2015 BMW I3 5 HB RWD

I am the owner of my BMWi3. We live in a retirement community in Florida and it is the perfect vehicle for driving the short commutes of our daily activities. December 27, 2020 I ordered (from Amazon) SUNTUE Buckles Extender,Universal Fit for 7/8'' Metal Tongue, Extension Socket Connector with E11 Safety Certified -2 Pack. The purpose was to make it easier to fasten the seat belts. We are in our 70’s and it is difficult to reach down to fasten the belt. Our fingers are not as nimble as when we were young. I installed them in mid-January 2021 and a few days later the message appeared: “Driver restraint system malfunction. Continue wearing safety belt. Consult nearest service center.” Shortly after the warning appeared, I removed the extenders and thought the warning would go away. However, it continued to appear. After seeing the message for several months, I called BMW for an appointment to clear the message. September 23, 2021, I paid $160.10 for a diagnostic test, and the BMW Service Advisor told me the SRS – Airbag Driver Front: high resistance in driver airbag must be replaced. He assured me the problem is NOT related to the seat belt extenders. The advisor said the air bag would have to be ordered and gave an estimate of over $1,300. I had to sign papers stating the airbag is not safe. I searched on-line for other BMWi3 owners who have had similar experiences. I found that some other owners have had the airbag message. I then searched for “replacement of air bags” and was surprised to find that it is rarely necessary to replace the bags “because they won’t wear out.” My BMW has 35,600 miles; it is always garaged, and has not been in an accident, therefore, I do not understand what would cause my airbag system to indicate it must be replaced.

Power steering malfunctioned causing steering to be very stiff. This happened whenever the car exceeded about 25 MPH, and returned to normal at low speeds. The car wanted to veer out of the lane and required force to keep it in the lane. After turning the car off and back on, the car steering returned to normal. This event happens sporadically, about once a month. While the steering can be overpowered to keep the car on course, this can be very dangerous if you are not expecting it.

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WITH SEAT BELT ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW I3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CHARGING PORT OVERHEATED WHILE CHARGING AND MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF ROCHESTER HILLS, 45550 DEQUINDRE RD, SHELBY CHARTER TWP, MI 48317, AND WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE WHAT WAS THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ONLY 5 YEARS OLD 41K MILES, MINT CONDITION, WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING "DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AFTER CHECKING ALL THE I3 BLOGS THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE. I TOOK MY CAR OVER TO BMW TODAY, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE AIRBAG HAS MALFUNCTIONED SAME THING AS THE BLOGS ARE OUTLINING. I WAS ADVISED BUT THE SERVICE PERSON THAT IT WOULD BE 1800.00 I TOLD HIM THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE I3 AND ITS ALL OVER THE BLOGS, HE ACKNOWLEDGED HIS AWARENESS, IN ADDITION AIRBAGS SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 10 YEARS / GUARANTEED? ANYWAY I EMAILED THE FOLLOWING BMW NORTH AMERICAN MANAGEMENT ASKING WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL. BERNHARD KUHNT - PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NORTH AMERICA/BMW GROUP REGION AMERICAS RICHARD HART - WARRANTY DEPARTMENT HEAD NORTH AMERICA SHAUN BUGBEE - EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT BMW THE HAVE JUST BEEN ALLOWING PEOPLE TO FIX THEIR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG, AS THEY INSTALLED SUBSTANDARD EQUIPMENT ON A $50K CAR. ANYWAY THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO I HAVE PICTURES OF THE WARNING BUT IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO UPDATE AS THEY ARE TOO BIG AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COMPRESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE..

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UPON VEHICLE STARTUP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION. THIS FAILURE MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSOLE HAD A MESSAGE: "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION". I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT COULD ACCELERATE AFTER THE MESSAGE ON THE CONSOLE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NO WARNING, ONCE THE MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE CONSOLE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE.

THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) IN THE I3 IS SINGLE CAMERA BASED, AND WILL DEACTIVATE DURING A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS (SUCH AS DRIVING INTO DIRECT SUNLIGHT WHICH BLINDS THE CAMERA.) THIS IS A DESIGN LIMITATION, BUT NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN ACC DEACTIVATES, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY GOES INTO FULL REGEN BRAKING WITHOUT WARNING. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS IS A SUDDEN AND SIGNIFICANT DECELERATION THAT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD (BEING REAR ENDED).

