NHTSA campaign 17V720000

BMW Recall 17V-720: Excessive Neck Tension-Extension Force/FMVSS 208

NHTSA recall 17V720000 was reported by BMW of North America, LLC on November 16, 2017, with 32,000 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the BMW I3 for model years 2014–2018. Owners were notified on January 12, 2018, per NHTSA.

Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files

Is my vehicle included?

This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 17V720000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.

To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

BMW VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign
17V720000 (also written 17V-720 or 17V720)
Filed by
BMW of North America, LLC
Report received
Potentially affected
32,000 vehicles (per NHTSA)
Component
Air Bags — Frontal
Owners notified
Safety standard
FMVSS 208

Repair completion: 94.62% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)

NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.

Vehicles listed for this recall

NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 17V720000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.

BMW

  • BMW I3

All BMW recalls

NHTSA's recall notice

As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 17V720000.

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 BMW i3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Unbelted, small adult, drivers may be at a higher risk of neck injury in the event of a frontal crash. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Safety consequence

During a frontal impact, unbelted, small adult, drivers could be at a higher risk of neck injury.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the Driver air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at the dedicated i3 recall number 1-855-269-3361.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Sources

Official NHTSA notice for recall 17V720000

Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.