Small car
2018 BMW i3: problems, recalls and fuel economy
Not rated yet
Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 2018 BMW i3 with NHTSA, and it has 3 recalls. We don't rate it yet: a rating needs sales figures to turn complaints into rates.
Owner complaints
17
filed with NHTSA
Recalls
3
on record
Fuel economy
118 MPGe
best version, EPA combined
What owners complain about most
Engines and fuel economy
| Version | Drive | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Electric, 114 mi range | Rear-Wheel Drive | 118 MPGe |
| Electric, 107 mi range | Rear-Wheel Drive | 112 MPGe |
| Automatic (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | Rear-Wheel Drive | 35 mpg |
| Automatic (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | Rear-Wheel Drive | 35 mpg |
Recalls
Hybrid Propulsion SystemApr 17, 2019 · campaign 19V310000
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 i3 BEV and i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high voltage electrical power.
Equipment › ElectricalSep 20, 2018 · campaign 18V652000
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
Air Bags › FrontalNov 16, 2017 · campaign 17V720000
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."
Check whether a specific car still has open recalls with its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Before you buy
Get a vehicle history report →Check for accidents, title problems and odometer rollbacks before you buy.Compare insurance quotes →Insurance is a big part of the cost to own, and it varies a lot by car.Check used-car loan rates →Get pre-approved before visiting a dealer so you can compare their offer.
These links go to independent sites. We don't earn anything from them.
Other years of the BMW i3
| Year | Reliability |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Not rated yet |
| 2020 | Not rated yet |
| 2019 | Not rated yet |
| 2018 | Not rated yet |
| 2017 | Not rated yet |
| 2016 | Not rated yet |
| 2015 | Not rated yet |
Questions people ask
What problems does the 2018 BMW i3 have?
Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA: driver-assist & stability (4), steering (3), body, glass & interior (3). We don't rate it yet, so this count isn't a reliability score: popular cars get more complaints.
How many recalls does the 2018 BMW i3 have?
3 recalls on record with NHTSA.
What gas mileage does the 2018 BMW i3 get?
Up to 118 MPGe combined (EPA), depending on the engine.