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2020 BMW i8

Plug-in hybrid

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

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical1

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA1

Crash ratingNHTSA overall—

Fuel economybest combined, EPA27 mpg

2020 2019 2017 2016

The 2020 BMW i8 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid compact car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the I8 Coupe, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 1 complaint, most often about the electrical system.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
I8 Coupe	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	1.5L 3-cyl turbo + 105kW DCPM	26	29	27 (36 MPGe blended)	18 mi electric	49	3 h	$2,850
I8 Roadster	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	1.5L 3-cyl turbo + 105kW DCPM	26	29	27 (36 MPGe blended)	18 mi electric	49	3 h	$2,850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42369, 42370.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Electrical System

4,509 vehicles

ProblemBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. Debris may have entered one or more of the hybrid battery cells during their production.RiskThe debris could result in a short-circuit, increasing the risk of fire or injury.FixBMW will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery module free of charge. The remedy is currently being developed. Until the remedy is completed, drivers are instructed to not charge their vehicles. Drivers are instructed to not drive in manual mode, sport mode, and to not use the shift paddles. Owners were notified of the safety risk October 23, 2020. The recall began November 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 20V601000reported Sep 30, 2020BMW 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

1complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2021: 1

Most-cited components

Electrical System1

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 i8 model years

2019 BMW i8

2 recalls · 0 complaints

2017 BMW i8

1 recalls · 0 complaints

2016 BMW i8

0 recalls · 3 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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