STEERING BECOMES LOPSIDED, IT'S LOOSE TO TURN ONE WAY, AND HARD TO TURN THE OTHER WAY, AS IF ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES IS FLAT. THE CAR WILL TEND TO VEER LEFT OR RIGHT, AND I HAVE TO PULL HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY AS TO WHETHER IT VEERS LEFT OR RIGHT, AND THE DIRECTION CHANGES INTERMITTENTLY. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALSO INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES EVERY FEW DAYS OR EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON RESOLVES THE PROBLEM, BUT THEN THE SAME PROBLEM EVENTUALLY OCCURS AGAIN SOMETIME LATER. THIS IS MOST LIKELY A SOFTWARE ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME BEHAVIOR ON I3'S ONLINE AND ON NHTSA WEBSITE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND BMW SHOULD ADDRESS IT RIGHT AWAY. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE TWO FLAT FRONT TIRES, BUT THEY ARE OF PROPER INFLATION. STEERING PULLS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WITH NO CENTER FEEL. FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING AN OLD TRUCK WITH LOOSE STEERING LINKAGE. UNSETTLING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR CURVY ROADS. SENSORS ALERT ON THE DASH: PEDESTRIAN WARNING, STABILITY CONTROL, AND OTHERS. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, AND DEALER LOOKED AT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, AND DID AN ALIGNMENT, WHICH RESOLVED FOR TWO MONTHS.

STEERING BECAME NOTCHY AND FELT LIKE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 25 MPH. IT ALSO FELT LIKE IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT WHILE ON CITY STREETS DRIVING STRAIGHT. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT BMW OF LAS VEGAS. I READ ONLINE WHERE MANY OTHER I3 OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES. MANY HAVE REPORTED THAT THE ISSUE MAY BE SOFTWARE RELATED AND DIFFICULT TO REPRODUCE AS IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR CAN RESET IT GIVING A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS.

SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. SEAT BELT JUST HANGS THERE.

MY 2015 I3 REX JUST HAD THE STEERING GET REALLY HEAVY AS IF I HAD A FLAT AND IT PULLED TO THE LEFT. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CENTER THE STEERING AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS FOR THIS MODEL, BUT IT IS INTERMITTENT AND THEREFORE HARD TO DUPLICATE FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE, IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT.

MY 2015 I3 JUST HAD THE STEERING GET REALLY HEAVY AS IF I HAD A FLAT AND IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CENTER THE STEERING AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS FOR THIS MODEL, BUT IT IS INTERMITTENT AND THEREFORE HARD TO DUPLICATE FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE, IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT.

IN LAST 4 WEEKS, ON TWO OCCASIONS STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF A & HARD TO TURN. BOTH TIMES THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF IMMEDIATELY WHEN CAR STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. IN FIRST OCCURRENCE, AFTER LEAVING PARKING LOT UNDER 10 MILES/HOUR, I DROVE 25-30 MILES/HOUR IN CITY TRAFFIC (STRAIGHT STREETS), THEN DROVE UP TO 65-70 MILES/HOUR ON INTERSTATE 95 (MOSTLY STRAIGHT AHEAD DRIVING). IN THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, I REVERSED STRAIGHT OUT OF THE DRIMVEWAY AT ABOUT 5-10 MILES/HOUR. I DIDN'T HIT ANY MANHOLE COVERS OR SIGNIFICANT UNEVENESS IN EITHER CASE.

THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWS TO 5MPH UNDER SOME CONDITIONS. THIS CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED BY RETURNING PROGRAMMING TO INTERNATIONAL. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME IN WINTER IN RAIN I NEED TO HAVE HEAT, WIPER AND DEFROSTER ON. MY HOUSE IS IN HILLS. UNFORTUNATELY ON RETURN TRIP MY BATTERY IN WINTER IS DEPLETED AND THE ONBOARD GAS ENGINE GENERATOR IS UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH HILL CLIMB AND NEEDED HEATING AND WIPER. THE CAR WILL DROP FROM 55MPH TO 5MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC FLASHER OR ANY OTHER ITEM TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF MY PROBLEM. PLEASE ASK BMW TO RE-FLASH PROGRAMMING TO ALLOW MY TO MAINTAIN GREATER THAN 5% BATTERY LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER POWERING-UP THE CAR, THE STEERING HAS BEEN VERY HEAVY AND PULLED TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR RESISTED BEING DRIVEN IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND IT FELT AS THOUGH SOME SELF-DRIVING FEATURE WAS TRYING TO WREST CONTROL. ON ALL OCCASIONS, EXCEPT FOR ONE, PARKING THE CAR, POWERING-OFF, PAUSING FOR A FEW SECONDS AND POWERING BACK ON HAS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. IF THIS SITUATION WERE TO OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD EASILY THROW THE CAR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AN ONLINE BMW I3 FORUM HAS MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS GOING BACK TO 2014. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE A FIRMWARE ISSUE AND I FEAR BMW IS WAITING FOR A FEW FATALITIES TO SEE IF IT WORTH ADDRESSING.

