BMW i3 Complaints

237 consumer complaints on file.

#11234935July 25, 2019
STEERING
IT'S MY 7TH MONTH DRIVING BRAND NEW 2018 I3 BEV. AFTER GOT OFF THE WORK TODAY, THE JULY 25TH, 2019, THE CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. I HAD NO PROBLEM I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT SO I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR AND IT WAS JUST FINE. I REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL GOT HEAVIER THAN USUAL AND QUITE DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT WOULDN'T STAY CENTER BUT KEPT MOVING TO THE LEFT WHILE BEING REALLY HEAVY. EVEN ON THE FLAT PAVEMENT. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE WITH I3. MOST OF THEM SAID TURNING THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON USUALLY FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. DRIVERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ALSO SAY THAT IT'S A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AS THE I3'S STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY ASSISTED BY ELECTRICAL MOTOR, NOT A CONVENTIONAL WAY OF HOW POWER STEERING WHEEL IS OPERATED. I FEEL DISCONCERTED AS THIS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND SAFETY. SOME CLAIMED THAT SOFTWARE UPGRADE MAY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT I FEEL STRONGLY THAT BMW SHOULD STEP UP AND PROACTIVELY FIX THE ISSUE! THIS IS DANGEROUS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230159July 8, 2019
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWS TO 5MPH UNDER SOME CONDITIONS. THIS CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED BY RETURNING PROGRAMMING TO INTERNATIONAL. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME IN WINTER IN RAIN I NEED TO HAVE HEAT, WIPER AND DEFROSTER ON. MY HOUSE IS IN HILLS. UNFORTUNATELY ON RETURN TRIP MY BATTERY IN WINTER IS DEPLETED AND THE ONBOARD GAS ENGINE GENERATOR IS UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH HILL CLIMB AND NEEDED HEATING AND WIPER. THE CAR WILL DROP FROM 55MPH TO 5MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC FLASHER OR ANY OTHER ITEM TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF MY PROBLEM. PLEASE ASK BMW TO RE-FLASH PROGRAMMING TO ALLOW MY TO MAINTAIN GREATER THAN 5% BATTERY LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229974July 8, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE I3 REQUIRES FUNCTIONAL HV BATTERY COOLING TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND SAFELY. THE CAR USES A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM TO CONDITION THE HV BATTERIES. ON MY CAR, THE A/C SYSTEM (BATTERY CONDITIONING) FAILED WITH NO MESSAGE OR WARNING TO THE DRIVER. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP, I WAS GIVEN A QUOTE FOR $24,038.21 TO FIX THE CAR. THE INVOICE ALSO STATES "NOTE: VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE." HOW I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM THIS VEHICLE IS AN EARLY I3 WITH THE FAST-CHARGE SYSTEM INCLUDED. IN JULY, 2018, THE FAST-CHARGE FAILED TO WORK. I TRIED SEVERAL CHARGERS AND THEY ALL FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE THIS WAS IRRITATING, I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE BECAUSE FAST-CHARGING IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO DRIVE THE CAR AND I DON'T USE IT OFTEN. I AM SPECULATING THAT THE A/C SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL AT THIS TIME, BUT I WAS GIVEN NO WARNING OR MESSAGE. IN THE FALL OF 2018, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A MUCH LOUDER MOTOR NOISE DURING PRE-CONDITIONING IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR SERVICE IN FEB., 2019, A BMW DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (THE PROBLEM HAPPENED EVERY DAY DURING PRE-CONDITIONING AND DRIVING). IN APRIL, 2019, I TURNED ON THE A/C AND DISCOVERED THE CABIN A/C DID NOT WORK. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A/C VALVE FAULTS, GRAY METALLIC DEBRIS, INSUFFICIENT REFRIGERANT (877G VS. REQUIRED 970G), AND ZERO (VS. REQUIRED 300G) REFRIGERANT OIL. ACCORDING TO BMW LITERATURE ( BMW TECHNICAL TRAINING, HEATING AND A/C SYSTEMS, P.43), "THESE QUANTITIES ARE CRUCIAL TO THE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM........" THIS QUOTE REFERS TO THE QUANTITY OF REFRIGERANT IN THE SYSTEM OF THE BEV OR REX. I HAVE ATTACHED THE INVOICE FROM BMW-ROCHESTER HILLS ON JUNE 1 WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION AND THE QUOTATION FOR REPAIRING THE SYSTEM. THE TRAINING MANUAL IS A LARGE FILE. I CAN SEND IT AS REQUIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228418June 29, 2019
STEERING
