My 2017 i3 has a deteriorating roof. The roof, which is made of carbon fiber, is peeling and pieces are breaking off. This has also led to the interior upholstery of my roof to peel and sag. I am worried moisture will be let into my car, creating a mold issue. I contacted BMW and my extended warranty and they did not want to cover anything. They said this was normal wear and tear and they would not help me. From my understanding this is a much larger issue with all i3 models. I am also having a very hard time finding a body shop that will fix this for me. I have contacted several and they either don't know how to do it, or refuse to do it in fear that they might do it wrong. I am now considering contacting a a boat repair shop, but that might be very costly. I think the company is at fault and needs to figure out a solution. I take good care of my car and this is the only major issue I've ever had with it.
2017 BMW I3 body problems
12 complaints (23% of all complaints for this car).
- owner complaints
- 12
- of this car's complaints
- 23%
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Body10
- Body: roof and pillars3
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
BMW I3 body problems in other years
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2017 BMW I3 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The carbon fiber roof panel is starting to delaminate and I am concerned that pieces could fly off and cause an accident.
On May 30, 2026, I was driving on the NJ Turnpike with high winds and I heard loud sounds like hard rain on the roof of my BMW i3. I saw sheets flying off the roof. When I parked the car, the clear coat covering the roof had delaminated, exposing the carbon fiber. The BMW collision shop told me that the roof panel has to be replaced and it is costly.
I bought the car new in 2017. Last summer, I noticed bubbles on the roof. On May 30, 2026, as I was driving 65 mph on the NJ Turnpike, I heard sounds on the roof like hard rain but it was not raining. I saw large sheets flying off my roof towards other cars, and some flying sheets were large enough to obscure a windshield. When I stopped, I saw more sheets hanging loose from the roof and I peeled off what I could. I think this is dangerous and understand it is common on BMW i3s (which are made of carbon fiber) and other BMW cars.
The roof is delaminating causing a danger to my vehicle and others
The carbon fiber roof is bubbling and disintegrating. I have one section behind the passenger door that is the size of my FULL hand that is in a circle shape where the roof is scaling and peeling. Each day that passes, the known spot is getting bigger and bigger. It's embarrassing to see this happening to my car and makes my care look worthless. Definite eye sore. I currently have the (1) i3 EV that is the family car, (2) M3's mine is a convertible and the other is my husbands, of course, (1) M1 my son's and (1) M235 I which is my daughters. We are definitely a BMW family. Shame on BMW if they do not cover this.
The contact owns a 2017 BMW I3. The contact stated that there were discolored bubbles developing on the roof of the vehicle. The roof of the vehicle was delaminating. Upon further inspection, the contact found out that the hot climate and UV rays and the composite structure might be the factors causing the failure. The vehicle was taken to a body shop. The contact was informed that the carbon fiber used on the vehicle might have caused the failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
There was an electrical fault in the door handle, specifically for the comfort access function circuit inside the handle itself. There was smoke and extreme heat. Luckily no fire started, before the battery was disconnected. Our understanding is, this is a known problem with the circuit board having corrosion and creating a short, but no recall exists.
Carbon fiber Roof delaminate and risk of flying off
I'm writing this in anticipation of my carbon-fiber roof failing, though it has not yet. It is showing standard early signs, consisting of blistering of the clear coat, which appears to be directly over the fiberglass composite roof surface proper. I keep it covered, and that probably has much to do with the blistering not advancing noticeably in recent times.
Questions about the 2017 BMW I3 body
Does the 2017 BMW I3 have body problems?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the body of the 2017 BMW I3, 23% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2017 BMW I3 body problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 2017 BMW I3 body?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the BMW I3 have the most body problems?
The BMW I3 model years with the most body complaints are 2017 (12 complaints) and 2016 (10 complaints).
Other 2017 BMW I3 problems
Steering 11Electrical 8Transmission 6Airbags 3Driver assistance 3Fuel system 3Acceleration 2Brakes 2Visibility 2Engine 1Lights 1Seat belts 1Seats 1Suspension 1Tires 1
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