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 CE…
2015 bmw i3 steering problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
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 …
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 OCCURR…
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 ELECTRONI…
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 overpow…
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2015 bmw i3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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