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2016 BMW i3

ElectricPlug-in hybrid

Subcompact Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

77 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical2

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA33

Crash ratingNHTSA overall—

EV rangebest configuration, EPA81 mi

Fuel economybest combined, EPA39 mpg

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 BMW i3 is sold in the U.S. as a electric and plug-in hybrid compact car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the i3 BEV, is EPA-rated at 81 miles with 124 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 33 complaints, most often about the structure.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
i3 BEV	Electric	RWD	125 kW AC Induction	137	111	124 MPGe	81 mi	27	4 h	$600
i3 REX	Plug-in hybrid	RWD	0.6L 2-cyl + 125kW	41	37	39 (88 MPGe blended)	72 mi electric	29	4 h	$2,000

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37216, 37222.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Air Bags

32,000 vehicles

ProblemBMW 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. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."RiskDuring a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.FixBMW 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. Owners may contact BMW customer service at the dedicated i3 recall number 1-855-269-3361.

NHTSA campaign 17V720000reported Nov 16, 2017BMW of North America, LLC

!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

19,130 vehicles

ProblemBMW 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.RiskA fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.FixBMW 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. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 17V088000reported Feb 9, 2017BMW of North America, LLC

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

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. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

33complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Structure10

Steering8

Air Bags6

Electrical System5

Power Train3

Vehicle Speed Control2

What owners describe

“Driver airbag warning light illuminated. Vehicle was diagnosed at BMW of Sherman Oaks (RO# 176741) and confirmed as a faulty driver airbag module - part# 32-30-6-870-366. BMW technician found fault code 930904: Driver's airbag interval stage 1, resistance too high stored. BMW NA declined goodwill repair assistance desp…”Jun 12, 2026 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

“While driving my 2016 BMW i3 with Range Extender, the vehicle experiences sudden and complete loss of propulsion at very low state of charge (0â€“1%). The car abruptly loses motive power, forcing me to pull over, sometimes while in traffic. After sitting for several minutes, limited power may return, but the vehicle of…”Jan 15, 2026 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and the air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel filler had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …”Apr 22, 2025 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other i3 model years

2021 BMW i3

0 recalls · 0 complaints

2020 BMW i3

0 recalls · 0 complaints

2019 BMW i3

1 recalls · 13 complaints

2018 BMW i3

3 recalls · 14 complaints

2017 BMW i3

3 recalls · 51 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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