NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2014–2020

BMW i8 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 10 owner complaints for the BMW i8, covering model years 2014 to 2020. The 2015 model year drew the most complaints (5), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW i8 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

6 recall campaigns on file
10 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
6 model years with data (2014–2020)

most complaints: 2015 (5 for that model year)
top component: Electrical System (5 complaints)
latest recall 20V601000 (reported Sep 30, 2020)

0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW i8 complaints by model year

4 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2015 model year has the most complaints: 5 of 10, or 50.0%. Next come 2016 (3) and 2014 (1). The fewest are for 2020, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

BMW i8 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW i8 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
2014	1	0	0	0	0
2015	5	0	0	0	0
2016	3	0	0	0	0
2020	1	0	0	0	0
All model years	10	0	0	0	0

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW i8 components

top 7 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 5 complaints (50.0% of all 10), followed by Engine (3) and Air Bags (1).

Components named most often in BMW i8 complaints (top 7)

Components named most often in BMW i8 complaints (top 7)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Electrical System	5	50.0%
Engine	3	30.0%
Air Bags	1	10.0%
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	1	10.0%
Seat Belts	1	10.0%
Suspension	1	10.0%
Tires	1	10.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW i8 recalls

6 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name i8, newest first. The 6 campaigns cover model years 2014 to 2020. The 2019 model year appears in the most campaigns (2).

6 recall campaigns

BMW i8 recall campaigns covering each model year
Decade	Years ending in 0	Years ending in 1	Years ending in 2	Years ending in 3	Years ending in 4	Years ending in 5	Years ending in 6	Years ending in 7	Years ending in 8	Years ending in 9
2010s					2014: 1 campaign	2015: 1 campaign	2016: no campaigns	2017: 1 campaign	2018: no campaigns	2019: 2 campaigns
2020s	2020: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 20V601000
Reported Sep 30, 2020
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery
Model year 2020
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. Debris may have entered one or more of the hybrid battery cells during their production.
Consequence:
The debris could result in a short-circuit, increasing the risk of fire or injury.
Remedy:
BMW will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery module free of charge. The remedy is currently being developed. Until the remedy is completed, drivers are instructed to not charge their vehicles. Drivers are instructed to not drive in manual mode, sport mode, and to not use the shift paddles. Owners were notified of the safety risk October 23, 2020. The recall began November 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 19V599000
Reported Aug 14, 2019
Hybrid Propulsion System; Electrical System
Model year 2019
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 i3 BEV, i3 REx, and i8 vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high-voltage electrical power.
Consequence:
A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EME module, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 18V652000
Reported Sep 20, 2018
Equipment › Electrical
Model year 2019
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
Consequence:
An electrical shock or a fire can increase the risk of injury or death.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the charging cable, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 16V914000
Reported Dec 20, 2016
Air Bags
Model year 2017
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
Consequence:
If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 15V882000
Reported Dec 28, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Model year 2015
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 i8 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Improperly drilled holes within the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) hydraulic unit may restrict one or more pistons impairing the DSC functions, including braking.
Consequence:
Impaired DSC functionality may negatively impact vehicle handling and braking and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the DSC hydraulic unit, and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 14V674000
Reported Oct 27, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank
Model year 2014
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 i8 vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2014, to September 16, 2014. A bolt used to attach a ground cable between the tank and the vehicle chassis may not have been properly welded during manufacturing.
Consequence:
An inadequate weld of the bolt to the fuel tank could cause a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fuel leak could lead to a fire.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank if necessary, free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW i8 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW i8 have?

NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recall campaigns for the BMW i8, covering model years 2014 to 2020. The most recent, 20V601000, was reported on September 30, 2020 and is filed under “Electrical system”. The 2019 model year is covered by the most campaigns (2).

Which BMW i8 model year has the most complaints?

The 2015 model year, with 5 of the 10 complaints in NHTSA’s file (50.0%). The next are 2016 (3) and 2014 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common BMW i8 complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 5 complaints, or 50.0% of all 10. Engine (3) and Air Bags (1) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW i8?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW i8 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 10 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.

BMW i8 complaints by model year

Most-reported BMW i8 components

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

BMW i8 recalls

Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery

Hybrid Propulsion System; Electrical System

Equipment › Electrical

Air Bags

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank