Recall 17V720 affects 32,000 2014-2018 BMW I3 vehicles for frontal-crash neck-injury risk. Free repair at any franchised BMW dealer.
BMW is recalling 32,000 2014-2018 I3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles because unbelted small adult drivers face a higher risk of neck injury in a frontal crash. The vehicles do not meet the federal occupant crash protection standard, and BMW dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The issue is in the driver air bag control unit software on 2014-2018 BMW I3 vehicles. That software is part of the frontal air bag system, which reads crash signals and controls how the driver air bag deploys in a frontal impact. The system is designed to meet occupant crash protection rules for different driver sizes and belt-use conditions.
On affected I3 vehicles, BMW's filing says approximately 32,000 vehicles do not fully conform to FMVSS 208 requirements for an unbelted small adult driver. In the compliance tests cited for campaign 17V720, the driver position exceeded the required neck injury measurement in that specific test condition. That means an unbelted small adult driver has a higher risk of neck injury in a frontal crash.
The system does not give a dashboard light or driving symptom tied to this defect. There is no warning sign before failure.
Who's affected?
Spans five I3 model years, with every listed year tied to the same front air bag component.
| 2017 BMW I3 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2014 BMW I3 | front air bag |
| 2015 BMW I3 | front air bag |
| 2016 BMW I3 | front air bag |
| 2018 BMW I3 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 32,000 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific hatchback is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a frontal impact, an unbelted small adult driver faces a higher risk of neck injury. Keep seat belts fastened on every trip and schedule the software update soon so the air bag control unit uses the corrected settings. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2018 BMW I3 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the free driver air bag control unit software update.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and reference recall number 17V720 when you call.
- Use seat belts on every trip until the software update is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a BMW technician updates the Driver air bag control unit software covered by recall 17V720. The software update and labor are free under the recall. If you already paid out of pocket for a related air bag control unit software repair before the recall notice, BMW's general reimbursement plan on file covers qualifying documented expenses. Bring receipts or repair paperwork to the service desk, or contact BMW customer service through the dedicated I3 recall line.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 16, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 17, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| November 17, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 8, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 12, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V720?
Recall 17V720 covers 32,000 2014-2018 BMW I3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles. BMW found that an unbelted small adult driver has a higher risk of neck injury in a frontal crash. BMW dealers update the Driver air bag control unit software for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2018 BMW I3 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific BMW I3 is included in recall 17V720. If it is, contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the Driver air bag control unit software update. Reference recall number 17V720 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and BMW's remedy states that dealers will update the Driver air bag control unit software free of charge. The free repair applies at franchised BMW dealers.
What is the safety risk in recall 17V720?
The safety risk is a higher chance of neck injury for an unbelted small adult driver during a frontal crash. This recall involves the frontal air bag system, and the dealer repair is a software update to the Driver air bag control unit.
What if I bought my BMW I3 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific BMW I3 is included, then call a franchised BMW dealer with recall number 17V720 to schedule the free software update.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V720000 |
|---|---|
| BMW customer service | 1-855-269-3361 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V720 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V720000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →