2016 BMW I3 Problems and Recalls (33 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2016 BMW I3 is Body / frame (27% of 33 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Body / frame — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
What problems show up on the 2016 BMW I3?
9 of 33 filings named Body / frame (27% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Steering (8 reports).
There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2015 has 47 reports on file; this year has 33. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
- Crashes 3
- Fires 0
- Injuries 1
- Deaths 0
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 9 | 27.3% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 8 | 24.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 4 | 12.1% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 4 | 12.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 2 | 6.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 2 | 6.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 1 | 3.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 1 | 3.0% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 11 | 33.3% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V088000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V720000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 |
Safety Recalls (2)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system and Airbags.
-
Recall campaign 17V088000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel vent line, replacing it as necessary, and install a clip to prevent it from chafing, free of charge. The recall beganApril 3, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
-
Recall campaign 17V720000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.
- Remedy:
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the Driver air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at the dedicated i3 recall number 1-855-269-3361.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2016 BMW I3?
Owners named Body / frame most often — 9 of 33 reports (27%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2016 BMW I3?
NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2016 BMW I3?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.