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2019 BMW I3 Rex
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
12 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Complaints are still coming in strong late in this car's life, a chronic-problem pattern, not early teething.
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#37 of 493Among the 2019 models with a matured record, the 2019 BMW I3 Rex ranks #37, scoring higher than 88% of them. See the 2019 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2019 BMW I3 Rex, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
42%5 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“We were sitting at a traffic light for a few minutes behind another vehicle. Suddenly, our car accelerated very quickly. My foot was on the brake when the car accelera…”
Steering
33%4 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“ON THE WAY BACK HOME FROM WORK, STEERING FELT QUITE HEAVY AND IT KEPT PULLING TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE. I INITIALLY THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE BUT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS N…”
Transmission & drivetrain
17%2 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“The drivetrain system malfunctioned while increasing from 60 MPH to 70 MPH. The vehicle lost all propulsion mid-journey. This put myself as well as other drivers aroun…”
Fuel system
17%2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The drivetrain system malfunctioned while increasing from 60 MPH to 70 MPH. The vehicle lost all propulsion mid-journey. This put myself as well as other drivers aroun…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 12 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 1 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this BMW before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2019 BMW I3 REX beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2019? See how every I3 Rex model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2019 BMW I3 Rex against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.