THE I3'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT RESULTING IN ME DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST OFF THE ROAD. (LOW SPEED, 15MPH). USING FORCE, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, WITHOUT THE USUAL POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE, STRAIGHTENING OUT THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTION AND GOT ME ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO MOVING BY ITSELF CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL AGAIN AND IT WOULD TURN ITSELF TO THE RIGHT AGAIN. THE I3 WAS IMMEDIATELY POWERED DOWN AND RESTARTED/REBOOTED AND THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. SINCE THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED, THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT WAS REDUCED. HOWEVER, IT THIS WERE TO OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT COULD BE DISASTROUS. NO ERRORS CODES WERE EVER DISPLAYED. I WILL BE INSTALLING A DASH CAMERA TO RECORD THE NEXT TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH RESULTS IN MANY OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR SIDE STREETS MULTIPLE EPISODES OF INTERMITTENT HEAVY, SLUGGISH, OR LOOSE STEERING HAS OCCURRED REQUIRING THE VEHICLE TO BE STOPPED, SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

STEERING HAS BECOME VERY STIFF REQUIRING A STRONG APPLICATION AT THE WHEEL TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT.

IN DECEMBER I HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR'S STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT- AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO A FLAT TIRE, BUT IT WAS NOT. I MADE A SHORT DRIVE- PARKED THE CAR FOR AWHILE AND CAR DROVE NORMALLY. PROBLEM REOCCURRED ON 2/14/19 - WITH THE CAR BECOMING HARD TO STEER- A SHORT PARKING OF THE CAR DID NOT FIX IT- BUT SITTING OVERNIGHT DID. HTTP://WWW.MYBMWI3.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=15&T=5065 AND A VIDEO ( NOT MINE) OF THE PROBLEM. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=P9HJSA2YXOK&FEATURE=YOUTU.BE

THE CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY TURNS ITSELF OFF AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY GOES INTO REGENERATIVE BRAKING. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. IT HAS HAPPENED UNDER MANY DIFFERENT DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT ON FREEWAYS AND BACK ROADS.

TWICE THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. EACH TIME THE FEEDBACK TO POWER ASSIST "FLOATED" IN AN UNDETERMINED STATE. THE ABILITY TO FORCE A TURN (MAKE HARD TURNS) SEEMED TO ACTIVE THE POWER ASSIST AND WORKED AS EXPECTED. STRAIGHT DRIVING SEEMED TO CAUSED THE POWER ASSIST TO GO ON AN OFF AND WANDER OR VARY THE FORCE. IT WOULD SEEM TO ENGAGE POWER ASSIST WHEN STEERING WENT OFF CENTER. THE EFFECT WAS SIMILAR TO DRIVING IN RUTS. BOTH TIMES THE FAILURE CORRECTED ON POWER OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. POWER OFF FOR ONLY A MINUTE DIDN'T FIX. REPORTED TO DEALER WITH NO FIND REPORT BACK. I SUPPOSE WITH A PUNY CAR LIKE THIS THEY COULD HAVE JUST REMOVED POWER STEERING.

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING BECAME HEAVY, NOTCHY. IT WOULD NOT CENTER ITSELF; FOR EXAMPLE, AROUND A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STAY IN THE DIRECTION I TURNED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS! IT SEEMS THERE IS A BUG IN THE SOFTWARE. BMW CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SEVERAL FORMS HAVE BEEN CREATED OVER THIS PROBLEM.

