2017 BMW I3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other I3 years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 BMW I3. That ranks 2nd out of 9 I3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (12 complaints, 23%), typically at around 32,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 53owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 12 | 23% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | 23% | 5,800 | — | — |
| Steering | 11 | 21% | 12,208 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 15% | 29,712 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 11% | 18,340 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 6% | 29,712 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 4% | 2,501 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 4% | 7,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 4% | 15,840 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% | 4,025 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 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
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. 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 rear backup camera view in the screen is completely overridden in reverse, by a tire pressure warning when a tire is low or there is another TPMS fault. It requires using the rotary dial to clear the message before the function of the backup camera is restored. Also, if the rear hatch is…
My 2017 i3 has a deteriorating roof. The roof, which is made of carbon fiber, is peeling and pieces are breaking off. This has also led to the interior upholstery of my roof to peel and sag. I am worried moisture will be let into my car, creating a mold issue. I contacted BMW and my extended…
The carbon fiber roof panel is starting to delaminate and I am concerned that pieces could fly off and cause an accident.
On May 30, 2026, I was driving on the NJ Turnpike with high winds and I heard loud sounds like hard rain on the roof of my BMW i3. I saw sheets flying off the roof. When I parked the car, the clear coat covering the roof had delaminated, exposing the carbon fiber. The BMW collision shop told me…
I bought the car new in 2017. Last summer, I noticed bubbles on the roof. On May 30, 2026, as I was driving 65 mph on the NJ Turnpike, I heard sounds on the roof like hard rain but it was not raining. I saw large sheets flying off my roof towards other cars, and some flying sheets were large enough…
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 | 53 | 3 |
| 2016 I3 | 33 | 2 |
| 2015 I3 | 47 | 3 |
| 2014 I3 | 54 | 4 |
See all BMW I3 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
Embed this 2017 BMW I3 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 BMW I3?
Owners most often report structure, unknown or other, steering problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 12 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 BMW I3?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 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 2017 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.