BMW i3 Complaints

237 consumer complaints on file.

#11552488October 29, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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. BMW was also not able to tell us whether the passenger airbag is impacted by the electrical issue. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A local BMW dealership inspected the issue. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The failure lights and error message were the first indication of a problem. This first happened in March 2021 when we starting receiving an error for the passenger seat sensor: “Passenger Restraint System: Malfunction. Continue wearing safety belt. Consult the nearest service center.” We took it to the dealership asking for coverage on the item and they said it would be $2,000-$3,000 out of pocket to fix. I filed a complaint with [email protected] and BMW and have not heard back from either. Over the past 6 months, the console lighting has now started malfunctioning as well. Lights will flicker in and out while they are active. For example, the heated seat may be on level 3, but only the two end lights are illuminated. Sometimes the heated seat will be active with no lights illuminated at all. Sometimes the heated seats will turn on with no way to shut it off. The evolving electrical issues concern me considering this is an electric vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11551921October 25, 2023
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I am writing regarding an ongoing issue I am having with BMW North America and their dealerships concerning a faulty airbag in my 2014 BMW i3 electric vehicle (VIN #: [XXX] ). On multiple occasions in October 2023, BMW North America informed me that the "Driver Restraint System Malfunction" alert in my vehicle could be repaired under a Service Action extension (code SIB010818/DC3234908400) that covers airbag issues in vehicles under 10 years old and 100,000 miles. See pictures of the issue/alert on dash attached. However, when I brought my vehicle to two local BMW dealerships (in Rochester and Syracuse, NY), they either claimed the Service Action code did not exist or that I would need to pay a diagnostic fee of $250 AND $1,800 to fix the airbag and seatbelt issue out of pocket, despite BMW North America saying this should be covered. As a disabled person on a fixed income, I cannot afford to gamble hundreds of dollars on diagnostic fees when BMW North America has already provided the Service Action code that should cover the necessary airbag repair. This is not only a financial burden but a safety concern, as I am being forced to drive a vehicle with a known airbag defect. I am reaching out to request your help resolving this issue with BMW as this issue with my BMW i3 is VERY routine and all over the internet and the BMW i3 forums as BMW clearly failed its very basic duties in protecting USA consumers with this vehicle and its numerous issues. Airbags and seatbelts are NOT issues consumers should have to gamble with due to the failures of BMW in properly producing a vehicle that would avoid such serious problems as clearly prevalent to a lot of owners of this make and model. I look forward to your assistance in this urgent matter. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550767October 19, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:COMPRESSOR:MODULE (ACCM)
The contact owns a 2015 BMW I3. The contact stated that after turning on the fan, there was plastic particles blowing out of the vents. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the particles were blowing out of the vents while activating the A/C or the heater. The contact stated that the failure became a recurring failure, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the A/C compressor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that after the repair, the check engine warning light illuminated again. The contact had the vehicle towed back to the same dealer who diagnosed and determined that a component of the A/C system that cooled the electric hybrid battery needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the dealer that the repair needed to be completed due to the risk of the battery overheating and catching on fire. The vehicle had been repaired; however, the contact was afraid of driving the vehicle. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and the contact was advised that this was normal wear and tear of the hybrid battery system. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11548761October 6, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The roof is bubbling and peeling up. Water gets in it when it rains, then it bubbles greatly. BMW won’t fix it, repair shops don’t want to fix it because it’s an obscure roof. They recommend I take it to BMW which won’t fix it (roof replacement suggested). I just bought this car and drive it as normal, and the special carbon fiber roof is degrading too fast.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539515August 19, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The carbon fiber roof of my 2016 BMW i3 REx is really starting to bubble and wrinkle. After taking it to two shops any mitigation would cost hundreds of dollars to address. The roof is starting to peel and am worried about water getting to the car. BMW should have engineered these roofs differently. They should be responsible to cost associated with fixing them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539524August 19, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The carbon fiber roof of my 2015 is de-laminating and the resin coating is bubbling. BMW knows its an issue for all I3's without a sun roof and with Carbon fiber roofs and won't fix it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539525August 19, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Roof peeling
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539526August 19, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery degradation
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539528August 19, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The roof on outside is starting to flake off in chunks and expose bottom layers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539536August 19, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Car roof is delaminating.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539543August 19, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The carbon fiber roof is delaminating. The outer layer is pulling away from the base layer. I understand that this is a structural panel. No lights messages or warnings. The problem is very common with this vehicle. It has not been inspected.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539567August 19, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Roof is delaminating and bubbling in some areas and chunks off roof have been flying impacting other cars windshield while obstructing view
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539593August 19, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Clear coat on the roof is bubbling and peeling. Could potentially come off as a large sheet and fly off hitting another vehicle or obstructing their view.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539353August 18, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The composite roof is blistering and beginning to delaminate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539390August 18, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The roof has delaminated and is causing leaks within the main cabin yes available for inspection upon request. The structural integrity of the roof is no longer intact and only getting worse. Yes. The problem has been presented to bmw to no avail. BMW does not provide any means to repair nor will acknowledge the issue. Original the roof material got one area of bubbling and within a month or so it had spread throughout the remainder of the roof.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539447August 18, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The roof is cracking, yellowing and bubbling. I have heard that this is the beginning of roof failure and de-lamination. There have been reports and incidents of others roofs delaminating and having large pieces flying off and hitting other cars.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539150August 17, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the contact heard a whistling sound, and the roof detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 19,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539172August 17, 2023
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My bmw i3 has a faulty wiring harness or some other defect that is causing my car to turn off the airbag system. This is a chronic issue with bmw i3’s. Either the wiring harness is bad or the airbag becomes too stiff and the car deactivated the entire airbag system. Dangerous!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539176August 17, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
My carbon fiber composite roof is delaminating and separating. There is a risk that the degradation of the roof will become so bad that it will separate off my car while driving and may hit another car. This is a common problem with bmw i3 roofs. It is crazy that the entire roof panel can structurally fail but because it isn’t steel/rust bmw isn’t worried about it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539180August 17, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Carbon fiber roof panel is bubbling and coming apart. BMW reports this is a structural component of the car and is designed to take impact stresses, however my vehicle and others, the roof is deteriorating and BMW does not acknowledge the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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