What 47 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 BMW I3

I was driving uphill on a winding, narrow highway, California State Route 18, when the range extender kicked in and I had a sudden loss of power. I could not maintain vehicle speed. It was terrifying. I was alone. I didn't know what to do. I turned on my hazard lights and I pulled over every time vehicles came up behind me.

NHTSA ODI 11488682

THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWS TO 5MPH UNDER SOME CONDITIONS. THIS CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED BY RETURNING PROGRAMMING TO INTERNATIONAL. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME IN WINTER IN RAIN I NEED TO HAVE HEAT, WIPER AND DEFROSTER ON. MY HOUSE IS IN HILLS. UNFORTUNATELY ON RETURN TRIP MY BATTERY IN WINTER IS DEPLETED AND THE ONBOARD GAS ENGINE GENERATOR IS UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH HILL CLIMB AND NEEDED HEATING AND WIPER. THE CAR WILL DROP FROM 55MPH TO 5MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC FLASHER OR ANY OTHER ITEM TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF MY PROBLEM. PLEASE ASK BMW TO RE-FLASH PROGRAMMING TO ALLOW MY TO MAINTAIN GREATER THAN 5% BATTERY LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS.

NHTSA ODI 11230159

OUR CAR WOULD NOT MAKE IT UP THE HILL DURING A RAINSTORM ON THE HIGHWAY IN CAMARILLO, CA. IT WENT FROM 65 DOWN TO 45. IT HAPPENED TO US TWICE ON THIS TRIP. WE WERE USING THE RANGE EXTENDER. WE HAVE VIDEOS THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER.

NHTSA ODI 10946914

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW I3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ON AN EXTENDED RANGE, THE SPEED DECREASED TO BELOW 60 MPH AND COMPLETELY LOST ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.

NHTSA ODI 10820554