Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.
2014AVOIDSerious complaints 3.9× usual, mostly power train and engine Extended coverage
63 serious complaints of 71, the most about power train (21) and engine (15); 3.9× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2014 vehicles. 4 recalls.
What owners report
“When the vehicle depletes it's battery and switches over to the range extender or the gas engine, the car will suddenly shut off and a drivetrain error appears. This seems to only happen when the car is traveling over 55 mph. This has happened on repeated occasions.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the power train, Jun 2024
“While driving the vehicle suddenly jerked and lost all power while in motion on a city street. I can't imagine what would have happened if I was on the freeway with traffic. The message on the screen in my car stated drivetrain malfunction stop and turn off engine do not continue to drive call roadside assistance.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Aug 2020
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage X5 PHEV, I3 REX AND I8 FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES: For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicleÕs Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor to: (B011318, Jun 2018)
- Extended coverage The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date. (011024, Dec 2024)
- Repair program For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Fuel Injectors to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. (B012021, Nov 2021)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
71 owner complaints · 4 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 39–124 mpg · NHTSA: — · 2014 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
What changed for 2014
First year we have trim data for.
2014 i3 trims
| Base | |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| Starting MSRP | from $41,350 |
| Powertrain | |
| Horsepower | Electric: 170 hp Range Extender: — |
| Torque | Electric: 184 lb-ft Range Extender: — |
| Drivetrain | Electric / Range Extender |
| Size and capability | |
| Seats | 4 |
| Tech | |
| Apple CarPlay | Optional |
| Android Auto | Optional |
| Audio | Optional |
| Driver assistance | |
| Adaptive cruise control | Optional |
| Comfort | |
| Seats | Optional |
| Heated seats | Optional |
| Exterior | |
| Wheels | 19 in + option |
Packages and options (21)
| Base | |
|---|---|
| DC Fast Charging (SAE) $700 | Optional |
| Giga World $1,700 | Optional |
| Parking Assistance Package $1,000 | Optional |
| Technology + Driving Assistant Package $2,500 | Optional |
| Tera World $2,700 | Optional |
| Heated Front Seats $350 | Optional |
| Harman/Kardon Premium Sound $800 | Optional |
| Giga 19" BMW i Light Alloy Turbine Wheels Style 429 with All-Season Tires | Optional |
| Mega 19" BMW i Light Alloy Star Spoke Wheels Style 427 with All-Season Tires (REX) | Standard |
| Sport 20" BMW i Light Alloy Double Spoke Wheels Style 430 with Mixed Tires $1,300 | Optional |
| Mega 19" BMW i Light Alloy Star Spoke Wheels Style 427 with All-Season Tires | Standard |
| Tera 19" Light Alloy Turbine Wheels Style 428 with All-Season Tires | Optional |
| Andesite Silver Metallic with BMW i Frozen Blue Accent $550 | Optional |
| Arravani Grey with BMW i Frozen Blue Accent | Optional |
| Capparis White with BMW i Frozen Blue Accent | Optional |
| Ionic Silver Metallic with BMW i Frozen Blue Accent $550 | Optional |
| Laurel Grey Metallic with BMW i Frozen Blue Accent $550 | Optional |
| Solar Orange Metallic with Frozen Grey Accent $550 | Optional |
| Giga Cassia Natural Leather and Carum Spice Grey Wool Cloth | Optional |
| Mega Carum Spice Grey SensaTec and Carum Spice Grey Cloth | Optional |
| Tera Dalbergia Brown Full Natural Leather | Optional |
Trim data from OpenSpec (ODbL 1.0), built from Oem order guide, Oem order guide, Nhtsa vin decode. Still partial for this year: powertrain, dimensions, exterior, infotainment, option rules, vin decode. "Optional" means a package or option adds it; hover for which.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0.6L 2-cyl Electric | RWD | 31 mpg 113 MPGe |
Not rated | 0 | 0 | — | Yes |
| 2020 | 0.6L 2-cyl, 170 hp Electric | RWD | 31 mpg 113 MPGe |
Not rated | 0 | 0 | — | Yes |
| 2019 | 0.6L 2-cyl, 170 hp Electric | RWD | 31 mpg 113 MPGe |
Not rated | 1 | 13 | Electrical system (6) | Yes |
| 2018 | 0.6L 2-cyl, 170 hp Electric | RWD | 35 mpg 118 MPGe |
Not rated | 3 | 14 | Fuel/propulsion system (3) | Yes |
| 2017 | 0.6L 2-cyl, 170 hp Electric | RWD | 35 mpg 118–124 MPGe |
Not rated | 3 | 52 | Structure (12) | No |
| 2016 | 0.6L 2-cyl, 170 hp Electric | RWD | 39 mpg 124 MPGe |
Not rated | 2 | 33 | Structure (10) | No |
| 2015 | 0.6L 2-cyl, 170 hp Electric | RWD | 39 mpg 124 MPGe |
Not rated | 3 | 47 | Steering (15) | No |
| 2014 | 0.6L 2-cyl, 170 hp Electric | RWD | 39 mpg 124 MPGe |
— | 4 | 71 | Power train (21) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Apple lists CarPlay for: i3 2018–2023, i3 2023 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BMW i3 BEV 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | BMW i3 REX 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | BMW i3 BEV 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | BMW i3 REX 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | BMW I3 BEV 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 1 | 13 |
| 2019 | BMW I3 REX 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 1 | 13 |
| 2018 | BMW I3 BEV 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 3 | 14 |
| 2018 | BMW I3 REX 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 3 | 14 |
| 2017 | BMW I3 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 52 |
| 2017 | BMW I3 PHEV 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 52 |
| 2016 | BMW I3 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 33 |
| 2015 | BMW I3 5 HB RWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 3 | 47 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | i3 | Auto (A1) | 113 |
| 2021 | i3 with Range Extender | Auto (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | 31 |
| 2020 | i3 | Auto (A1) | 113 |
| 2020 | i3 with Range Extender | Auto (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | 31 |
| 2019 | i3 | Auto (A1) | 113 |
| 2019 | i3 with Range Extender | Auto (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | 31 |
| 2018 | i3 (94Ah) | Auto (A1) | 118 |
| 2018 | i3 (94Ah) with Range Extender | Auto (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | 35 |
| 2017 | i3 BEV (60 Amp-hour battery) | Auto (A1) | 124 |
| 2017 | i3 BEV (94 Amp-hour battery) | Auto (A1) | 118 |
| 2017 | i3 REX (94 Amp-hour battery) | Auto (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | 35 |
| 2016 | i3 BEV | Auto (A1) | 124 |
| 2016 | i3 REX | Auto (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | 39 |
| 2015 | i3 BEV | Auto (A1) | 124 |
| 2015 | i3 REX | Auto (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | 39 |
| 2014 | i3 BEV | Auto (A1) | 124 |
| 2014 | i3 REX | Auto (A1), 2 cyl, 0.6 L | 39 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.