STEERING ASSISTANCE SPORADIC REDUCTION: The driver notices a reduction of steering assistance sporadically while in certain driving situations. Steering control is never lost when the reduction of assistance occurs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 BMW i3 steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 BMW i3 have filed 8 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 i3 | 7 |
| 2015 i3 | 15 |
| 2016 i3 (this page) | 8 |
| 2017 i3 | 11 |
When does it fail?
Of the 8 steering 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
Steering accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
?SPORADIC REDUCTION OF STEERING ASSISTANCE: The driver notices a reduction of steering assistance sporadically while in certain driving situations. Steering control is never lost when the reduction of assistance occurs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SPORADIC REDUCTION OF STEERING ASSISTANCE: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 1) replaces SI B32 11 19 dated October 2019. The driver notices a reduction of steering assistance sporadically while in certain driving situations. Steering control is never lost when the reduction of assistance occurs. The fault may self-correct for no obvious reason or be eliminated with a terminal change/key cycle. There is no Check Control (CC) message when the issue occurs. Unfavorable software in the Electric Power Steering (EPS).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES FOR BRAKE SUSPENSION AND AIR BAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: Multiple check control messages (CCM) can display for brake suspension and air bag system malfunction. The customer may also complain about any of the following: Engine can no longer be switched off Drive position (D) cannot be engaged on the gear selector switch (GWS) Reduction of steering assist After an engine emergency shut-off (either a prolonged long press; or 3 consecutive short presses of the Start/Stop button) and the vehicle going to sleep (identifiable by the lighting of the "Start/Stop button") everything resumes normal functionality and the CCM messages no longer appear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Power-assisted Steering Intermittently Not Available at Engine Start-up: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 1) replaces SI B32 02 14 dated November 2016. The power-assisted steering is unavailable at start up/drive readiness. No communication with the Electric Power Steering (EPS). Possible fault codes: Fault code Text D356A5 message fault (display of the check control driving dynamics 02 D: Disp_CC_DRDY_02) Timeout D359BF message fault (actual steering torque of the driver actuator ID: AVL_STMOM_DV_ACT) Timeout D356B6 message fault (display of the check control driving dynamics 02 ID: DISP_CC_DRDY_02) - Alive 480AB8 internal status management of the complete monitoring range CDA451
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
The steering becomes heavy intermittently. Sometimes like there is no steering assist. Also wheel does not come back to center after turns. Typically on colder days and driving at slow speed.
Previously reported a steering incident no. 11438343. Dealer indidicated that there was a "bug in the software" and that the car would be entitled to a one time fix under extended warranty. Dealership worked on the issue and completed the warranty repair on 11/28/2021 and I picked up the vehicle. Upon starting the car, the steering felt "different". I turned right to exit the dealership and…
Vehicle experiences periodic loss of "power steering". Very difficult to steer or control. Steering does not re-center making control difficult. Steering is restored after shutting down the car for a few minutes. Dealership cannot find any faults or codes.
While driving straight on a two-lane paved city street at about 30 MPH the steering became heavy and pulled strongly to the left. Clear weather, moderate temperatures. I stopped the car after a half mile or so, shut it off completely then restarted it. The problem was gone. It has not yet reappeared. Tire pressures were on the low side of normal. None were abnormally low and the tires…
Every 3 to 21 days, my steering pulls hard to the left. This occurs on flat roads on dry pavement. I have to pull the steering wheel hard to the right to keep the vehicle going straight at city driving speeds (0-35 MPH). On one occasion this occurred while on the freeway driving at 70 MPH. Tire pressures are all within spec and tires are in great shape. After stopping and restarting the car, it…
While driving on the road speed about 40-50 MPH, steering wheel suddenly became stiff and very hard to turn. The wheel does not want to center. It happened randomly and can't be reproduce easily. It happened 3 times in the past w months. I feel it very dangerous when this happened while on the road. It fixed itself the next morning.
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2016 BMW i3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 8 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?
Based on the 8 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 39,583 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 $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.
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.