2014 BMW I3 REX Problems
- Complaints
- 22filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 5,242miles, 22 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —no overall rating published
- EPA fuel economy
- 39 mpgcombined (gas only), 0.6L 2-cyl · plug-in hybrid RWD · 41 city / 37 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2014 BMW I3 REX (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 2014 BMW I3 REX. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 11 complaints (50% of the total), followed by engine (7) and fuel system (6). 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 91% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 5,242 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 11 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine7 32%
- Fuel system6 27%
- Electrical system5 23%
- Steering3 14%
- Seat belts2 9.1%
- Air bags1 4.5%
- Equipment1 4.5%
Also reported: Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “Test driving this Bmw i3, I noticed the rex range extender engine was dangerously slow. The 34 hp scooter engine is a hazard in traffic. I also noticed the brake lights would not come on when slowing to a stop. Consumer reports outlined it, and I can't say it better. .... Why are there not minimum fmvss performance standards to cover the hazards while in rex-mode (battery dead, running on scooter motor in heavy, fast, traffic)? This is a new area: weird behavior from evs in rex mode. …”
NHTSA complaint #10861225, filed 2016-04, 14,850 milesEngine: “The rex (range extender) on my i3 does not turn on, at random, when the battery level of the vehicle gets to a point that is low enough for it to turn on. When this happens, the vehicle experiences a sudden and violent loss of speed with no warning. This has, on more than one occasion, nearly caused an accident while in traffic. The Bmw dealership has confirmed this is an issue in my vehicle and has successfully been able to reproduce it on more than one occasion. It has been 'fixed' on more than one occasion as well. The vehicle still experiences this issue intermittently with no warning. …”
NHTSA complaint #11175779, filed 2019-02, 33,100 milesFuel system: “I test drove a Bmw i3. I got into trouble because they forgot to charge it up completely when I drove it. Almost died. Consumer reports describes it all better than I can: a new lawsuit alleges that Bmw i3 electric cars can suddenly slow down when their battery power is low, potentially putting passengers in dangerous situations. Filed tuesday in u.s. District court in los angeles, the class-action suit alleges that the i3's 'range extender feature ... Doesn't produce enough power to prevent a dramatic decrease in the vehicle's performance. …”
NHTSA complaint #10869984, filed 2016-05, 1,190 milesElectrical system: “Driving on interstate 5 in encinitas, the i3 showed an electrical error. Within a few minutes, I get a slew of errors, battery can't charge, discharge at high rate, drive train malfunction....until it said idrive system shutting down... I was barely able to get the car to the side of the freeway before all systems shut down completely. 5 minutes later, the car started, and I was able to take it the dealer. The car has been at the dealer being diagnosed since (approximately 2 weeks). They have replaced the 12v battery and the eme.”
NHTSA complaint #10606720, filed 2014-06, 1,200 milesMileage when problems were reported
91% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,200 and 33,100 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2014 BMW I3 REX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); plug-in hybrid figures are for gasoline-only (hybrid mode) driving, so no annual cost is shown.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i3 REX RWD | 0.6L 2-cyl · plug-in hybrid | single-speed | 41 | 37 | 39 gas only | — |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2014 BMW I3 REX in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 11 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10249027Jan 11, 2024Electrical system. The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers…
- 10193496Feb 5, 2017Electrical system, Hybrid propulsion system. The vehicle may exhibit any of the following at very low State of Charge (SOC) ? less than 8%: - Power loss or high voltage system shutdown while running range extender (REx). - Inconsistent…
- 10058161Dec 1, 2014Fuel system. Bmw model i01( i3 and i3rex): bulletin information replacing faulty convenience charging electronics (kle) could cause increased vehicle charging times.
- 10057565Dec 1, 2014Electrical system. Bmw: monitor of isolation resistance to ensure separation of hv+ or hv- and vehicle ground and not let it drop below predetermined threshold, causing drivetrain malfunction check control message…
- 10057563Dec 1, 2014Electrical system. Bmw: vehicle programmed; actual range vehicle capable of achieving to full charge not changed due to instrument cluster showing range lower than prior update of software.
- 10057537Dec 1, 2014Electrical system. Bmw: level 2 charge will cause vehicle to increase charging time due to convenience charging electronics (kle), with faulty fitted capacitor.
- 10058160Oct 1, 2014Fuel system. Bmw i01(i3 and i3 rex) : information regarding cause of high-voltage battery stop charging, in some cases the battery will not charge above 34% even out of transport mode.
- 10058159Oct 1, 2014Fuel system. Bmw i01(i3 and i3 rex: information regarding customer concerns of intermittent charging failures or no charging at all.
- 10057536Oct 1, 2014Electrical system. Bmw: high voltage battery fails to charge above certain state when performing vehicle pdi and causes led ring around charge port to blink red.
- 10056719Sep 1, 2014Engine. Bmw: with drivetrain malfunction message displayed and service engine soon, engine can go into reduced power mode, due to engine position management (epm) unfavorable parameters in dme software.
Other model years of the BMW I3 REX
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 22 | 5,242 | 0 | — | 39 | — | Rising |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014 BMW I3 REX have?
NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 2014 BMW I3 REX as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2014 BMW I3 REX is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 11 complaints (50% of the total), followed by engine with 7.
Has the 2014 BMW I3 REX been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2014 BMW I3 REX get?
The EPA rates the 2014 BMW I3 REX (i3 REX, 0.6L 2-cyl · plug-in hybrid) at 39 mpg combined, 41 city and 37 highway when running on gasoline in hybrid mode. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2014 BMW I3 REX reported?
Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 5,242 miles and the middle half falls between 1,200 and 33,100 miles; 91% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.