Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2019.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 i8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 i8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018 i8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 i8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 i8 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 i8 | 5 | 1 |
| 2014 i8 | 1 | 1 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system5
- Engine3
- Tires1
- Suspension1
- Seat belts1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Air bags1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 5 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 BMW i8 2 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2019 | 2019 BMW I8 2 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2017 | 2017 BMW I8 PHEV 2 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2016 | 2016 BMW I8 2 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2015 | 2015 BMW I8 2 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
In New Zealand
27 i8 cars are on the New Zealand register; 89% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
234 i8 cars are on Dutch roads; 28% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 48 | €178,567 |
| 2018 | 46 | €170,292 |
| 2016 | 26 | €150,201 |
| 2015 | 78 | €150,322 |
| 2014 | 36 | €149,362 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
78 i8 cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 83% petrol, 0% diesel; 99% of all are hybrids. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 15 | 62,000 km |
| 2017 | 12 | 74,000 km |
| 2016 | 13 | 100,000 km |
| 2015 | 21 | 99,000 km |
| 2014 | 17 | 115,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 24 i8 cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 0 of those collisions were fatal and 5 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
2,033 i8 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 62 | 12 |
| 2019 | 227 | 40 |
| 2018 | 328 | 51 |
| 2017 | 208 | 36 |
| 2016 | 417 | 40 |
| 2015 | 608 | 54 |
| 2014 | 183 | 16 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
2,217 i8 cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 90% passed first time, against 79% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 265 | 91% |
| 2018 | 378 | 90% |
| 2017 | 239 | 92% |
| 2016 | 469 | 90% |
| 2015 | 665 | 89% |
| 2014 | 201 | 90% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | i8 | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 4.8% | 6.0% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.4% | 6.1% |
| Visibility | 1.3% | 3.7% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 1.1% | 0.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 0.9% | 1.3% |
| Brakes | 0.9% | 4.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.5% | 1.6% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.3% | 0.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
7,962 new BMW i8 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2014 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Germany (36), Belgium (10), France (5).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 51 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 552 | 50 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 945 | 50 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1,343 | 51 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 763 | 49 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1,408 | — |
| 2015 | 1,898 | — |
| 2014 | 998 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the i8 in 4 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The side, head and knee protection airbags of the front passenger seat may not work. This could increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the event of an accident.
The control unit of the electronic power steering may have been incorrectly manufactured. This may cause a fire even when the vehicle is parked. Furthermore, steering assistance might fail while driving.
The power electronics have not been calibrated properly which might increase the recuperation torque during the vehicle's deceleration. In this case, the vehicle might skid in slippery road conditions.
Due to a manufacturing fault, the Hydro Unit Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) function could be impaired. The dynamic stability of the vehicle might be affected adversely in critical driving situations.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
6 campaigns cover the i8.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. Debris may have entered one or more of the hybrid battery cells during their production.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 i3 BEV, i3 REx, and i8 vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high-voltage electrical power.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
BMW 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.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 i8 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Improperly drilled holes within the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) hydraulic unit may restrict one or more pistons impairing the DSC functions, including braking.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 i8 vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2014, to September 16, 2014. A bolt used to attach a ground cable between the tank and the vehicle chassis may not have been properly welded during manufacturing.
NHTSA recalls