US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained

BMW i8 recall history

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the BMW i8, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 6
Total Complaints 10
Years Covered 2014–2020

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the BMW i8. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the BMW i8, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Electrical

2 campaigns · Years: 2019–2020

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):

Other

2 campaigns · Years: 2015, 2019

These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.

Official notices (evidence):

Airbags

1 campaign · Years: 2017

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):

Fuel and emissions

1 campaign · Years: 2014

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the BMW i8 in NHTSA complaint data are Electrical system, Engine, Suspension.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2020 1 1 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system.
2019 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2017 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2016 0 4 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Tires, Engine.
2015 1 4 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine, Electronic stability control (esc), Electrical system.
2014 1 1 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Suspension.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Electrical system , Equipment and Hybrid propulsion system

Show recall evidence by year

2020

  • Electrical system: Traction battery: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (20V601000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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

2019

  • Equipment: Electrical: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (18V652000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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 Tu
  • Hybrid propulsion system: Safety recall involving the hybrid propulsion system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (19V599000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.

2017

  • Air bags: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (16V914000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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,

2015

  • Electronic stability control (esc): Safety recall involving the electronic stability control (esc) area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (15V882000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.

2014

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Auxillary tank: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (14V674000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.

Other BMW Models

Explore recall and complaint data for other BMW models.

⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

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