2014 BMW I3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other I3 years
- More complaints than other years 1st of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 BMW I3. That is the most of any I3 model year in the database (9 years). The most reported problem area is power train (14 complaints, 26%), typically at around 38,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 3 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 54owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2014 BMW I3 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 14 | 26% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 9 | 17% | 32,800 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 15% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 13% | 24,800 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 11% | 5,730 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 11% | 8,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 9% | 49,991 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 9% | 6,506 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 6% | 88,720 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 4% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 4% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 2% | 4,960 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 2% | 600 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% | 43,580 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | 12,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2014 BMW I3 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: 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
Problem: 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
Problem: 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
Problem: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The roof of the BMW started delaminating a few years back, and it is compromising the structural integrity of this vehicle. In an attempt to fix the roof, epoxy was applied after it was smoothed down and the roof looked aesthetically pleasing for about a year, until it started delaminating rapidly…
Sudden unintended deceleration on highway Complete loss of propulsion Thermal warning / overheating Date: May 11, 2026 Mileage: approximately 18,966+ Vehicle: 2014 BMW i3 REx, VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2014 BMW I3. The contact stated that while driving at 49 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal screeching sound and was leaning on the driver's side rear-end. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a rear-end inspection was performed, and the contact was informed…
BMW Service Bulletin SI B22 04 15 to replace motor mount bolts and other components due to failure in 2016 was done on my vehicle in 2016. BMW has replaced all motor mounts in 2014 and 2015 i3's in Europe. The motor mounts were redesigned for 2016 and newer models. From online forums I see that…
back in march 2025 my 2014 BMW i3 REX gave out a "Drivetrain Malfunction" error. The car's propulsion died while driving. I was driving in the street on the way home from picking up my chidren from school when the power completely shut off while driving. I had a full battery charge and also had…
Other BMW I3 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 I3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 I3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 I3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 I3 | 13 | 1 |
| 2018 I3 | 14 | 3 |
| 2017 I3 | 53 | 3 |
| 2016 I3 | 33 | 2 |
| 2015 I3 | 47 | 3 |
| 2014 | 54 | 4 |
See all BMW I3 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2014 BMW I3?
Owners most often report power train, engine, air bags problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 14 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2014 BMW I3?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2014 BMW I3 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other I3 model years, the 2014 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.