I AM REPORTING A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET, GOING STRAIGHT. WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENED, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT NOTICEABLY BY ITSELF AND IT TOOK FORCE BY HAND TO CORRECT IT SO THE CAR COULD GO STRAIGHT. THIS CREATED A SAFETY RISK CONCERN TO THE DRIVER. I FEEL THE AFFECTED COMPONENTS LIKELY ARE THE STEERING WHEEL AND ELECTRONICS SYSTEM. BELOW IS A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION: IN MARCH, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LEFT SLIGHTLY BY ITSELF AFTER THE CAR WAS STARTED. THIS POSITION OF THE WHEEL WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CAR TURN LEFT GRADUALLY. IT TOOK SOME FORCE BY HAND TO STEER AND KEEP THE WHEEL BACK TO THE REGULAR NEUTRAL POSITION. WHEN THE WHEEL WAS KEPT AT THE REGULAR NEUTRAL POSITION, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GO STRAIGHT. HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT AGAIN AFTER HANDS WERE REMOVED FROM THE WHEEL. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL BEHAVED NORMALLY AGAIN, MEANING IT STAYED IN THE REGULAR NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN HANDS FREE, AND THE CAR WENT STRAIGHT. THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN THE SAME WEEK. THE NEXT WEEK THE OWNER SENT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO TAKE A LOOK. THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS, DID A LOT OF RESEARCH INCLUDING STEERING/SUSPENSION AND ALSO EXTENSIVE TESTING, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. IN LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THE OWNER TOOK THE CAR BACK, THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE INTERESTING THING IS: THE OWNER GOT A 2018 I3 94AH REX LOANER CAR AND THE SIMILAR STEERING WHEEL ISSUE SHOWED UP WITH THE LOANER CAR AS WELL! TIMELINE: MARCH 2018: HAPPENED TWICE IN A WEEK 3/22: SERVICE #1 4/25: HAPPENED ONCE 4/28: SERVICE #2 5/8: SIMILAR ISSUE HAPPENED WITH THE LOANER CAR 2018 I3 94AH REX 6/10: HAPPENED ONCE 6/12: HAPPENED ONCE 7/18: SERVICE #3 8/2: HAPPENED ONCE MANY VIDEO CLIPS WERE TAKEN AT TIMES.

SEAT BELT TWIST INTO THE RE-TRACTOR BACK OF THE SEAT AND CANNOT BE UNTWISTED BECAUSE THE TWIST REMAINS BEHIND THE SEAT FROM THE FLOOR TO THE TOP OF THE SEAT. TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER DENIES THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE CLAIMING SOMEONE MUST HAVE MESSED WITH THEM INSTALLING THEM BACKWARDS. I HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE TOO WITH THE SEAT MAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THROWING AN ERROR MESSAGE WHERE THE AIRBAG WILL TURN OFF WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT'S DO TO MOISTER AND REFUSES TO FIX IT UNLESS PAY 1500 DOLLARS. THIS COMPONENT IS FAULTY BUT THEY ARE BLAMING ME AND I DID NOT SPILL ANYTHING INTO THE SEAT IT WAS PURCHASED THIS WAY. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD NOT FAIL SO EASILY EVEN IF THE SEAT WAS DAMP. SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY 1500 DOLLARS EVERY TIME SOMEONES BUTT SWEATS INTO MY SEAT? THAT'S RIDICULOUS. THE SENSOR WILL FAIL OVER BUMPS WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT REGARDLESS OF SPEED. ONLY HEAVIER PASSENGERS OVER ABOUT 240 LBS TRIGGER THE ERROR.. IT WILL RESET ITSELF ONCE THE TRIP IS COMPLETED. BUT FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP THE PASSENGER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED FROM THE AIRBAGS IN THE EVENT OF COLLISION.

2015 BMW I3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RANGE EXTENDER SAFETY RECALL. *LD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS AND 2 LIGHTWEIGHT TIRES THAT HAVE RUPTURED EASILY. UPDATED 11/15/2017*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE WOULD RAPIDLY LOSE IT'S CHARGE. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *JS

OUR CAR WOULD NOT MAKE IT UP THE HILL DURING A RAINSTORM ON THE HIGHWAY IN CAMARILLO, CA. IT WENT FROM 65 DOWN TO 45. IT HAPPENED TO US TWICE ON THIS TRIP. WE WERE USING THE RANGE EXTENDER. WE HAVE VIDEOS THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER.

I TURNED ON THE CAR, OPENED THE GATE AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDDLE LIGHTLY AND THE CAR FLEW OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, HIT THE GATE, FLEW OUT INTO THE STREET AND HIT A PARKED CAR. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR BRAKES NEVER WORKED. IT WAS AS IF THE GAS PEDDLE WAS STUCK AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK TO STOP THE CAR.

