Model year record
2014 BMW I3 Rex recalls & problems
The 2014 BMW I3 Rex has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 22 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is power train (11 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2014 BMW I3 Rex.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
i3 REX Plug-in Hybrid
| City / highway | 41 / 37 mpg |
|---|---|
| Electric range | 72 mi |
| On electricity | 117 MPGe · 29 kWh/100 mi |
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0.6 L · 2 cyl · Automatic (A1) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $2,100/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 11 | 5,984 mi |
| Engine | 7 | 1,200 mi |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 1,195 mi |
| Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery | 6 | 36,550 mi |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1,000 mi |
| Steering | 3 | 42,039 mi |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 2 | — |
| Seat belts | 2 | — |
| Air bags | 1 | — |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | — |
| Wheels | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical systemFire
The contact owns a 2014 BMW I3 Hybrid. The contact stated that after charging the vehicle overnight the next morning the vehicle climate control was activated and moments later smoke was present inside the vehicle coming from the front passenger side air vent. After exiting the vehicle flames were seen coming from the front passenger side air vent and the vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. A fire report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The manufacturer later had the vehicle examined and informed that the fire was…
- 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.
- Electronic stability control (esc)
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.
- 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.
- Electrical 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…
- Seat belts
WARNING LIGHT INDICATES "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING". TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS RELATED TO PASSENGER SEAT BELT. REPAIR IS NOT COVER BY WARRANTY AS AUTO HAS 52,700 MILES ON IT. DEALER CHARGES $1,242 FOR PARTS AN LABOR.
- Electrical system
THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. 'THE EME MALFUNCTION HAPPENED THE FIRST DAY THAT I DROVE THE CAR AFTER PURCHASING. NOT LONG AFTER I STARTED DRIVING IN THE MORNING THE COMPUTER SAID THAT THE REX WASN'T WORKING. ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER ON MY TRIP, THE COMPUTER SAID THAT THE CAR WAS PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE REX. IN THE EVENING WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE COMPUTER SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGING, AND THEN THE CAR LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO START AGAIN AFTER SOME TIME. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY SCARY AT THE TIME AS I HAD MY 18 MONTH GRANDSON IN THE BACK SEAT. 'THE SECOND EME FAILURE WAS SERIOUSLY MORE DANGEROUS. I WAS TRAVELING ON 405 SOUTHBOUND WHEN THE POWER TRAIN…
- Power train
LEFT MOTOR MOUNT BOLT BROKE WHEN TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN AT 4:00 PM IN FRIDAY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE BOLT FAILURE SHIFTED MOTOR DOWN ~3" AND BROKE POWER CABLE(S) AND BATTERY COOLING LINES. THE CAR SHIFTED INTO "N", ONCE, AND ROLLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING PLACE. SHIFTED INTO "P" AND CONTACTED BMW ROAD SIDE SERVICE. BMW SERVICE ASKED TO SHIFT INTO "N" BUT THE CAR REMAINED IN "P". THEY DID NOT HAVE WORKAROUND INSTRUCTIONS TO FORCE IT INTO "N" AND REPORTED THERE WERE NO TIRE "SKATES" TO SLIDE CAR ON A FLAT-BED. MORE TECHNICAL DETAILS AT: HTTP://WWW.MYBMWI3.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=15&T=4266#P37104
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.