Most common 2015 BMW i3 problems
Share of the 47 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW i3 complaints by model year
Best i3 years: 2019, 2018, 2016. Compare all years →
2015 BMW i3 recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 BMW i3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Unbelted, small adult, drivers may be at a higher risk of neck injury in the event of a frontal crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the Driver air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 i3 REx hybrid electric vehicles. The fuel tank vent line may rub against the ribbed wire protection sleeve of the battery positive (B+) cable, creating a hole in the vent line and causing a fuel vapor leak.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel vent line, replacing it as necessary, and install a clip to prevent it from chafing, free of charge. The recall beganApril 3, 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles.
Remedy: MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2015 BMW i3:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2015 BMW i3 owners say
Steering
Power steering malfunctioned causing steering to be very stiff. This happened whenever the car exceeded about 25 MPH, and returned to normal at low speeds. The car wanted to veer out of the lane and required force to keep it in the lane. After turning the car off and back on, the car steering returned to normal. This event happens sporadically, about once a month. While the steering can be overpowered to keep the car on course, this can be very dangerous if you are not expecting it.
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. …
Air bags
I am the owner of my BMWi3. We live in a retirement community in Florida and it is the perfect vehicle for driving the short commutes of our daily activities. December 27, 2020 I ordered (from Amazon) SUNTUE Buckles Extender,Universal Fit for 7/8'' Metal Tongue, Extension Socket Connector with E11 Safety Certified -2 Pack. The purpose was to make it easier to fasten the seat belts. We are in our 70's and it is difficult to reach down to fasten the belt. Our fingers are not as nimble as when we were young. I installed them in mid-January 2021 and a few days later the message appeared: "Driver restraint system malfunction. Continue wearing safety belt. Consult nearest service center." Shortly after the warning appeared, I removed the extenders and thought the warning would go away. However, it continued to appear. …
Only 5 years old 41K miles, mint condition, while driving the light came on saying "driver restraint system malfunction. After checking all the i3 blogs this seems to be an ongoing issue. I took my car over to BMW today, they looked at it and said the airbag has malfunctioned same thing as the blogs are outlining. I was advised but the service person that it would be 1800.00 I told him this is an issue with the i3 and its all over the blogs, he acknowledged his awareness, in addition airbags should be good for 10 years / guaranteed? Anyway I emailed the following BMW north American management asking why this is not a recall. …
Body & structure
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.
When driving down the interstate the carbon fiber roof suddenly delaminated of its top layer causing the cars behind me to have to slam on the brakes as chunks of carbon fiber flew off the car. This is a known issue with the BMW carbon fiber roofs that is worse on the i3 because of instead of a weave it is forged carbon.
2015 BMW i3 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | RWD | 137 / 111 / 124 MPGe | 81 mi |
| 0.6L 2-cyl plug-in hybrid | Single-speed | RWD | 41 / 37 / 39 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 BMW i3 a good car?
Based on 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 i3 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the i3 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 BMW i3?
The steering — 15 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (7) and body & structure (7).
How many recalls does the 2015 BMW i3 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2015 BMW i3, the most recent from November 16, 2017 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW i3?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2018 and 2016. See the full BMW i3 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2015 BMW i3 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 30,000 miles; 97% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.