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2016 BMW i3 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2016 BMW i3 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 33owner complaints
- 3crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 13%fail the UK MOT
33 complaints, against an average of 39 for the other 5 BMW i3 model years.
Every BMW i3 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2016 BMW i3?
The components named most often in the 33 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2016 BMW i3 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 33 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2016 BMW i3 been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags: Frontal 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 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.
Is the 2016 BMW i3 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSASteering may not behave as designed
Risk: The engine current sensors have not been calibrated correctly which could lead to an increased recuperation torque during vehicle deceleration. An increased recuperation torque during deceleration could lead to a vehicle oversteer condition in the i3 and vehicle understeer condition in the i8. This could lead to skidding on slippery roads during driving.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and calibrate sensors for measuring the engine current.
EU Safety GateInappropriate routing might cause a leakage on the fuel tank ventilation line over time.As a result, fuel vapours may get into the engine compartment resulting in the risk of a fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe side, head and knee protection airbags of the front passenger seat may not work.This could increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the event of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe power electronics have not been calibrated properly which might increase the recuperation torque during the vehicle's deceleration.In this case, the vehicle might skid in slippery road conditions.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2016 BMW i3 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2016, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2016 BMW i3 owners report?
12 of the 33 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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 airbag interval stage 1, resistance too high stored. BMW NA declined goodwill repair assistance despite the failure occurring within 20 days of warranty expiration. This is a safety-critical federally mandated system. Multiple BMW i3 owners in online communities report the same issue and reference TSB SI B65 18 16 as a known defect related to a cable being too short. I believe…
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, sometimes while in traffic. After sitting for several minutes, limited power may return, but the vehicle often shuts down again, and in some cases the Range Extender engine does not engage at all. This has occurred repeatedly and creates a serious risk of being stranded or hit while merging or driving on public roads. BMW has inspected the vehicle twice (07 Nov 2025 and 13 Jan 2026) and…
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 determined that the fuel filler had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
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 online, so many people with i3s ha e all had the same issue!
Translucent protection coat on roof delaminated; pieces blown into air. Bare roof and some coat pieces available for inspection upon request (no inspection yet). Other BMW i3 owners have reported same issue. No prior indication of problem on vehicle itself.
My bmw i3 has a faulty wiring harness or some other defect that is causing my car to turn off the airbag system. This is a chronic issue with bmw i3’s. Either the wiring harness is bad or the airbag becomes too stiff and the car deactivated the entire airbag system. Dangerous!
Loses power "without warning"; actually, when the REX turns on it automatically mentions that power "could be" lost when the REX turns on. However, that is very understated. In fact, there is nowhere in the owner's manual that raises this issue; doesn't even mention that there could or would be a "warning" if battery is low and REX is being used. Bottom line: The REX cannot keep up with driving. Please refer to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmn58reGv8k The above is identical to my experience. Especially VERY DANGEROUS when on the interstate highway. I was looking for an exit so that the…
The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. Additionally, the contact stated that after making a turn, the steering wheel failed to properly return to center. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the cause of the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
Previously reported a steering incident no. 11438343. Dealer indidicated that there was a "bug in the software" and that the car would be entitled to a one time fix under extended warranty. Dealership worked on the issue and completed the warranty repair on 11/28/2021 and I picked up the vehicle. Upon starting the car, the steering felt "different". I turned right to exit the dealership and tried to straighten the car but the steering turned full left and I crossed into the opposite lane of traffic. I stopped, turned the wheel to center, let it go and it turned full left on its own. I shut the…
STARTED THE CAR AFTER CHARGING IT OVERNIGHT AND "DRIVETRAIN: STOP CAREFULLY" AND "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY FINE BEFORE THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW I3. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, BOTH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW NORTHWEST (4011 20TH ST E, TACOMA, WA 98424, (253) 922-8700); HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. AFTER ANOTHER TWO WEEKS, A REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER FROM THE MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT A SOFTWARE REPAIR WAS NEEDED, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR POSSIBLY…
THE "STOP AND GO" CRUISE CONTROL HAS DISENGAGED OVER 100 TIMES AND HAS SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FOR NO REASON 5 TIMES. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE SHOWN BMW OVER 50 PHOTOS AND 3 VIDEOS OF THIS AND THEY FIND EVERY EXCUSE IN THE BOOK. I AM SCARED FOR MY LIFE WHEN USING THIS CRUISE CONTROL. BMW ALSO REFUSES TO TAKE THE CAR BACK.
2016 BMW i3: questions owners ask
Is the 2016 BMW i3 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW i3; the most common categories were structure (10, 30.3%), steering (8, 24.2%), air bags (6, 18.2%). There are 2 safety recalls. 3 complaints mention a crash, 1 injury was reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 BMW i3?
Across 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are structure (30.3% of complaints), steering (24.2% of complaints), air bags (18.2% of complaints), electrical system (15.2% of complaints), power train (9.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2016 BMW i3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 BMW i3; the most recent (campaign 17V720000, 2017-11-16) concerns Air Bags: Frontal. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2016 BMW i3?
4 of the 33 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 BMW i3 (12.1%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. A related recall exists: campaign 17V720000 (air bags: frontal). The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the Driver air bag control unit software, free of charge. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11743788, June 2026). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own i3
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2016 only.