2015 BMW I3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other I3 years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 BMW I3. That ranks 3rd out of 9 I3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (15 complaints, 32%), typically at around 30,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 47owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2015 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 15 | 32% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 7 | 15% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 13% | 23,790 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 13% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 9% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 6% | 10,790 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 4% | 24,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 4% | 37,511 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 2% | 985 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 2% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% | 7,580 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | 80,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2015 BMW I3 recalls (3)
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.
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.
In the middle of driving, the coil spring on rear passenger side snapped. What happened to me today was exactly what the search result showed from the internet. And yet, when I put in my VIN # to your and BMW website, I got 0 recall for this VIN. Mine is 2015, what am I missing? Googel: Early BMW…
When driving down the interstate the carbon fiber roof suddenly delaminated of its top layer causing the cars behind me to have to slam on the brakes as chunks of carbon fiber flew off the car. This is a known issue with the BMW carbon fiber roofs that is worse on the i3 because of instead of a…
Carbon fiber roof is experiencing sun damage beyond what is normal.
roof damage
airbag failed. alert light went on. Had to be replaced.
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 | 47 | 3 |
| 2014 I3 | 54 | 4 |
See all BMW I3 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2015 BMW I3?
Owners most often report steering, air bags, structure problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 15 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2015 BMW I3?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2015 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 2015 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.