BMW i3, i4 Models Hit by False "Replace Battery" Alerts; Official Confirms Software Glitch

Recently, new owners of BMW i3 and i4 models in multiple regions have reported that an orange warning message—“You may continue driving. Please replace the battery”—popped up on their vehicle’s infotainment system upon startup. Most affected vehicles were delivered within the past six months and had accumulated between 6,000 and 9,000 kilometers, prompting concerns among owners about battery quality. On June 25, BMW responded, stating that the alert was a false alarm generated by the vehicle’s software system and that the actual 12V low-voltage auxiliary battery was functioning normally, requiring neither replacement nor any corrective action. This 12V battery powers vehicle startup and infotainment functions and is entirely separate from the high-voltage traction battery system, thus having no impact on normal driving or high-voltage battery operation. BMW has already pushed explanatory notifications via over-the-air (OTA) updates to affected vehicles and stated it is actively working on a solution to prevent similar false alerts in the future. The issue first surfaced on social media platforms and owner forums on June 24, with drivers in cities including Changsha, Jinan, and Qingdao reporting identical problems. According to BMW, the false alert stems from a technical flaw in the software logic used to monitor the 12V battery—a purely software-related issue. Industry experts note that such problems are typically caused by overly strict battery monitoring thresholds, misconfigured software parameters, or compatibility issues following OTA updates, and are not uncommon in new energy vehicles. Similar software-related false alarms have previously occurred with Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and other brands, all resolved through remote software updates.