2017 BMW I3 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 BMW i3 most often describe carbon fiber roof panels that bubble, peel or delaminate, and steering that suddenly becomes heavy or loses power assist. Other common reports involve unexpected power surges, sudden stops or drivetrain warnings, and airbag or seat belt restraint problems. Where mileage is listed, many reports involve cars with relatively low mileage.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Carbon fiber roof bubbling, peeling, or delaminating

   • 13 complaints (25%)
   • median 32,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the clear coat on the carbon fiber roof blistering, bubbling, or peeling, with some reporting exposed fiber and pieces breaking off. In some cases, sheets have come off while driving on highways, including in high winds. Some owners say body shops quoted costly roof panel replacement, and that the warranty did not cover the damage as normal wear. Some say they understand the problem is common to these models. Mileage is usually not given, and some reports link the bubbling to hot climates and sun exposure.

   What to check: Inspect the roof for bubbling, peeling, or exposed fiber, and ask whether any roof repair or warranty claim has been made. Ask the seller to share any body shop estimate or service record for the roof.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On May 30, 2026, I was driving on the NJ Turnpike with high winds and I heard loud sounds like hard rain on the roof of my BMW i3. I saw sheets flying off the roof. When I parked the car, the clear coat covering the roof had delaminated, exposing the carbon fiber. The BMW collision shop told me that the roof panel has to be replaced and it is costly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11746860, filed 2026-06

   “I'm writing this in anticipation of my carbon-fiber roof failing, though it has not yet. It is showing standard early signs, consisting of blistering of the clear coat, which appears to be directly over the fiberglass composite roof surface proper. I keep it covered, and that probably has much to do with the blistering not advancing noticeably in recent times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11581534, filed 2024-04
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering heavy, pulling, or losing power assist

   • 10 complaints (19%)
   • median 13,766 mi at 2.7 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2021

   Owners describe steering that suddenly becomes heavy or hard to turn, sometimes with the car pulling left or right, and some report the power assist cutting out. In some reports, turning the car off and back on, or waiting a few minutes, restored normal steering. Some complaints suggest a software fault, and a service bulletin describes a sporadic reduction of steering assistance in certain driving situations without loss of steering control. Where mileage is listed, the reports range from very low mileage to roughly 28,500 miles, and some start after only a short drive.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the power-assist software or bulletin-related update has been applied, and check that the steering stays light and consistent during a test drive, including after a restart. A check for stored steering or power-assist fault codes can also be requested from the seller.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Whileexiting a parking place along a curb - slight veer out,on dry pavement, nightime, on an averagecity street. Steering suddenly became bullish. Within 100 feet and in the processof the 1st upcoming90-degree right-handturn all manner of warnings went off, pedestrian warning faulty,increased steer effort (duh!) chassis stabilization. I also feltimmediatepainin my right forearm and so the order of warnings may be a bit off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11270342, filed 2019-10, 22,000 miles

   “I had just turned on the car a few minutes prior to the incident and I was approaching an intersection to turn left onto a 2-lane highway. As I made the left turn, the steering felt wrong like the car was over then under steering. I was able to straighten out, and I felt like the power steering had failed. A quarter mile down the road, I turned left into a gas station, and I could feel the heaviness of the steering. It felt exactly like if the power steering was deactivated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11431762, filed 2021-09
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Unexpected power surges, stops, or drivetrain faults

   • 11 complaints (21%)
   • median 9,800 mi at 2.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2023

   Owners describe a drivetrain malfunction message followed by a loss of propulsion, an abrupt stop, or the car being unable to shift. Other reports describe rapid acceleration with the foot off the accelerator, the car accelerating into traffic from a stop, and an eco mode that slows the car automatically despite driver input. Some report a grinding noise and vibration from the transmission, which the dealer described as a known bearing problem, and after a sudden power loss the dealer diagnosed a faulty electric motor electronics module. Where mileage is listed, the reports range from about 5,000 to 47,300 miles, and some happen on freeways.

   What to check: Ask for the drivetrain fault-code history and whether the electric motor electronics module or transmission bearing repairs have been done. During a test drive on a safe road, check that the car accelerates and slows predictably and shows no drivetrain warnings.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the vehicle is in eco pro plus mood. While speed is above 56mph the vehicle will somtimes automatically break to 56 MPH. When in cruise control this seems to happened when cruise control is disengaged every time. I feel this is a safty concern especially when I try to accelerate but the car will ignore my input and continue to deaccelerate to the economy pro plus 56 speed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11321891, filed 2020-04, 5,000 miles

   “A day after the recommended service. While driving on I 95 with range extender, noticed the drive train malfunction alert with rapid deceleration needing to pull to the right shoulder quickly. Bmw assist took the car to the nearest Bmw dealer, who said it was lack of electric charge, plugged the car in charger and gave it to me to head back home town. Few days later the problem again recurred. Now the car is at the dealer in home town.”

   NHTSA complaint #11282837, filed 2019-11, 47,300 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag and seat belt restraint failures

   Mentioned in 4 of 47 sampled complaints

   Owners describe restraint warnings saying the airbags may not deploy properly, and an occupant sensor that may not register a passenger, which a complaint says could lead to a failure to deploy or deployment on a child. A passenger seat and airbag registration fault, along with console lighting problems, is described with unclear effects on the passenger airbag. In a frontal collision, a seat belt is reported to have failed, with excessive slack. Mileage is usually not given, so these reports describe warning messages and crash events rather than a mileage pattern.

   Recall 17V7200001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether any airbag or occupant-sensor warning message is stored, and whether the frontal airbag recall work has been completed. A start-up check of the airbag and seat belt warning lights can show whether the restraint system is reporting faults.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? There seems to be a series of faulty electrical/wiring issues happening with our 2017 BMW i3, most notably including the passenger seat/airbag registering system and control panel/console lighting. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? We are unsure how this issue impacts the passenger airbag system. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11552488, filed 2023-10

   “Summary On September 30, 2025, the passenger in a 2017 BMW i3 REX was involved in a severe frontal collision with a Gas Company Utility Vehicle. The impact struck the driver’s side extending toward the passenger side, causing the vehicle to spin violently and nearly flip. The passenger reports seatbelt failure with excessive slack, leading to partial ejection from the seat, mid-thigh restraint, and collision with the steering wheel. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11705719, filed 2025-12

Buying note. Prospective buyers may want to look closely at roof condition and steering behavior, and to ask whether any restraint or drivetrain warnings have been addressed. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a roof check, a steering test drive and a stored-fault scan can help clarify the car's condition.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.