{"id":"2017_bmw_i3","make":"BMW","make_slug":"bmw","model":"i3","model_slug":"i3","year":2017,"url":"/bmw/i3/2017/","pts":["bev","phev"],"configs":[{"id":38000,"model":"i3 BEV (60  Amp-hour battery)","pt":"bev","drive":"Rear-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (A1)","cyl":null,"displ":null,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":137,"hwy":111,"comb":124,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":27.0,"range":81,"range_city":89,"range_hwy":72,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":4.0,"charge240b":0.0,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"125 kW AC Induction","fuel":"Electricity","vclass":"Subcompact Cars","co2":0,"fe_score":10,"ghg_score":10,"fuel_cost":600,"save_spend":8250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"BMX","modified":"Thu Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":38001,"model":"i3 BEV (94 Amp-hour battery)","pt":"bev","drive":"Rear-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (A1)","cyl":null,"displ":null,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":129,"hwy":106,"comb":118,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":29.0,"range":114,"range_city":124,"range_hwy":102,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":5.0,"charge240b":0.0,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"125 kW AC Induction","fuel":"Electricity","vclass":"Subcompact Cars","co2":0,"fe_score":10,"ghg_score":10,"fuel_cost":650,"save_spend":8000,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"BMX","modified":"Thu Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2017"},{"id":38229,"model":"i3 REX  (94 Amp-hour battery)","pt":"phev","drive":"Rear-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (A1)","cyl":2,"displ":0.6,"eng":"PHEV; 94 Amp-hour battery","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":36,"hwy":33,"comb":35,"cityA":118,"hwyA":103,"combA":111,"kwh100":30.0,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":97.0,"phev_comb":88,"charge240":5.0,"charge240b":0.0,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"125kW AC Induction","fuel":"Premium Gas or Electricity","vclass":"Subcompact Cars","co2":29,"fe_score":10,"ghg_score":10,"fuel_cost":2200,"save_spend":7000,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"BMX","modified":"Fri Mar 25 00:00:00 EDT 2022"}],"vclass":"Subcompact Cars","segment":"Compact car","recalls":[{"campaign":"17V720000","component":"AIR BAGS:FRONTAL","mfr":"BMW of North America, LLC","reported":"2017-11-16","owner_notified":"2018-01-12","units":32000,"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.\"","consequence":"During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"","initiated_by":"OVSC","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"17V088000","component":"FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS","mfr":"BMW of North America, LLC","reported":"2017-02-09","owner_notified":"2017-03-25","units":19130,"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.","consequence":"A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"},{"campaign":"16V914000","component":"AIR BAGS","mfr":"BMW of North America, LLC","reported":"2016-12-20","owner_notified":"2017-02-10","units":3506,"summary":"BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.","consequence":"If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.","remedy":"BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge.  The recall began February 6, 2017.  Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"}],"recall_count":3,"critical_count":1,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"score":69,"grade":"D","complaints":{"count":51,"crash":2,"fire":1,"injured":4,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Structure",12],["Unspecified",11],["Steering",11],["Electrical System",7],["Power Train",6],["Air Bags",4]],"by_year":{"2017":4,"2018":1,"2019":11,"2020":3,"2021":4,"2022":2,"2023":5,"2024":8,"2025":7,"2026":6},"excerpts":[["2026-04-07","Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness","We have experienced a mechanical issue with the harness system. Specifically, the straps become extremely difficult to tighten or loosen over time. To adjust them, I have to pull with the full force of a 200lb adult, to the point where it literally shakes the car. Despite following all manufacturer instructions\u00e2\u20ac\u201dinclu\u2026"],["2025-12-17","Air Bags","Summary On September 30, 2025, the passenger in a 2017 BMW i3 REX was involved in a severe frontal collision with a Gas Company Utility Vehicle. The impact struck the driver\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s side extending toward the passenger side, causing the vehicle to spin violently and nearly flip. The passenger reports seatbelt failure with e\u2026"],["2025-10-11","Structure","The carbon fiber roof is bubbling and disintegrating. I have one section behind the passenger door that is the size of my FULL hand that is in a circle shape where the roof is scaling and peeling. Each day that passes, the known spot is getting bigger and bigger. It's embarrassing to see this happening to my car and ma\u2026"]]},"investigations":[{"action":"DP22005","component":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM","opened":"2023-01-27","closed":"2023-08-07","campaign":"22V063000","subject":"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"}],"ncap":[],"popularity":999,"headline":{"range":114,"mpg":35,"ncap":null,"complaints":51},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 05:01 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}