THE ACC (ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL) SURPRISINGLY STOPS WORKING WHEN FACING A BRIGHT SUN. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN, BUT IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGH SPEEDS IF SOMEONE IS BEHIND ME. WHEN THE SUN HITS THE CAMERA, THE ACC SHUTS DOWN (WITH A WARNING ON THE SCREEN) AND THE REGEN BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN MUCH MORE THAN COASTING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO ON, BUT IF A CAR IS FOLLOWING AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS DO NOT SUGGEST THAT OUR CAR SHOULD BE BRAKING, THE CAR COULD REAR END US. THE I3 ONLY HAS A CAMERA TO RUN THE ACC. IN OTHER CARS, THERE ARE BOTH CAMERAS AND RADAR. OUR 2011 MKX HAS AN INTELLIGENT CC AND IT NEVER CUTS OUT BECAUSE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD, IT USES RADAR. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL POSTS ON THE INTERNET WITH OTHER DRIVERS HAVING SIMILAR SUCH PROBLEMS - HERE IS ONE. HTTP://WWW.MYBMWI3.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=15&T=3059 OF COURSE, I CAN AVOID THIS PROBLEM BY NOT USING THE ACC, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS I WANTED AND PAID FOR ON THE I3. WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THANKFULLY, BUT PERHAPS OTHERS HAVE. OTHER THAN THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, THE I3 IS A SUPERB CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW I3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ON AN EXTENDED RANGE, THE SPEED DECREASED TO BELOW 60 MPH AND COMPLETELY LOST ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.

THE CHARGING CABLE WON'T UNLOCK FROM THE CAR BECAUSE OF A BAD ACTUATOR AND SOFTWARE BUG, AND THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FOR THE RANGE EXTENDER FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. BOTH ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS. BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE PARTS, BUT DOES NOT MAKE THE REPAIR BEFORE SELLING THE CARS. IT IS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH FOR DEFECTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND ALL ISSUES SHOULD BE CORRECTED.

2015 BMW I3 WITH RANGE EXTENDER (REX) JUST HIT 1000 MILES. HAD FOR 6 WEEKS. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A FREEWAY AT 75 MPH USING MY ELECTRIC CAR. AS THE BATTERY WAS ALMOST OUT OF JUICE, I KNEW THE FUEL RANGE EXTENDER WOULD KICK IN. HOWEVER, WHEN THE EXTENDER KICKED IN, MY MPH IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DROP. WITHIN THE 15 SECONDS, I WAS DOWN TO 35 MPH FROM THE 75 I WAS TRAVELING. I HAD THE ACCELERATOR FLOORED, BUT COULD NOT GET ANY POWER TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS TURNED ON. MY CAR AND I SAFELY NAVIGATED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NOT A CAR FOLLOWING TO CLOSE OR A SEMI TRUCK. I WOULD BE DEAD OR IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THERE WAS. MY CONCERN, CONSUMERS ARE NOT BEING WARNED OF THIS ISSUE... HERE ARE A FEW MORE FACTS THAT ARE RELAVATN 1. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR THE FIRST TIMER HE RANGE EXTENDER KICKED IN. I WAS NOT DROPPED DOWN TO 30-35 MPH, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC JUST FINE 2.ON DECEMBER 29, 2015 II WAS TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT 75 MPH. THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCLINE. MY ELECTRIC HAD BEEN USED AND THE REX KICKED IN. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DROP IN SPEED. I HAD THE ACCELERATOR PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN HOPES OF GETTING THE CAR BACK UP TO A SAFE SPEED. HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. I HAD TO NAVIGATE MY DYING CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN 75 MPH TRAFFIC. 3.IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE I3 TO THE BMW SERVICE PROVIDER. INSTRUCTED BY THE SERVICE DEPT THIS IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. ERROR MESSAGE OF 0056 DID NOT HAVE ANY DESCRIPTION ON IT. NOT SURE HOW THE TECHNICIAN KNEW THERE WAS NOT AN ISSUE 4.INSTRUCTED BY SERVICE DEPT TO GO BACK TO MY SALES PERSON TO BE RE-TRAINED ON MY CAR. WHY ISN'T THERE AN INDICATOR LIGHT WARNING THE DRIVER YOU WILL BE LOOSING SIGNIFICANT POWER AND SPEED. PULL OVER TO A SAFE MPH? CONCERNED FOR OTHER CONSUMERS....SOMEONE WILL NOT BE AS LUCKY AS I WAS