What 49 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 BMW I3

THE LEFT BRACKET FOR THE ELECTRIC ENGINE IS CRACKED AND THE DEALER WANTS SUBSTANTIALLY MORE FOR A REPLACEMENT ONE WHICH HAPPENS TO BE COMPLETELY REDESIGNED FROM A CHEAP PLASTIC PART WHICH EQUIPS MY CAR TO A MORE STUDY AND IMPROVED ONE FOR THE LATEST MODELS OF THE SAME MAKE. AS I DID SOME RESEARCH THE SAME ISSUE WAS SUBJECTED TO A FORMAL SAFETY RECALL IN EUROPE. HERE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED SO THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME A HEFTY FEE FOR WHAT IS BASICALLY A REPAIR TO A MANUFACTURER'S RECOGNIZED DESIGN FLAW. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS MANY OWNERS OF THIS CAR WILL NOT REPAIR THIS ISSUE WHICH CAN BE FAILED TO BE IDENTIFIED OR WILL BALK AT THE PRICE TAG OF THE CHANGE. IF THE BRACKET FAILS THE WHOLE ENGINE AND DRIVESHAFT WILL DROP AND INTERFERE WITH REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF CONTROL. THE REPLACEMENT BRACKET IS ALUMINIUM VS THE ORIGINAL ONE IN PLASTIC SO THEY ARE TRYING TO QUICKLY SWEEP THIS DESIGN FLAW UNDER THE RUG. THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC CRASHES OF THIS TYPE OF CAR IN THE PAST DUE TO IT BUT CROSSING MY FINGERS IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THE PICTURES I INCLUDE SHOW WHERE THE REPLACEMENT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. #3 IS WHERE THE CRACK IS AND I ALSO HAVE A VIDEO I CAN SUBMIT IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI 11390283

WHEN THE DRIVETRAIN FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON, THE MOTOR FAILS, THEN LOCKS UP IN PARK. YOU CONNOT THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. EVEN THE TOWTRUCK NEEDS DOLLIES TO GET REAR WHEELS OFF THE GROUND. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE STATIONARY, AND SEVERAL TIMES ON THE ROAD. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO ROLL TO SHOULDER, IT COULD HAVE CREATED AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO GET TO ZNEUTRAL.

NHTSA ODI 11323297

BMW ARE MANUFACTURING NEWER MODEL TIRES FOR THEIR I3 . THESE TIRES ARE VERY NARROW COMPARED TO OTHER CARS THAT GET EASILY WORN OUT . THE TIRE TREAD READINGS SHOW THAT THEY ARE BELOW SAFETY LEVEL, WITHIN 12K MILES OF DRIVING. THEY ARE VERY UNSTABLE AND CAN BE A RISK FACTOR WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10938614

GETTING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT VERY LOW SPEED OF 2-3 MILES PER HOUR TOUCHED A CURB AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT IMMEDIATELY THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. 5 DAYS LATER, A PIECE OF PLASTIC PUNCTURED ANOTHER TIRE. OTHER TIRES WOULD HAVE DEFLECTED THIS PLASTIC PIECE BUT THE NEW BMW I3 TIRES ARE EASY TO GET PUNCTURED AND HAVE FLATS. MANUFACTURER DOES NOT INCLUDE SPARE OR JACK.

NHTSA ODI 10723833

A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC EASILY PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND MADE IT FLAT. THE TIRES ON THE BMW I3 ARE PRONE TO FLATS AND EASILY GET PUNCTURED. THESE ARE NEW TIRES BY BRIDGESTONE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN TESTED IN OTHER VEHICLES AND THERE ARE LOTS OF FLATS BY OWNERS ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10723834