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 ↗2017 BMW i3 steering problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 11 steering complaints filed for the 2017 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 22% 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 i3 models with 10,000–28,000 miles describe steering problems that typically resolve after restarting the vehicle, pointing to an electrical or software fault rather than mechanical wear.
The most common complaint is sudden heavy steering—the wheel feels difficult to turn, as if power assist has shut off, sometimes compared to driving on two flat tires. This can happen shortly after startup or during initial turns. Severity varies; some drivers experience the problem intermittently (once every 2–3 months), while others see it repeat every 24 hours.
Several owners report steering bias or pull—the car tugs hard to the left or right, especially during acceleration from a stop, requiring counter-steering to maintain lane position. The sensation can affect one direction preferentially, then switch direction at the next intersection.
One owner encountered a serious incident where traction control entered a "recalibrating" mode during wet conditions, then caused complete loss of steering control that persisted on dry pavement at highway speeds. The car remained uncontrollable for hours despite multiple restart attempts, requiring a tow.
Another owner felt sudden steering resistance and severe stiffness during a routine parking-lot exit, triggering warnings for "increased steer effort" and "chassis stabilization." The effort required to turn the wheel caused physical pain.
Tire pressure monitoring shows proper inflation in all cases, and BMW technicians who inspected two vehicles found no mechanical faults. The intermittent nature and software-like behavior suggest a steering control module or calibration issue.
Same BMW i3 steering reports on nearby years: 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of power steering / heavy steering
Power steering assistance intermittently fails or becomes severely restricted, making the steering wheel feel heavy and requiring significantly more physical effort to turn. Owners report the sensation of both front wheels being flat or the power assist being completely deactivated. The condition is intermittent and often resolves after restarting the vehicle.
When: Between 10,000 and 28,000 miles; occurs during normal city and highway driving, often shortly after starting the vehicle or during initial turns from a parked position
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes heavy and difficult to turn; Feels like power steering has failed completely; Requires both hands and significant force to steer; Sensation similar to both front tires being flat; Can affect left or right side preferentially, or both; Resolves after restarting the vehicle
Steering bias / pulling to one side
Steering system develops a directional bias, pulling or favoring hard steering to the left or right. The center feel of the steering changes, and drivers experience difficulty maintaining straight tracking. Often occurs when accelerating from low velocity or pulling away from parking spots.
When: Occurs on initial acceleration from stops or parking positions; can persist throughout a drive
Symptoms owners cite: Car pulls heavily to left or right during acceleration from stop; Steering has noticeable bias toward one direction; Center feel of steering is off or different; Easy to turn in one direction, hard in the other; Requires counter-steering to maintain straight path; Issues reported on both city streets and highways
Loss of traction control / uncontrolled skidding despite steering input
During conditions where traction control should be active, the system enters a 'recalibrating' state that disables effective steering control. The vehicle becomes uncontrollable even when the driver steers properly into skids. The car continues to lose traction on dry pavement and recovers only briefly before control is lost again. This appears to be a vehicle dynamics control system malfunction rather than a typical traction loss.
When: Occurred in slushy/wet conditions initially; persisted even after pavement dried; reported at 35 mph+ speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control enters 'recalibrating' mode with dashboard warnings; Loss of complete steering control despite driver input; Vehicle skids uncontrollably despite correct steering technique; Cannot maintain speeds above 20 mph without losing control; Condition persists even on dry pavement; Multiple restart attempts do not resolve the issue
Increased steering effort warnings and chassis stabilization faults
During normal low-speed maneuvers, the steering suddenly becomes very stiff and unresponsive. Multiple warning messages appear, including 'increased steer effort' and 'chassis stabilization' faults. The condition can cause physical strain and pain to the driver from the effort required to turn the wheel.
When: Occurred during routine parking lot exit on dry pavement at night; warnings appeared within 100 feet of incident
Symptoms owners cite: Steering suddenly becomes 'bullish' or very stiff; Multiple warnings: pedestrian warning faulty, increased steer effort, chassis stabilization; Requires extreme force to turn steering wheel; Can cause physical pain and injury to driver (forearm pain reported); Sluggishness in steering response; Issues repeat after overnight or 24-hour off/on cycles
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Whileexiting a parking place along a curb - slight veer out,on dry pavement, nightime, on an averagecity street. Steering suddenly became bullish. Within 100 feet and in the processof the 1st upcoming90-degree right-handturn all manner of warnings went off, "pedestrian warning faulty,increased steer effort (duh!) chassis stabilization. I also feltimmediatepainin my right forearm and so the order…
I had just turned on the car a few minutes prior to the incident and I was approaching an intersection to turn left onto a 2-lane highway. As I made the left turn, the steering felt wrong like the car was over then under steering. I was able to straighten out, and I felt like the power steering had failed. A quarter mile down the road, I turned left into a gas station, and I could feel the…
Electric steering became unresponsive after driving a short distance. Steering felt sluggish and did not appear to have any power assistance. The feeling of the steering no longer having a power assist LED me to research the vehicle info to determine if the car was experiencing a flat tire(s). The feeling was that both front wheels were flat. On board tire pressure monitoring system indicated…
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 BMW i3?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 10,000 and 21,000 miles, with the median around 13,766. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 21,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2017/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.