2 NHTSA safety recalls cover the 2016 BMW i3. Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about this model year. Every recall repair is free at any BMW dealer.
Is yours affected? Recalls cover ranges of VINs, not every 2016 BMW i3. Check your i3 by VIN and confirm open recalls at NHTSA.gov.
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Owners filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW i3, reporting 3 crashes, 1 injuries. BMW has issued at least 256 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in one investigation. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW i3. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
“Involved in a frontal collision and air bag did not deploy. Airbag could've prevented more serious injuries suffered. I contacted the service center at BMW Roseville and left a message for the service manager, no return call.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11439937
“ON A FREEWAY DRIVING AROUND 65MPH FRONT CAR CAME TO SUDDEN STOP SO APPLIED BRAKES AT FULL STRENGTH BUT CAR CONTINUED AT THE SAME SPEED FOR FEW SECONDS AND THEN BRAKES TOOK EFFECT BUT IT WAS TOO LATE BY THEN.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11329245
“I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING AT AROUND 9:15 AM PREPARING TO PARK BMW I3 ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN TO THE GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11031969
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11743788
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11711282
Search the official database: NHTSA. Excerpts are quoted from the public record, shortened at a sentence and with personal details removed.
Not every 2016 BMW i3 is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any BMW dealer.