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER POWERING-UP THE CAR, THE STEERING HAS BEEN VERY HEAVY AND PULLED TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR RESISTED BEING DRIVEN IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND IT FELT AS THOUGH SOME SELF-DRIVING FEATURE WAS TRYING TO WREST CONTROL. ON ALL OCCASIONS, EXCEPT FOR ONE, PARKING THE CAR, POWERING-OFF, PAUSING FOR A FEW SECONDS AND POWERING BACK ON HAS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. IF THIS SITUATION WERE TO OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD EASILY THROW THE CAR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AN ONLINE BMW I3 FORUM HAS MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS GOING BACK TO 2014. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE A FIRMWARE ISSUE AND I FEAR BMW IS WAITING FOR A FEW FATALITIES TO SEE IF IT WORTH ADDRESSING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221298June 19, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
THERE IS RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION GOING UP HILL. ANTILOCK BRAKES SLOW TO ENGAGE ON STEEP DECLINES AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THERE IS TOO MUCH POWER TO THE REAR WHEEL, THE CAR SKIDS ON PAINTED SURFACES SUCH AS CROSS WALKS AND PAINTED YIELD SIGNS ON ROAD SURFACES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. THE WHEELS SPIN ON CROSSWALK PAINT. THE CAR HAS A BUILT IN GYROSCOPE AND PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN STARTING FROM A PARKED POSITION AFTER PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS ON A HILL. THE PULLING CONTINUES FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS. THE CAR NEEDS A NEW SET OF TIRES AND ONLY HAS 10,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED TWICE BY BMW TECHNICIANS AT PETER PAN BMW IN BURLINGAME. WE WERE TOLD THE SURFACES SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND IN SAN FRANCISCO WERE REPLICATED IN BURLINGAME AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220458June 16, 2019
STEERING
THE I3'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT RESULTING IN ME DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST OFF THE ROAD. (LOW SPEED, 15MPH). USING FORCE, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, WITHOUT THE USUAL POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE, STRAIGHTENING OUT THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTION AND GOT ME ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO MOVING BY ITSELF CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL AGAIN AND IT WOULD TURN ITSELF TO THE RIGHT AGAIN. THE I3 WAS IMMEDIATELY POWERED DOWN AND RESTARTED/REBOOTED AND THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. SINCE THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED, THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT WAS REDUCED. HOWEVER, IT THIS WERE TO OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT COULD BE DISASTROUS. NO ERRORS CODES WERE EVER DISPLAYED. I WILL BE INSTALLING A DASH CAMERA TO RECORD THE NEXT TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH RESULTS IN MANY OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11219871June 13, 2019
STEERING
DROVE CAR 8 MILES AS NORMAL. GOT BACK IN CAR AND STEERING WAS ABNORMAL. FELT AS IF HAD A FLAT (WHICH DID NOT). IN STEERING, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT, AND NEEDED COUNTER STEERING. THE CENTER FEEL OF THE STEERING WAS DIFFERENT, AND EASY TO TURN TO THE LEFT. PARKED THE CAR, WAITED 5 MINUTES, AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. FOUND MULTIPLE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES ONLINE WITH THIS MODEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218153June 5, 2019
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR SIDE STREETS MULTIPLE EPISODES OF INTERMITTENT HEAVY, SLUGGISH, OR LOOSE STEERING HAS OCCURRED REQUIRING THE VEHICLE TO BE STOPPED, SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207065May 12, 2019
STEERING
STEERING HAS BECOME VERY STIFF REQUIRING A STRONG APPLICATION AT THE WHEEL TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11193570April 3, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD, CEASED IT OPERATION ANNOUNCING IT HAD DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS SLOWING FOR A LIGHT, AS THE STEERING AND BRAKES ALSO BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE CAR COULD BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF (THE REMAINING FUNCTIONS AND POWER OFF). IT THEN COULD BE TURNED BACK ON AND DRIVEN. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CAR DECIDED TO GO OFF LINE WHILE IN A STATE OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ROAD AND THE DRIVER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11193670April 3, 2019
STEERING
ASSISTED STEERING IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND INCORRECTLY IDENTIFYING STRAIGHT. HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING, CAUSING DRIVER TO HAVE TO ADJUST STEERING DIRECTION. SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190022March 19, 2019
STEERING
MY BMW I3 OVER THE PAST YEAR WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED HAS HAD A HANDFUL OF TIMES WHERE POWER STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY TWITCHY OUR CUTS OUT COMPLETELY LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT CENTERED IS SO THAT I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS. THE CAR IS UNSTABLE AND NO LONGER RETURNS TO CENTER WHEN TAKING CORNERS AND FEELS EXTREMELY HEAVY. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR 3-5 MINUTES UNTIL IT RESETS. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND THERE IS NO ERROR CODE DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIX THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190142March 19, 2019
