BMW i3
Every model year 2016–2021: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every BMW i3 model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per yearWhich model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2020 is the cleanest i3 year we hold, and the 2018 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2019: best combined mpg 35 → 31; best range 114 → 153 mi
- 2018: 3 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2017: best combined mpg 39 → 35; best range 81 → 114 mi; 2 → 3 EPA configurations
Compare
Which is better for you? →| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 i3 vs Nissan Rogue Sport · Compact Hatchback | i3 +24.5 |
Common questions about the BMW i3
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich BMW i3 year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2020 i3 comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (100/100), 0 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What BMW i3 years should I avoid?
No i3 model year carries a D or F Safety Signal or a standing advisory. The ranking page orders every year on recalls and complaints per year on the road, and says why.
How many recalls does the BMW i3 have?
Across model years 2016–2021, NHTSA has posted 9 recall campaigns for the BMW i3. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.