2017 BMW i3 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2017 BMW i3 has 52 complaints with NHTSA after 10 years, or 5 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 8 i3 years on this site. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Frontal, Hoses and fittings, and Air bags.

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

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (12 of 52), then Steering (11) and Electrical system (7). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2016 and 2018

The 2016 i3 has 33 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2018 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2018.

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 2017 BMW i3. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

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.

Recall Air bags 2016-12-20 · NHTSA campaign 16V914000

Summary 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.

Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (52 total)

Structure

Steering

Electrical system

Powertrain

Air bags

Fuel and propulsion system

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Service brakes

Speed control

Chest clip, buckle, and harness

Engine

Exterior lighting

Other or not sure

Seat belts

Seats

Suspension

Tires

Visibility

Visibility and wipers

Show 11 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"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…"
Structure · filed 2026-09-17
"The carbon fiber roof panel is starting to delaminate and I am concerned that pieces could fly off and cause an accident."
Structure · filed 2026-07-29
"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…"
Structure · filed 2026-06-27
"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…"
Structure · filed 2026-05-31
"We have experienced a mechanical issue with the harness system. Specifically, the straps become extremely difficult to tighten or loosen over time. To adjust them, I have to pull with the full force of a 200lb adult, to…"
chest clip, buckle, and harness, Other or not sure · filed 2026-04-07

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2017 BMW I3 5 HB RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2017 BMW I3 PHEV 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 (60 Amp-hour battery)	—	Automatic (1-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	137	111	124 MPG / 81 mi range	$600
i3 BEV (94 Amp-hour battery)	—	Automatic (1-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	129	106	118 MPG / 114 mi range	$650
i3 REX (94 Amp-hour battery)	0.6L, 2-cyl	Automatic (1-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	36	33	35 MPG / 180 mi range	$2300

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 2016 BMW i3 See every BMW i3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 BMW i3 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2017 BMW i3?

Is the 2017 BMW i3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2016 i3 has 33 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2018 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2018.

Has the 2017 BMW i3 been recalled?

The 2017 BMW i3 has 3 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 2017 BMW i3?

Owners have filed 52 complaints about the 2017 BMW i3 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2017 BMW i3 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2017 BMW i3 is 92.3 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).