4.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,688 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #8

Jan 162023

i3

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. Additionally, the contact stated that after making a turn, the steering wheel failed to properly return to center. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the cause of the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

- Chippewa Falls, WI, USA

problem #7

Oct 282021

i3

  • miles
Previously reported a steering incident no. 11438343. Dealer indidicated that there was a "bug in the software" and that the car would be entitled to a one time fix under extended warranty. Dealership worked on the issue and completed the warranty repair on 11/28/2021 and I picked up the vehicle. Upon starting the car, the steering felt "different". I turned right to exit the dealership and tried to straighten the car but the steering turned full left and I crossed into the opposite lane of traffic. I stopped, turned the wheel to center, let it go and it turned full left on its own. I shut the car off, restarted and steering was normal. Drove back to the dealership for them to complete the repair. Dealership reported that this has occurred once for them but they cannot get it to repeat so they are going to keep the car for a few days. I am concerned that they will consider this an out of warranty repair because they were clear that they would offer a "one time fix" for the known issue.

- Mont Vernon, NH, USA

problem #6

Oct 272021

i3

  • miles
Vehicle experiences periodic loss of "power steering". Very difficult to steer or control. Steering does not re-center making control difficult. Steering is restored after shutting down the car for a few minutes. Dealership cannot find any faults or codes.

- Mont Vernon, NH, USA

problem #5

Mar 232021

i3

  • 50,600 miles
Power steering failure while in motion - operating the vehicle on public roadway - making it difficult and dangerous to navigate a turn. No warning lights appeared.

- Tarpon Springs, FL, USA

problem #4

Sep 212020

i3

  • 33,400 miles
Every 3 to 21 days, my steering pulls hard to the left. This occurs on flat roads on dry pavement. I have to pull the steering wheel hard to the right to keep the vehicle going straight at city driving speeds (0-35 mph). On one occasion this occurred while on the freeway driving at 70 mph. Tire pressures are all within spec and tires are in great shape. After stopping and restarting the car, it sometimes will go away. In looking at the BMW recalls and technical notes, they have no solution to this problem and call it a software issue. This has happened to me at least 6 times.

- San Carlos, CA, USA

problem #3

Dec 182019

i3

  • 28,000 miles
The steering becomes heavy intermittently. Sometimes like there is no steering assist. Also wheel does not come back to center after turns. Typically on colder days and driving at slow speed.

- Caledonia, MI, USA

problem #2

Sep 242019

i3

  • 21,000 miles
While driving straight on a two-lane paved city street at about 30 mph the steering became heavy and pulled strongly to the left. Clear weather, moderate temperatures. I stopped the car after a half mile or so, shut it off completely then restarted it. The problem was gone. It has not yet reappeared. Tire pressures were on the low side of normal. None were abnormally low and the tires were in good shape. Cause is unknown. Dealer had no idea what happened.

- Prescott, AZ, USA

problem #1

Jul 222019

i3

  • 16,500 miles
While driving on the road speed about 40-50 mph, steering wheel suddenly became stiff and very hard to turn. The wheel does not want to center. It happened randomly and can't be reproduce easily. It happened 3 times in the past w months. I feel it very dangerous when this happened while on the road. It fixed itself the next morning.

- San Jose, CA, USA