Model year guide

2015 BMW i3

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2015 BMW i3 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 649 on record.

2015 BMW i3 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2015 BMW i3 at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints47
Typical price$15,803

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2015 BMW i3 recalls 3

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #17V720000 · 16/11/2017

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."

Fix: 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #17V088000 · 09/02/2017

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.

Fix: 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.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #15V628000 · 07/10/2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…

Fix: MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2015 BMW i3 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

What's a 2015 BMW i3 worth?

Low
$12,770
Typical price
$15,803
High
$18,900

From 5 comparable 2015 BMW i3 listings.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Pedestrian alert sounds Closed

NHTSA 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 NHTSA.gov 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…

NHTSA #DP22005 · Electrical System · opened Jan 2023 · closed Aug 2023

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 294

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 294.

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 del…

Bulletin B011124 · Electrical System · Dec 2024

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 d…

Bulletin 011024 · Electrical System · Dec 2024

The Supplemental Restraint System’s (SRS) air bag warning lamp is illuminated, and the air bag control unit’s (ACSM4i) fault memory has stored one or both of the following fault codes: 930904 Airbag Driver 1st Stage: "Resistance too large” 93090…

Bulletin B010818 · Air Bags · Jan 2024

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “di…

Bulletin B611305 · Electrical System · Jan 2024

The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded t…

Bulletin SIB651312 · Electrical System · May 2022

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.

Bulletin B012021 · Electrical System, Engine And Engine Cooling, Fuel System, Other · Nov 2021

The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded t…

Bulletin B651312 · Equipment · Sep 2021

Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vents).

Bulletin B640621 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2021

Different air temperatures are felt from left to right out of the front fresh air grilles (air vent). The following fault code is saved in the IHKA (integrated automatic heating/air conditioning system) control unit: 801189 - Engine mixed air right: Initializa…

Bulletin B640621 · Equipment · Jul 2021

TELEMATICS UNIT DEACTIVATION DUE TO 3G CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY DISCONTINUATION: The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February…

Bulletin B840121 · Equipment · May 2021

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the I3 RWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 3

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2015 BMW i3. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Label

Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "NONE" when it should read as "NONE / AUCUN". Canadian regulations require the information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safety Risk: This error does not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: Thi…

Transport Canada #2024544 · Aug 2024

Fuel System

On certain i3 REX models, a section of the fuel tank vent line could chafe against an adjacent ribbed wire protector. Over time, this chaffing could lead to the fuel tank vent line wearing through and leaking. Due to enclosed engine compartment of this vehicle and elevated underhood temperatures, this could increase the risk of a fire causing injury and/or property damage. Corr…

Transport Canada #2017068 · Feb 2017

Electrical

Certain vehicles, which were parked at the port of entry in Halifax during the ice storms in February 2015, may have been exposed to excessive standing water and salt for an extended period due to this isolated environmental incident. Certain MINI models could have corrosion at the starter motor power supply cable connectors, which could lead to the inability to restart the eng…

Transport Canada #2015343 · Jul 2015

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the BMW i3

BMW i3 may refer to:BMW i3 (NA0), an electric car produced since 2026, based on the Neue Klasse platform BMW i3, an electric car produced between 2022 and 2026 for the Chinese market, based on the BMW 3 Series (G20) BMW i3 (hatchback), an electric car produced between 2013 and 2022 with battery electric and range extender electric powertrain options

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2015 BMW i3 trims & engines on record

Trims
Range Extender
Engines
0.6L 2-cyl 170 hp · 170 hp

2015 BMW i3 vehicles on record

Other BMW i3 model years

2015 BMW i3 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 BMW i3 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2015 BMW i3. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2015 BMW i3?

Across all 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, air bags, structure.

How much is a 2015 BMW i3 worth?

Comparable 2015 BMW i3 listings run roughly $12,770–$18,900, typically around $15,803 (from 5 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.