2017 Bmw I8 Safety Report

The 2017 BMW i8 presents a unique safety profile primarily due to its extremely low complaint volume and lack of specific crash test ratings from NHTSA. With 0 total complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported to NHTSA, the vehicle appears to have an excellent real-world safety record in terms of reported incidents. However, the absence of NHTSA's overall, frontal, side, and rollover crash test ratings means there is no independent, standardized assessment of its crashworthiness available from this agency. This makes it difficult to directly compare its structural safety performance against vehicles that have undergone these tests. The recall history for the 2017 BMW i8 includes one recall related to 'AIR BAGS'. This recall, affecting various BMW models including the i8, addresses a potential issue where the seat-mounted air bag inflator initiator might fail to ignite. The consequence of this defect is that the seat-mounted air bag would not deploy in a crash, significantly increasing the risk of injury to occupants. While this is a critical safety concern, BMW initiated a recall to address and rectify this issue, indicating a proactive approach to safety defects. Given the complete absence of consumer complaints, there are no discernible common complaint patterns related to components like the engine, transmission, or brakes. The primary safety concern identified through official channels is the single airbag recall. Owners should ensure that this recall has been addressed by a BMW dealership to mitigate the risk of non-deployment of the seat-mounted airbags. The lack of crash test data means potential buyers must rely on the vehicle's design and manufacturer's internal testing, as well as the absence of reported incidents, for an assessment of its crash protection.

Our recommendation: Given the absence of consumer complaints and only one recall (which should be verified as completed), the 2017 BMW i8 appears to be a reliable choice, though buyers should be aware of the lack of official crash test data.