2019 BMW I3 Problems
- Complaints
- 13filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 6,700miles, 4 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —no overall rating published
- EPA fuel economy
- 113 MPGecombined, Electric RWD · 124 city / 102 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2019 BMW I3 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2019 BMW I3. The part named most often is electrical system, with 6 complaints (46% of the total), followed by steering (4) and transmission and drivetrain (3). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 6,700 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 43 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 17 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Steering complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins 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.
- Electrical system6 46%
- Steering4 31%
- Engine2 15%
- Fuel system2 15%
- Other or unknown2 15%
- Brakes1 7.7%
- Hybrid propulsion system1 7.7%
- Seat belts1 7.7%
- Body and structure1 7.7%
Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “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 accelerated. I felt the brake pedal depress further as it accelerated. I initially thought a car had hit us from behind and propelled us forward, but there was no car behind us. We were moving as though we had just started a drag race - full acceleration - and the brakes did not respond. We crashed into the car in front of us at full acceleration despite me pumping the brakes at least twice. It was surreal. We drive a 2019 BMW i3. …”
NHTSA complaint #11671462, filed 2025-07Steering: “Lost power steering as I was leaving my house, making car very difficult to control. Thinking I had a flat tire, I turned around and returned home. Shut down the car, checked the tires (they were fine), restarted it, and power steering returned. This happened twice within a few days.”
NHTSA complaint #11390882, filed 2021-01, 7,400 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “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 around me at risk while I coasted to a stop on the freeway. The vehicle's warning system stated: “Drivetrain Malfunction: Stop carefully and turn off engine. Do not continue driving. Call Roadside Assistance.” There are error codes that were considered by the manufacturer's nearest service center. …”
NHTSA complaint #11629361, filed 2024-12Engine: “This is an electric vehicle. I experienced a sudden loss of all power while traveling on the interstate in heavy traffic. I nearly lost control of the vehicle as it would not respond to my inputs. I had to cross two lanes of dense interstate traffic to get to a safe area to pull over and it was terrifying because the car just suddenly shut down while traveling at highway speeds. The dealership that I had the car towed to did some diagnostic work and said that EME had failed. The EME is the main processor that controls all electrical functions in the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #11737149, filed 2026-05Mileage when problems were reported
100% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 6,000 and 7,400 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2019 BMW I3 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe; 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 RWD | Electric | single-speed | 124 | 102 | 113 MPGe | $650 |
| i3 with Range Extender RWD | 0.6L 2-cyl · plug-in hybrid | single-speed | 30 | 31 | 31 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
- 19V599000Aug 14, 2019Hybrid propulsion systemCovers: BMW I3 2019, I8 2019
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 i3 BEV, i3 REx, and i8 vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high-voltage electrical power.
Recall details for the 2019 BMW I3 → · Check a 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. 43 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11032732May 6, 2026Engine. The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service /…
- 11012073Dec 4, 2024Electrical system. the High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15…
- 11012072Dec 4, 2024Electrical system. The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years /…
- 10253322Apr 11, 2024Engine cooling. For this vehicle, the EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original…
- 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…
- 10225129Sep 1, 2022Equipment. Due to a production error, the telematics control units were delivered without an IMS configuration.
- 10214990May 1, 2022Electrical system. The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT…
- 10205606Nov 1, 2021Electrical system, Fuel system, Engine cooling. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Fuel Injectors to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original…
- 10204660Sep 1, 2021Equipment. The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT…
- 10204657Sep 1, 2021Engine cooling. Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vents).
Other model years of the BMW I3
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 13 | 6,700 | 1 | — | 113 MPGe | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 14 | 17,000 | 3 | — | 118 MPGe | — | Not enough data |
| 2017 | 53 | 10,650 | 3 | — | 118 MPGe | 63 · Typical | Rising |
| 2016 | 33 | 20,500 | 2 | — | 124 MPGe | 21 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2015 | 47 | 30,000 | 3 | — | 124 MPGe | 36 · Typical | Falling |
| 2014 | 54 | 23,300 | 4 | — | 124 MPGe | 60 · Typical | Stable |
All BMW I3 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019 BMW I3 have?
NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2019 BMW I3 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2019 BMW I3 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 6 complaints (46% of the total), followed by steering with 4.
Has the 2019 BMW I3 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How efficient is the 2019 BMW I3 according to the EPA?
The EPA rates the 2019 BMW I3 (i3, Electric) at 113 MPGe combined, 124 city and 102 highway, with an estimated annual electricity cost of $650 at 15,000 miles a year. Other battery and motor versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2019 BMW I3 reported?
Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 6,700 miles and the middle half falls between 6,000 and 7,400 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.