STEERING
SOME TIMES THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY HEAVY ( HARD TO TURN) AND HAS A BIAS TO TURN ONE SIDE OVER THE OTHER. RESTARTING THE CAR AFTER 5 MINUTES MAKES IT OK. IT LOOKS LIKE A SOFTWARE ISSUE. IT HAPPENS SAY AT LEAST ONCE IN 2-3 MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11185433March 8, 2019
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT, STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT. I FELT RESISTANCE AND I CLEARLY NEEDED BOTH HANDS TO TURN THE WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182758February 27, 2019
STEERING
TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. FROM A STOP, THE ASSIST WILL FUNCTION CORRECTLY UNTIL 30MPH. FROM THEN ON, THERE WILL BE NO POWER ASSIST UNTIL COMING TO A FULL STOP. THE PATTERN REPEATS ITSELF FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, IT COULD TAKE DAYS OR MONTHS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. BMW STATES THEY "CAN NOT REPRODUCE". THIS SITUATION MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182515February 26, 2019
STEERING
STEERING INTERMITTENTLY BECOMES HEAVY, MAKING VEHICLE HARDER TO CONTROL. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN CLEARS THE PROBLEM. IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF THE STEERING: YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO PREVENT YOU FROM TURNING THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS SOFTWARE-RELATED RATHER THAN A PHYSICAL FAILURE SINCE NOT ONLY IS IT INTERMITTENT, BUT IT IS INCONSISTENT. AT ONE INTERSECTION THE STEERING MAY BE NORMAL TURNING LEFT BUT HEAVY TURNING RIGHT AND THE SITUATION MAY BE REVERSED A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AT THE NEXT TURNING. I HAVE 28000 MILES/ 2.5YEARS ON THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY STARTED OCCURRING WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. AT THE MOMENT THE PROBLEM OCCURS TOO RARELY TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182276February 25, 2019
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR STOPPED ALL OF SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY HEADS-UP. SIMPLY SAID CALL DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION PLEASE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MOST SCARY PART IS THAT THE SUDDEN STOP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181286February 20, 2019
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME HEAVY - NO LONGER SELF-CENTERING. THE CAR WOULD STILL GO WHERE I POINTED IT, BUT THE WHEEL WOULDN'T RETURN TO CENTER LIKE USUAL. IT FELT VERY STIFF. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11180720February 18, 2019
STEERING
IN DECEMBER I HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR'S STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT- AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO A FLAT TIRE, BUT IT WAS NOT. I MADE A SHORT DRIVE- PARKED THE CAR FOR AWHILE AND CAR DROVE NORMALLY. PROBLEM REOCCURRED ON 2/14/19 - WITH THE CAR BECOMING HARD TO STEER- A SHORT PARKING OF THE CAR DID NOT FIX IT- BUT SITTING OVERNIGHT DID. HTTP://WWW.MYBMWI3.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=15&T=5065 AND A VIDEO ( NOT MINE) OF THE PROBLEM. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=P9HJSA2YXOK&FEATURE=YOUTU.BE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11175779February 8, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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. THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS ISSUE WHEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOW TAKEN A STANCE THAT THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LOSING POWER AND SPEED (AS IF THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED HEAVILY) IS "OPERATION NORMALLY FOR CONDITIONS" AND "NO ACTIONS TAKEN" AND ADVICE THAT THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE AND KNOWN AND HAVE "ADVISED CUSTOMER OF LIMITATION OF DRIVING ON THE REX WITH TOO MANY CUSTOMER DEMANDS..." THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE REX NOT TURNING ON AND LOSING POWER WHILE IN MOTION AND ON THE HIGHWAY AND SURFACE / LIGHT COMMERCIAL STREETS AT ALL LEVELS OF SPEED. THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL DOES NOT LIKELY HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THIS. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE GOING 35MPH AND ALSO WHILE GOING 70MPH, AND OTHER SPEEDS IN BETWEEN. IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AND HAPPENED TO MYSELF, MY WIFE, AND AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE TIMES (DURING THE SAME TRIP, ON DIFFERENT DAYS) TO THE DEALER WHILE IT WAS IN THEIR CARE FOR REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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