Summary
The BMW i3 has 7 recalls covering 2014 through 2019, with the most serious being a circuit board fault in the electric motor electronics module on 2018 and 2019 models that can cut high-voltage power without warning, causing the drive motor to stop and leaving the vehicle without propulsion.
The 2018 and 2019 model years share this same propulsion loss issue, with each year addressed as its own recall. Steering and braking remain functional since the 12-volt system stays active, but a sudden loss of drive power at speed raises the risk of a crash.
The 2014-2017 i3 REx range-extender models have a fuel system concern where the fuel tank vent line can rub against a ribbed wire sleeve over time, wear through, and leak fuel vapor into an area with elevated underhood temperatures, raising the risk of a fire.
On the safety equipment side, 2014-2018 models fail to meet federal occupant crash protection requirements for unbelted small adult drivers in a frontal impact, which raises the risk of neck injury. Separately, a small number of 2014 models may have been built with an airbag inflator that was not assembled correctly, meaning the airbag can fail to deploy properly in a crash and leave the occupant without full protection.
