KnownCarProblems2014 BMW i3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 BMW i3, most often about the transmission (26% of complaints, typically around 38,000 miles). It is the most complained-about i3 model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2014 BMW i3 problems
Transmission
14 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles.
In several occasion, a drive train malfunction while I was driving in the city. A "drive train malfunction" lights up and car stops and will not shift into gear again. I turned off the car for a minute then on again, the light disappeared. This happened twice. The third time I started up my car and the light appeared…
When the vehicle enters a 'fault' mode, such as drive motor malfunction, the cars discontinues power to the drive motor, allows the vehicle to roll to a stop, then electronically puts the transmission in park. As long as the fault code exists the vehicle cannot be pushed or towed out of harms way. I was about to turn…
Engine
10 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 15,500 miles.
While driving the car and at a stop light the car made some jerky noise and got the "drivetrain malfunction - stop and turn off engine. Do not continue driving. Call roadside assistance" message. This has happened about 6 months ago and had the car towed to the service and they never found any problem. Now in the span…
The contact owns a 2014 BMW i3. The contact purchased the vehicle used in june of 2019. In early august, a loud grinding noise was heard when the air conditioning was activated. While braking, the contact released the accelerator pedal and heard a thumping sound and the drive train malfunction indicator illuminated.…
Air bags
8 complaints · 15%The contact owns a 2014 BMW i3. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and remained stuck causing the vehicle to crash into a brick wall. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained chest and neck injuries, which required medical attention. The…
Passenger seat sensor would fail to detect a passenger after drive lasting 20 minutes or more. The passenger air bag will not deploy in this state because no fault codes are registered in the seat sensor or anywhere else. BMW claims that this caused by "cell phone interference" and it "can never be fixed" but has…
Body and structure
7 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: body.
Steering
7 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles.
Temporary loss of power assist. From a stop, the assist will function correctly until 30mph. From then on, there will be no power assist until coming to a full stop. The pattern repeats itself for the remainder of the trip. Once the vehicle is turned off, it could take days or months for this to happen again. BMW…
Intermittently, the power steering does not come on when the car is turned on. Steering is heavy and slow. Turning the car off and back on generally corrects this fault. It has happened several times over the past year. I documented below approximately the date of the first event.
Speed control
6 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: cruise control.
The contact owns a 2014 BMW i3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the cruise control warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.
I turned right into a parking spot in front of a commercial buidling. I remember slowing down as I approached the parking space. As the car slowed, it suddenly jerked and then accelerated causing it to go over the concrete parking header and collide into building exterior and metal gate. The car was in slow speed as I…
Electrical
6 complaints · 11%The contact owns a 2014 BMW i3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the cruise control warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.
Charged my car overnight in my climate controlled garage and went out the next morning to run errands. Turned it on, put it in drive, heard a pop or clunk from the rear and then got a drive train not available - do not move vehicle error. Couldn't even put the car in neutral for towing - BMW roadside had to send a tow…
Wheels and tires
5 complaints · 9%A small piece of plastic easily punctured the tire and made it flat. The tires on the BMW i3 are prone to flats and easily get punctured. These are new tires by bridgestone that have never been tested in other vehicles and there are lots of flats by owners on this specific car.
BMW are manufacturing newer model tires for their i3 . These tires are very narrow compared to other cars that get easily worn out . The tire tread readings show that they are below safety level, within 12k miles of driving. They are very unstable and can be a risk factor while driving on the roads.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2014 BMW i3 recalls
Air bags: frontal
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.
Full defect 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."
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Full defect 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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.
Fix: Mini and bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on november 25, 2015. Owners may contact mini customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 mini cooper s and mini cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 mini john cooper works and mini cooper s and mini cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 bmw i3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Air bags: frontal
Risk: If the air bag deploys improperly in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bags, the seat occupant may be at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began in september 2014. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling a certain model year bmw i3 vehicle manufactured march 31, 2014, and certain 2014 mini cooper hardtop vehicles manufactured february 2, 2014 to may 30, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an air bag inflator that was not assembled correctly. This could cause the air bag to not deploy properly in the event of an accident.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Questions about the 2014 BMW i3
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 BMW i3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (14 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles); engine (10 complaints, typically around 15,500 miles); air bags (8 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2014 BMW i3 have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 16, 2017 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2014 a bad year for the BMW i3?
- It is the most complained-about i3 model year since 2000, with 54 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.