Verdict
2021 BMW i3: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2021 BMW i3 — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Not enough federal data to rank this one yet.
NHTSA has no owner complaints on record for this model year — which can mean a quiet car or simply a rare one. No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2021 hatchbacks, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
0
Reports to NHTSA, 2021
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
113
EPA estimate
Zero reports is not a clean bill of health; rare or lower-volume cars can simply have less owner data.
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 100% of 2021 hatchbacks
The bar is this car's percentile among 2021 hatchbacks by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
No component pattern to show: there are no owner complaints in the current data. That is not proof the car is problem-free.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
1 NHTSA investigation on record
Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.
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 have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
Crash-test ratings
No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i3 | — | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 124 | 102 | 113 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2021 BMW i3: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2021 BMW i3?
NHTSA has no owner complaints on record for the 2021 BMW i3 in the current data. That is not a guarantee of reliability, especially for a lower-volume model.
What are the most common problems on the 2021 BMW i3?
NHTSA has no component pattern to show for the 2021 BMW i3 because there are no owner complaints in the current data. A quiet record is not proof that every car is problem-free.
How many recalls does the 2021 BMW i3 have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2021 BMW i3 as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2021 BMW i3 get?
The EPA rates the 2021 BMW i3 at 113 mpg combined.