190849 | STEERING ASSISTANCE SPORADIC REDUCTION: The driver notices a reduction of steering assistance sporadically while in certain driving situations. Steering control is never lost when the reduction of assistance occurs. |
| 10187463 | I3 REX FRONT (UPSTREAM) OXYGEN SENSOR: If a vehicle listed above arrives with engine malfunction indicator (Check Engine) warning light on, performing a Vehicle Test. |
| 10186218 | ?SPORADIC REDUCTION OF STEERING ASSISTANCE: The driver notices a reduction of steering assistance sporadically while in certain driving situations. Steering control is never lost when the reduction of assistance occurs. |
| 10186206 | BMW MAINTENANCE BOOKLET AND OEM TIRE MANUFACTURERS' WARRANTIES: In efforts to provide a digital experience to our customers, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is proud to announce a digital version of both the BMW Maintenance Booklet and BMW Original Equipment Manufacturers' (OEM) Tire Warranties. |
| 10184584 | Low Washer Fluid Warning Light is illuminated when the Washer Fluid Tank is Full: Low Washer Fluid Warning Light is illuminated when the Washer Fluid Tank is Full.There are no faults stored in the system for the washer fluid level switch. |
| 10182911 | SERVICE ACTION - RENEW INTERIOR MIRROR HOLDER: The bonding of the interior mirror holder was not performed correctly. Incorrect bonding during production. |
| 10182612 | SERVICE ACTION - RENEW INTERIOR MIRROR HOLDER: The bonding of the interior mirror holder was not performed correctly. Incorrect bonding during production. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation