The manufacturer filed it. Here it is, by model.
BMW i3: deaths and injuries the manufacturer reported to NHTSA
BMW reported 33 incidents alleging a death or injury in a BMW i3, model years 2014–2019, in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21), through 2026 Q1. Each is a claim the manufacturer received, not a finding; NHTSA does not verify them.
By model year
Source: manufacturer EWR death and injury reports and production reports| Model year | Incidents | Killed | Injured | Built | Per 100,000 built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 10 | 0 | 10 | — | — |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 | 15 | — | — |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | — |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 9,282 | 86 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2,420 | 41 |
The model year is the one the manufacturer named in the report. A model year with its own page links to it. “Built” is the manufacturer’s cumulative production for the model year from its latest Early Warning production report; the rate is incidents per 100,000 of them.
By the system the claimant named
Source: as the manufacturer reported it| System named | Incidents | Killed |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 17 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 0 |
| Service Brake System | 8 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension System | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 |
| Fire | 1 | 0 |
An incident naming several systems is counted under each. “Fire” and “Other” are categories in the rule, not systems.
Every one of these, dated and numbered
The defect dossier for the BMW i3 puts each report beside the recalls, investigations, bulletins and owner complaints on the same system, as a PDF and two CSVs: the BMW i3, one system, every model year, numbered as exhibits.
The incidents
Source: VIN shown as NHTSA publishes it: the first eleven characters| Incident | Model year | State | Killed | Injured | Systems named | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-30 | 2017 | NM | 0 | 1 | Seat Belts · Air Bags | 2026 Q1 |
| 2025-01-06 | 2017 | FL | 0 | 1 | Service Brake System · Vehicle Speed Control | 2025 Q1 |
| 2023-10-23 | 2015 | AZ | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2024 Q2 |
| 2023-07-19 | 2015 | CA | 0 | 3 | Service Brake System · Vehicle Speed Control · Air Bags | 2024 Q2 |
| 2023-07-19 | 2015 | CA | 0 | 3 | Service Brake System · Vehicle Speed Control · Air Bags | 2023 Q3 |
| 2023-02-24 | 2015 | CA | 0 | 1 | Suspension System | 2023 Q2 |
| 2021-08-08 | 2017 | CA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2021 Q3 |
| 2021-07-14 | 2014 | GA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2021 Q3 |
| 2020-11-08 | 2019 | CA | 0 | 2 | Wheels | 2021 Q1 |
| 2020-10-18 | 2016 | FL | 0 | 1 | Other | 2020 Q4 |
| 2020-06-19 | 2016 | OR | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2020 Q2 |
| 2020-03-12 | 2017 | CA | 0 | 1 | Service Brake System · Vehicle Speed Control | 2020 Q2 |
| 2020-01-12 | 2016 | WA | 0 | 1 | Seat Belts | 2020 Q1 |
| 2019-11-20 | 2014 | TN | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2020 Q1 |
| 2019-10-23 | 2017 | CA | 0 | 1 | Other | 2019 Q4 |
| 2019-08-23 | 2017 | CA | 0 | 1 | Other | 2019 Q3 |
| 2019-03-12 | 2014 | CA | 0 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2019 Q1 |
| 2019-01-17 | 2014 | CA | 0 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2019 Q1 |
| 2018-11-09 | 2017 | CA | 0 | 3 | Service Brake System · Air Bags | 2018 Q4 |
| 2017-11-28 | 2017 | CA | 0 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2017 Q4 |
| 2017-08-18 | 2016 | CA | 0 | 1 | Power Train · Electrical System | 2017 Q3 |
| 2017-08-01 | 2015 | CA | 0 | 1 | Fire | 2017 Q3 |
| 2016-08-18 | 2015 | CA | 0 | 2 | Service Brake System · Vehicle Speed Control | 2016 Q4 |
| 2016-07-08 | 2015 | CA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2016 Q3 |
| 2016-04-26 | 2014 | GA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2016 Q2 |
| 2015-12-11 | 2014 | CA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2016 Q1 |
| 2015-11-10 | 2015 | FL | 0 | 1 | Service Brake System | 2015 Q4 |
| 2015-10-01 | 2014 | CA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2016 Q2 |
| 2015-09-20 | 2014 | MI | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2016 Q1 |
| 2015-09-01 | 2014 | CA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2015 Q3 |
| 2015-06-16 | 2015 | FL | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2015 Q4 |
| 2015-06-05 | 2014 | FL | 0 | 1 | Air Bags · Vehicle Speed Control | 2015 Q3 |
| 2015-01-12 | 2015 | CA | 0 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control · Service Brake System | 2016 Q1 |
Each row above is a claim or notice BMW received alleging a death or injury in a BMW i3 and reported to NHTSA as 49 CFR 579.21 requires; NHTSA does not verify it, and a i3 that sold more will have more rows. All BMW models · What these reports are, and are not.