2018 BMW I3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other I3 years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 5th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW I3. That ranks 5th out of 9 I3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (3 complaints, 21%). There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 14owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 21% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 21% | 6,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 21% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 21% | 29,800 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 7% | 17,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 7% | 16,176 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 7% | 26,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 BMW I3 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Hybrid propulsion system; electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 i3 BEV and i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high voltage electrical power.
Risk: A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EME module, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Equipment:electrical
Problem: 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.
Risk: An electrical shock or a fire can increase the risk of injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the charging cable, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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.
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.
After reviewing BMWâs warranty documentation, I believe that the part replaced â specifically the evaporative emissions (EVAP) valve or purge valve AND vapor canister (active charcoal canister) â should be covered under the California Extended Emissions Warranty (TZEV) for my 2018 BMW i3 with…
Roof delaminating and is danger of flying off
This isn't a safety issue, rather it's a known problem with the factory AC compressor inside of BMW i3s and i8s that seem to constantly fail. I had a replacement under the car's factory warranty and the part already failed again right outside the part's warranty period. The replacement itself was…
My car has a problem with the carbon fiber roof panel. In the sun, the clear epoxy of the roof is de laminating from the carbon fiber beneath it. This is a safety issue because as it delaminates the clear epoxy is no longer properly attached to the roof and may fly off and into other vehicles when…
The roof is cracking, yellowing and bubbling. I have heard that this is the beginning of roof failure and de-lamination. There have been reports and incidents of others roofs delaminating and having large pieces flying off and hitting other cars.
Other BMW I3 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 I3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 I3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 I3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 I3 | 13 | 1 |
| 2018 | 14 | 3 |
| 2017 I3 | 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
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW I3?
Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, steering, structure problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 BMW I3?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 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 2018 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.