KnownCarProblems2015 BMW i3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 BMW i3, most often about the steering (32% of complaints, typically around 30,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about i3 model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2015 BMW i3 problems
Steering
15 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles.
The i3's power steering went out causing the car to pull to the left resulting in me driving into oncoming traffic and almost off the road. (low speed, 15mph). Using force, I was able to turn the steering wheel, without the usual power steering assistance, straightening out the vehicle's direction and got me on the…
While driving, steering became heavy, notchy. It would not center itself; for example, around a turn, the steering wheel would stay in the direction I turned. This has happened several times over the last few months! It seems there is a bug in the software. BMW can't find anything wrong. Several forms have been…
Air bags
7 complaints · 15%Parts named most often: sensor.
Seat belt twist into the re-tractor back of the seat and cannot be untwisted because the twist remains behind the seat from the floor to the top of the seat. Taken to the dealer but the dealer denies that this is possible claiming someone must have messed with them installing them backwards. I have another issue too…
The driver's side airbag indicator illuminated upon vehicle startup. The dealer diagnosed that there was a fault in the system and that the airbag might not deploy in a collision. This failure made the vehicle unsafe to drive.
Body and structure
7 complaints · 15%Parts named most often: body.
Speed control
6 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles.
Our car would not make it up the hill during a rainstorm on the highway in camarillo, ca. It went from 65 down to 45. It happened to US twice on this trip. We were using the range extender. We have videos the vehicle losing power.
The cruise control randomly turns itself off and the car immediately goes into regenerative braking. The service technician was unable to duplicate the problem and no repairs were performed by the dealer. It has happened under many different driving conditions, and different times of the day and night on freeways and…
Electrical
6 complaints · 13%The charging cable won't unlock from the car because of a bad actuator and software bug, and the fuel pressure sensor for the range extender failed due to corrosion. Both are known problems. BMW has redesigned the parts, but does not make the repair before selling the cars. It is broken for the second time in a month…
I turned on the car, opened the gate and put the car in reverse. I pressed the gas peddle lightly and the car flew out of the driveway, hit the gate, flew out into the street and hit a parked car. During this time, the car brakes never worked. It was as if the gas peddle was stuck and the brakes did not work to stop…
Transmission
4 complaints · 9%The contact owns a 2015 BMW i3. While driving approximately 70 MPH, on an extended range, the speed decreased to below 60 MPH and completely lost acceleration. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure…
Our car would not make it up the hill during a rainstorm on the highway in camarillo, ca. It went from 65 down to 45. It happened to US twice on this trip. We were using the range extender. We have videos the vehicle losing power.
Fuel system
3 complaints · 6%The charging cable won't unlock from the car because of a bad actuator and software bug, and the fuel pressure sensor for the range extender failed due to corrosion. Both are known problems. BMW has redesigned the parts, but does not make the repair before selling the cars. It is broken for the second time in a month…
While driving the console had a message: "drivetrain malfunction". I was able to coast over to the side of the road but could accelerate after the message on the console. Very dangerous situation. No warning, once the message appeared on the console the car would not accelerate.
Engine
3 complaints · 6%I turned on the car, opened the gate and put the car in reverse. I pressed the gas peddle lightly and the car flew out of the driveway, hit the gate, flew out into the street and hit a parked car. During this time, the car brakes never worked. It was as if the gas peddle was stuck and the brakes did not work to stop…
Our car would not make it up the hill during a rainstorm on the highway in camarillo, ca. It went from 65 down to 45. It happened to US twice on this trip. We were using the range extender. We have videos the vehicle losing power.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 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."
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 2015 BMW i3
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 BMW i3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (15 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles); air bags (7 complaints); body and structure (7 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2015 BMW i3 have?
- 3 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 2015 a bad year for the BMW i3?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about i3 model year since 2000, with 47 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.