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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2016 BMW i3 is associated with 33 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Structure & Body, accounting for 9 reports (27% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning all-electric and 0.6L 2-Cyl plug-in hybrid configurations. Plug-in hybrid variants are rated up to 117 MPGe (39 MPG on gasoline) with up to 72 miles of electric driving range. All-electric variants deliver up to 124 MPGe with an estimated range of 81 miles. Detailed NHTSA crash-test ratings are not available in the current AutoUtility dataset for this model year.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 33 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Structure & Body (9 / 27%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 3 crash / 0 fire / 1 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: Not rated by NHTSA
  • • EPA Certified Range: 124 MPGe across 2 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 BMW i3?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
i3 BEV 100% Electric Electric Motor Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) 137 MPGe 111 MPGe 124 MPGe 81 mi $600 / yr
i3 REX Plug-in Hybrid 0.6L 2-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) 127 MPGe (41 MPG) 107 MPGe (37 MPG) 117 MPGe (39 MPG) 72 mi EV (150 mi total) $1,950 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
Electric Range & Charging: The 2016 BMW i3 provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 81 miles on a single battery charge.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 BMW i3?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
5 HB RWD —
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as No and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 BMW i3 models.
View complete 2016 BMW i3 crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 BMW i3?

Summary of 33 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
33
Crash Reports
3
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
1
Total Injuries
1

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Structure & Body 9 complaints
Steering 8 complaints
Air Bags 3 complaints (1 crash)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS 2 complaints
Powertrain 2 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2016 BMW i3 problems & component breakdown (13 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 BMW i3?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #17V720000 Active Recall
Affected Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Defect Summary: 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."

Free Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #17V088000 Active Recall
Affected Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2016 BMW i3 recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 BMW i3

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 BMW i3

How many safety recalls does the 2016 BMW i3 have?

The 2016 BMW i3 is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 2 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 BMW i3?

NHTSA records list 33 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 BMW i3. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Structure & Body, appearing in 9 filings (27% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2016 BMW i3 defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Is there an official NHTSA crash safety rating for the 2016 BMW i3?

An official NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test rating is not available for the 2016 BMW i3 in AutoUtility's current federal dataset.

NHTSA publishes crash safety evaluations for a selected sample of passenger vehicles each model year. Consult NHTSA.gov for active safety equipment records and vehicle safety bulletins.

Check active safety equipment and ratings overview →
Source: NHTSA NCAP Registry

What is the electric driving range of the 2016 BMW i3?

The all-electric 2016 BMW i3 is EPA-certified for an estimated driving range of 72 to 81 miles per full charge across certified configurations.

Official EPA combined efficiency ratings reach up to 124 MPGe based on standardized dynamometer laboratory testing.

View EPA range, MPGe and energy cost metrics →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.