Reliable Auto DB

2016 BMW i3 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 BMW i3 holds 33 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most i3 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Frontal and Hoses and fittings.

2014 BMW i3
Photo by Dietmar Rabich, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

33

Per year

1

Recalls

2

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (10 of 33), then Steering (8) and Air bags (6). Those filings include 3 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 i3 has 47 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2017 has 52 complaints, 5 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 BMW i3. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall air bags, frontal 2017-11-16 · NHTSA campaign 17V720000
Summary 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."
Remedy 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.
Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2017-02-09 · NHTSA campaign 17V088000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (33 total)

Structure
10
Steering
8
Air bags
6
Electrical system
5
Powertrain
3
Engine
2
Speed control
2
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Service brakes
1
Show 2 more Show less
Crash-flagged

3

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120162201712018420193202042021112023120244202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Driver airbag warning light illuminated. Vehicle was diagnosed at BMW of Sherman Oaks (RO# 176741) and confirmed as a faulty driver airbag module - part# 32-30-6-870-366. BMW technician found fault code 930904: Driver's…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-06-12
  • "While driving my 2016 BMW i3 with Range Extender, the vehicle experiences sudden and complete loss of propulsion at very low state of charge (0–1%). The car abruptly loses motive power, forcing me to pull over,…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-01-15
  • "Faulty airbag warning"
    Electrical system, Air bags · filed 2025-07-29
  • "The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and the air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and…"
    Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags, Engine · filed 2025-04-22
  • "The roof has bubbled and peeled away leaving an exposed permeable roof, meaning if it rains, water will get into the car because of the roof material being not safe, not strong, peeling away. Just terrible! Looking…"
    Structure · filed 2025-03-03

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 BMW I3 5 HB RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
i3 BEV — Automatic (1-speed) Rear-wheel drive 137 111 124 MPG / 81 mi range $600
i3 REX 0.6L, 2-cyl Automatic (1-speed) Rear-wheel drive 41 37 39 MPG / 150 mi range $2050

Specs and fitment

First generation (I01), 2014–2021
Body styles Hatchback
Tire size 155/70R19 front (175/60R19 rear staggered); 155/60R20 front (175/55R20 rear) optional front / 155/70R19 or 175/60R19 (staggered packages); 155/60R20 or 175/55R20 optional rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 17V-088 covers certain 2014-2017 i3 REx range-extender hybrids: the fuel-tank vent line may rub against the battery positive cable sleeve and develop a hole, which can leak fuel vapor and increase fire risk. The campaign lists 19,130 vehicles; dealers inspect and replace the vent line as needed and install a clip. Recall 17V-720 covers certain 2014-2018 i3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles: unbelted small-adult drivers may face higher neck-injury risk in a frontal crash. That campaign lists 32,000 vehicles; dealers update the driver air-bag control-unit software.

Compare

Previous year 2015 BMW i3 Next year 2017 BMW i3 See every BMW i3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 BMW i3 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 BMW i3 holds 33 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most i3 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Frontal and Hoses and fittings.

What are common problems with a 2016 BMW i3?

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (10 of 33), then Steering (8) and Air bags (6). Those filings include 3 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2016 BMW i3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 i3 has 47 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2017 has 52 complaints, 5 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 BMW i3 been recalled?

The 2016 BMW i3 has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 BMW i3?

Owners have filed 33 complaints about the 2016 BMW i3 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 BMW i3 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 BMW i3 is 81.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

Does the BMW i3 need engine oil changes?

Battery-electric i3 models have no conventional engine oil; REx models have a small range-extender gasoline engine with its own service schedule.

What tire sizes does the BMW i3 use?

Common OEM fitments are 155/70R19 (often with staggered 175/60R19 rear) and optional 20-inch 155/60R20 / 175/55R20 packages; confirm the door placard.

What recalls affect certain BMW i3 models?

NHTSA campaigns include 17V-088 (REx fuel-tank vent line) and 17V-720 (driver air-bag control software for certain 2014-2018 models).