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 despite the failure occurring within 20 days of warranty expiration. This is a safety-critical federally mandated system. Multiple BMW i3 owners in online communities report the same issue and reference TSB SI B65 18 16 as a known defect related to a cable being too short. I believe this may be a widespread defect affecting 2014-2018 BMW i3 vehicles that warrants investigation.
The worst 2016 BMW I3 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Body10
- Steering8
- Airbags6
- Electrical5
- Transmission3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Body10
- Steering8
- Airbags6
- Electrical5
- Transmission3
- Acceleration2
- Engine2
- Fuel system2
- Brakes1
Recalls 2
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- BMW 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."
- Risk
- During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.
- Remedy
- 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. Owners may contact BMW customer service at the dedicated i3 recall number 1‑855‑269‑3361.
Recall number 17V720000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- BMW 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.
- Risk
- A fuel vapor leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 17V088000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2016 BMW I3
Defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency 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 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, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 BMW I3 256
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has...
- The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific)...
- The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific)...
- For this vehicle, the EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and/or...
- The Supplemental Restraint Systemâs (SRS) air bag warning lamp is illuminated, and the air bag control...
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few...
- The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain...
- For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the...
- Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vents).
- Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vent)
2016 BMW I3 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6L 2‑cyl Plug-in hybrid | RWD | 41 | 37 | 39 |
| Electric motor Electric 81 mi range | RWD | 137 | 111 | 124 MPGe |
What 2016 BMW I3 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
While driving my 2016 BMW i3 with Range Extender, the vehicle experiences sudden and complete loss of propulsion at very low state of charge (0–1%). 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 often shuts down again, and in some cases the Range Extender engine does not engage at all. This has occurred repeatedly and creates a serious risk of being stranded or hit while merging or driving on public roads. BMW has inspected the vehicle twice (07 Nov 2025 and 13 Jan 2026) and confirmed the loss of propulsion and need to pull over but classified the behavior as “normal” without performing high-voltage battery diagnostics. The failure appears consistent with high-voltage battery voltage collapse under load, causing the battery management system to shut down the drivetrain. This is not normal power limiting — it is a sudden drivetrain shutdown that occurs without warning and poses a significant safety hazard.
Faulty airbag warning
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. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
The roof has bubbled and peeled away leaving an exposed permeable roof, meaning if it rains, water will get into the car because of the roof material being not safe, not strong, peeling away. Just terrible! Looking online, so many people with i3s ha e all had the same issue!
Translucent protection coat on roof delaminated; pieces blown into air. Bare roof and some coat pieces available for inspection upon request (no inspection yet). Other BMW i3 owners have reported same issue. No prior indication of problem on vehicle itself.
Roof panel is deteriorating and loosing integrity. Outer laminate coat broke down in general sun conditions, and now underlying roof structure is breaking down as well. The dealer has not inspected the roof yet, but this is an issue widely discussed on community forums, and it’s breaking down on my vehicle now.
The roof is bubbling and peeling up. Water gets in it when it rains, then it bubbles greatly. BMW won’t fix it, repair shops don’t want to fix it because it’s an obscure roof. They recommend I take it to BMW which won’t fix it (roof replacement suggested). I just bought this car and drive it as normal, and the special carbon fiber roof is degrading too fast.
The roof on outside is starting to flake off in chunks and expose bottom layers.
Battery degradation
Compare the 2016 BMW I3
Other model years
Questions about the 2016 BMW I3
Is the 2016 BMW I3 reliable?
Owners have filed 33 complaints about the 2016 BMW I3, close to a typical I3 model year.
What is the 2016 BMW I3 year score?
The 2016 BMW I3 scores 73 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW I3: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 BMW I3?
Body and structure, with 10 complaints. Next is steering (8).
How many recalls does the 2016 BMW I3 have?
2 recalls, covering air bags and fuel system, gasoline.
What gas mileage does the 2016 BMW I3 get?
Official estimates for the 2016 BMW I3 range from 39 mpg combined. The most efficient version (0.6L 2-cyl plug-in hybrid, RWD) gets 41 city and 37 highway.
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