Home · 2014 BMW I3 · Complaints

What 49 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 BMW I3

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (49)Crash / fire / injury (3)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Airbags (8)Engine (8)Steering (7)Body & structure (6)Electrical system (6)Speed control (5)Wheels (5)Fuel system (4)Seat belts (2)

5 of 49 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters

May 12, 2022Body & structureSpeed controlEngine

I purchased my 2014 BMW i3 from Canada in 2019. It was imported from the U.S and still is registered in the U.S. I brought it into the BMW dealership in Vancouver BC shortly after to do a vehicle inspection. At that time, the dealer printed out a list of defect codes/recalls. It also said that they were done and marked "yes" completed. Fast forward to 2022, I bring my car into the same dealer and they said there is a recall not completed to replace the convenience charging electronics KLE and that they would fix for free. My car was not starting and we thought it could have caused the issue. They also noted at that time that the engine mount screws are now split and need to be replaced. I then discovered it was part of an open recall but when I asked about this, they said the recall closed in 2016 and I would now be responsible to replace this part for $3400+ even though it was a known defective BMW part. Upon further research, the initial part replaced was deemed not good enough and the part was upgraded to aluminum (it is currently a plastic mount bracket). I have tried requesting again for them to complete the recall work but they said they told me: " Yes, there was a recall but it was completed in 2016 in san fran by the looks of it. (<--I don't think it was actually completed) "I can't claim it since its done unfortunately... there is no way for me to claim this to you either as the repairs done more than 2 years ago and the car is out of warrant for 4 years. So BMW will just see it as just wear and tear. I tried to see of any ways I could assist you but there isn't a way for me to claim this with BMW" So my issue, and why I am writing you is that they claim the part has been completed but it has not, it is still the original bracket and screw mount. Plus they admitted they still needed to replace the charging electronics when this was apparently also marked as completed. I suspect someone lied about the recall work being done in San Francisco.

NHTSA ODI 11464379

Aug 18, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WITH TRAFFIC. THE MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN IN MY CAR STATED DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION STOP AND TURN OFF ENGINE DO NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11350127

Jun 22, 2016Speed controlCrash

I TURNED RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF A COMMERCIAL BUIDLING. I REMEMBER SLOWING DOWN AS I APPROACHED THE PARKING SPACE. AS THE CAR SLOWED, IT SUDDENLY JERKED AND THEN ACCELERATED CAUSING IT TO GO OVER THE CONCRETE PARKING HEADER AND COLLIDE INTO BUILDING EXTERIOR AND METAL GATE. THE CAR WAS IN SLOW SPEED AS I ENTERED THE SPACE. THE SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISED AS I COULD SEE MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. BY THE TIME I COULD APPLY THE BREAKS, THE CAR HAD ALREADY HIT THE BUILDING WHICH CAUSE THE CAR TO STOP MOVING. THE DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS APPROXIMATELY 12-15 FEET.

NHTSA ODI 10876037

Jan 28, 2015Speed controlEquipment Adaptive/mobility

NEAR CRASH (CRASH AVOIDED BY MANUAL EMERGENCY BRAKING INTERVENTION) THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WAS FOLLOWING A BLACK SUV AT 8:30AM SOUTHBOUND ON CA101 (VEHICLE PRESENT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED). THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED SO NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL KEPT PACE AND WOULD HAVE COLLIDED INTO THE VEHICLE IF I HAD NOT TAKEN OVER. ONLY ABOUT TWO YARDS FROM THE VEHICLE, THE SYSTEM NOTICED THE SUV HAD SLOWED DOWN, BUT THIS WAS AFTER I ALREADY HIT THE BRAKES. CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. NO ADVERSE CONDITIONS. WELL ILLUMINATED, NO GLARE.. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10679476

Nov 21, 2014Electrical systemSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW I3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10659963

Working with the data? Download all 49 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 BMW I3 verdict →