SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN OPERATING THE SIDE WINDOWS: A squeaking noise is heard when operating either side window. Interference between the side window glass and the B-Pillar seal.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 BMW i3 body problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 10 body complaints filed for the 2016 BMW i3, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of BMW i3 we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 10.
Body accounts for 30% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
OUTER DOOR HANDLE LOOSE. One or both front outer door handles are loose. Improper tightening torque during vehicle production.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗OUTER DOOR HANDLE LOOSE. One or both front outer door handles are loose. Improper tightening torque during vehicle production.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TAILGATE UNINTENTIONALLY OPENS: Trunk/tailgate may open when vehicle is locked.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TAILGATE UNINTENTIONALLY OPENS. Trunk/tailgate may open when vehicle is locked. Trunk/tailgate may open while the vehicle is in motion. Usually after stopping, such as a traffic light etc. Vehicle key trunk/tailgate button may accidentally be pressed, thus opening the tailgate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 BMW i3's carbon fiber composite roof is failing prematurely in multiple ways. Owners describe the protective outer laminate peeling and flaking off in chunks, leaving the underlying roof structure exposed to water infiltration. The delamination progresses to bubbling, wrinkling, and complete separation—one owner reported the roof detaching at 75 mph at 19,000 miles. Water gets in when it rains, and repair shops won't touch the job because the material isn't conventional. BMW dealers offer roof replacement as the only option, with costs running $200 to $2,000, and refuse warranty coverage despite owners calling this a common, widespread defect on the i3 platform.
The rear hatch glass also fails, shattering near the tail lights sometimes twice within a year. BMW won't allow individual glass replacement; you have to buy the entire hatch assembly for roughly $2,000, adding insult to injury for owners already dealing with a degrading roof. Both issues point to design and material choices that aren't holding up, and BMW isn't stepping in to fix either one.
Failure modes owners describe
Carbon fiber composite roof delamination and separation
The multi-layer carbon fiber composite roof structure delaminates, with the protective outer laminate coat breaking down and peeling away, exposing underlying layers. The roof panel can lose structural integrity and separate from the vehicle. Owners report the issue as widespread across 2016 BMW i3 models.
When: One owner reported failure at 19,000 miles; others describe progressive degradation starting within typical ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Roof bubbling and wrinkling; Peeling and flaking of outer protective coat; Exposed permeable substrate; Water infiltration during rain; Whistling sound preceding detachment; Complete roof panel detachment while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Repair shops decline to service due to material complexity. BMW dealers suggest full roof panel replacement, estimated cost $200–$2,000 by owners. Warranty coverage refused by manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: BMW declined to repair or provide assistance per multiple owner accounts; no recalls or TSBs mentioned
Rear hatch glass spontaneous fracture
Rear hatch glass shatters spontaneously, particularly at the tail light area. The glass cannot be replaced individually; the entire hatch assembly must be replaced, creating significant cost and waste.
When: Two failures reported in less than one year on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Rear hatch glass shattered at tail lights; Complete hatch assembly failure
Repairs/costs cited: Full rear hatch assembly replacement required; estimated cost approximately $2,000
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Rear hatch glass shattered at tail lights. 2nd time in less than a year. Glass is not replaceable, so whole hatch assembly needs to be installed. Very poor design and wasteful. Around 2000.00 to fix
The roof is bubbling and peeling up. Water gets in it when it rains, then it bubbles greatly. BMW won’t fix it, repair shops don’t want to fix it because it’s an obscure roof. They recommend I take it to BMW which won’t fix it (roof replacement suggested). I just bought this car and drive it as normal, and the special carbon fiber roof is degrading too fast.
The carbon fiber roof of my 2016 BMW i3 REx is really starting to bubble and wrinkle. After taking it to two shops any mitigation would cost hundreds of dollars to address. The roof is starting to peel and am worried about water getting to the car. BMW should have engineered these roofs differently. They should be responsible to cost associated with fixing them.
Roof peeling
The roof on outside is starting to flake off in chunks and expose bottom layers.
The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the contact heard a whistling sound, and the roof detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 19,000.
My carbon fiber composite roof is delaminating and separating. There is a risk that the degradation of the roof will become so bad that it will separate off my car while driving and may hit another car. This is a common problem with bmw i3 roofs. It is crazy that the entire roof panel can structurally fail but because it isn’t steel/rust bmw isn’t worried about it.
Roof panel is deteriorating and loosing integrity. Outer laminate coat broke down in general sun conditions, and now underlying roof structure is breaking down as well. The dealer has not inspected the roof yet, but this is an issue widely discussed on community forums, and it’s breaking down on my vehicle now.
Had body trouble with your 2016 BMW i3?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2016 BMW i3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 13,872 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/BMW/i3.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.