Showing the 2019 i3 Range Extender: EPA's i3 with Range Extender and i3s with Range Extender (0.6 L, RWD). Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
31 mpgcombined; city 30, highway 31; the Range Extender; plug-in hybrid versions on gasoline, 100 MPGe on electricity
Five years of fuel
$13,250EPA's own estimate for plug-in hybrids: its national gasoline and electricity prices and the share of miles it expects on electricity; not priced for any state; the Range Extender; fuel only, 15,000 miles a year
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2019 i3. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 i3. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
6
1
0
0
Steering
4
0
0
0
Power train
3
0
0
0
Engine
2
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
2
0
0
0
Unknown or other
2
1
0
0
Hybrid propulsion system
1
0
0
0
Seat belts
1
0
0
0
Service brakes
1
1
0
0
Structure
1
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2019 i3 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 43 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2019 i3, the latest on May 6, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (17), equipment (11), engine and engine cooling (6), steering (5), visibility (4).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2019 i3.
EPA class: subcompact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
i3 Rear-Wheel Drive
125 kW AC Induction
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 153 miles of range
124 / 102 / 113 MPGe
i3 with Range Extender Rear-Wheel Drive
0.6 L, 2 cyl
Automatic (A1)
Premium Gasoline or Electricity 126 miles on electricity, 200 miles in all
30 / 31 / 31 on gasoline 100 MPGe on electricity
i3s Rear-Wheel Drive
135 kW AC Induction
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 153 miles of range
124 / 102 / 113 MPGe
i3s with Range Extender Rear-Wheel Drive
0.6 L, 2 cyl
Automatic (A1)
Premium Gasoline or Electricity 126 miles on electricity, 200 miles in all
30 / 31 / 31 on gasoline 100 MPGe on electricity
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data