2014 BMW I3: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2014 BMW I3: 4 recalls, 54 owner complaints and up to 124 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V422000 · 2014 · 27 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May have been manufactured with an air bag inflator that was not assembled correctly. This could cause the air bag to not deploy properly in the event of an accident.
Why it matters: If the air bag deploys improperly in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bags, the seat occupant May be at an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V628000 · 2015 · 6,073 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag May not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.
The fix: 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #17V088000 · 2017 · 19,130 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V720000 · 2017 · 32,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (14): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (4), stalls / loses power (3).
- Engine (9): the most common themes are noise or vibration (3).
- Airbags (8): the most common themes are fails to deploy (2).
- Body & structure (7): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2014 BMW I3 has 54 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 6 I3 model years for complaints (1.5× the average I3 year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (8 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 23,300 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (47 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (125 kW AC Induction) | Automatic (A1) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 137e | 111e | 124e | Electricity |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2014 BMW I3.
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FAQ
Does the 2014 BMW I3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2014 BMW I3. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2014 BMW I3 problems?
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (14), engine (9), airbags (8).
What gas mileage does the 2014 BMW I3 get?
EPA ratings run up to 124 mpg combined, across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2014 BMW I3 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.