What 33 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 BMW I3

Involved in a frontal collision and air bag did not deploy. Airbag could've prevented more serious injuries suffered. I contacted the service center at BMW Roseville and left a message for the service manager, no return call. The vehicle has been inspected by an insurance authorized collision center and is considered totaled. There were no warning there was a problem and didn't appear until the collision happened and it didn't deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11439937

ON A FREEWAY DRIVING AROUND 65MPH FRONT CAR CAME TO SUDDEN STOP SO APPLIED BRAKES AT FULL STRENGTH BUT CAR CONTINUED AT THE SAME SPEED FOR FEW SECONDS AND THEN BRAKES TOOK EFFECT BUT IT WAS TOO LATE BY THEN. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF LAG BETWEEN WHEN BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED AND ACTUALLY BREAKS GET APPLIED TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. ALL 4 TIRES ARE NEW AND SERVICING DONE 4 MONTHS BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329245

I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING AT AROUND 9:15 AM PREPARING TO PARK BMW I3 ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN TO THE GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BUT NOTICE THAT BRAKE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, MEANING THERE WAS NO FEELING OF VEHICLE WAS IN A LOCK POSITION DUE TO THE BRAKE BEING PRESSURED ON THE WHEEL. THEN ALL OF SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE WENT ACCELERATING OR "SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION". THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR THAT WAS ONLY HALF WAY UP AND WAS STILL GOING UP. THEN, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ITS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CRASH IMPACT TO THE REFRIGERATOR THAT WAS AGAINST THE BACK SIDE OF THE GARAGE WALL. THE IMPACT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE REFRIGERATOR AND THE WALL TOOK OUT ENTIRE BACK SIDE OF THE GARAGE WALL OF ABOUT 20 FEET WIDE X 8 FEET TALL WALL AND THREW OFF REFRIGERATOR 50FT TO THE GROUND LEVEL. THE VEHICLE STOP FROM THE IMPACT AND ALMOST HALF OF ITS BODY LENGTH WAS CANTILEVERING OFF THE EDGE OF THE BACK SIDE OF WALL. MY HOUSE IS BUILT ON ABOUT 35 DEGREE SLOPE AND THE VEHICLE WAS CANTILEVERED ABOUT 45 FEET FROM THE GROUND. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SAFELY BRING THE VEHICLE OFF THE EDGE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOW TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER WHERE I HAD IT LEASED. I MADE A REQUESTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER MANAGER IN PERSON NOT TO TEMPER WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL ALL PARTIES THAT MAY HAVE INTEREST IN THIS CASE HAVE MADE THEIR INPUT ON IT. I'VE CALLED IN TO THE BMW NORTH AMERICA AND INFORMED THIS INCIDENT. I'VE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO MY HOME AND AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE REVIEW THIS CASE BECAUSE THE CONDITION THAT I AM REPORTING "SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" DID HAPPEN AND IT WAS SUPER FAST! THE TOTAL DISTANCE THE VEHICLE TRAVELED FROM THE STATION POSITION TO IMPACT/STOP WAS ABOUT 50 FEET MAXIMUM, STANDARD GARAGE LENGTH PLUS ABOUT 10 FEET.

NHTSA ODI 11031969