2019 BMW I3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
18
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
2
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2019 BMW I3
The 2019 BMW I3 has received a total of 18 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (5 complaints), Steering (3 complaints), and Fuelpropulsion System (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 2019 BMW I3
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2019 BMW I3, potentially affecting up to 278 vehicles.
Recall 19V599000 — HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
| 139 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EME module, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
View full details →Recall 19V599000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
| 139 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EME module, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2019 BMW I3
18 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2019 BMW I3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
In early September, a "driver retention system" error appeared the dash display of my '19 i3. I searched the issue on line and tried but failed to resolve it. A few weeks later, the seat belt alarm stopped going off when the belt was clasped. At this point, I had no choice but bring it in for a fix. The dealer advised that there would be a $305 fee to diagnose the problem. They found a faulty belt buckle that failed in normal use. To fix it was going to cost another $805.22 to replace the buckle. I had no choice but to authorize this work. I believe safety related equipment should be covered by the manufacturer, beyond the normal warranty for a minimum of 10 years. Using AI, i find conflicting information about who is responsible for safety equipment when it fails. I am writing this to find out the NHTSA regulation that covers this, so when I call BWW customer service for an accommodation or hopefully, a full refund, I have all the information I need to plead my case. Thank you! Bob H.
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. It’s an electric vehicle and I wondered if there was som electrical failure. The car stopped only because of the car we ran into.
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. It’s an electric vehicle and I wondered if there was som electrical failure. The car stopped only because of the car we ran into.
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. It’s an electric vehicle and I wondered if there was som electrical failure. The car stopped only because of the car we ran into.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW I3. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic on a bridge, the vehicle stalled, and independently shifted to park(P). The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The Police arrived on the scene and directed traffic around the vehicle until a tow truck arrived to take the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) module had failed and short circuited the safety box inside of the high voltage battery and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V599000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.
Safety Rating for the 2019 BMW I3
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2019 BMW I3 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2019 BMW I3
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 2 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2019 BMW I3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
B640120 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT COOL: The air conditioning no longer cools the vehicle. A vehicle test reveals one or both of the following faults stored in the IHX_I1 Control Module: 801295 - Heat Pump pressure-temperature sensor 2 after air condition compressor: pressure short to ground / open circuit 80112A -...
B640120 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT COOL: The air conditioning no longer cools the vehicle. A vehicle test reveals one or both of the following faults stored in the IHX_I1 Control Module: 801295 - Heat Pump pressure-temperature sensor 2 after air condition compressor: pressure short to ground / open circuit 80112A -...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2019 BMW I3
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW I3
- 2014 BMW I3 — 70 complaints
- 2015 BMW I3 — 62 complaints
- 2016 BMW I3 — 40 complaints
- 2017 BMW I3 — 65 complaints
- 2018 BMW I3 — 16 complaints
- 2019 BMW I3 (current)
- 2020 BMW I3 — 0 complaints
- 2021 BMW I3 — 0 complaints