Representative model. Photo: Chanokchon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2021 BMW 3 Series recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2021 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 10
Park-it warnings: 1
Complaints: 44
Latest campaign: Jan 30, 2026

Recall summary by component10

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Park‑it	Latest	Campaign IDs
Electrical system	5	1	Jan 30, 2026	26V056000 25V636000 20V761000 20V601000 20V490000
Seat belts	3	–	Aug 16, 2023	23V584000 21V554000 21V298000
Seats	1	–	Mar 29, 2023	23V211000
Back over prevention	1	–	Feb 19, 2021	21V096000

Safety recalls10

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

1Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jan 30, 2026Latest campaign


Jan 30, 202626V056000	Electrical system: starter assembly Fire increases the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V056000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3 Series, 2021-2023 X4, 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component. Risk Fire increases the risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 24, 2026. Filed under 330i Campaign NHTSA 26V056000 · Jan 30, 2026
Sep 23, 202525V636000	Electrical system: starter assembly relay A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire. Park outside, away from structures DetailsHide details for campaign 25V636000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit. Risk A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire. Remedy Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 14, 2025. Filed under 330i Campaign NHTSA 25V636000 · Sep 23, 2025
Aug 16, 202323V584000	Seat belts An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V584000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2022 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 2022 430i Coupe, 2021-2022 430i, M440i Convertible, and 2020-2022 228i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. The receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the driver to fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash. Remedy Dealers will update the receiver audio module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Filed under 330i, M340i Campaign NHTSA 23V584000 · Aug 16, 2023
Mar 29, 202323V211000	Seats An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V211000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, 2020-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, 2021 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, and X4M vehicles. The seat frame may not have been welded properly to the seat rails. Risk An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will replace the seat frame and back rest, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Filed under 330i, M340i Campaign NHTSA 23V211000 · Mar 29, 2023
Jul 21, 202121V554000	Seat belts During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V554000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417; 1-866-825-1525 (MINI); 1-877-877-3735 (Rolls Royce); and 1-888-270-9371 (Toyota). Filed under 330e, 330i, M340i Campaign NHTSA 21V554000 · Jul 21, 2021
Apr 28, 202121V298000	Seat belts: front buckle assembly An improperly installed seat belt assembly may not restrain an occupant as expected, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V298000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M3, and 330e xDrive vehicles. The bolt securing the seat belt assembly to the frame was not tightened to specification. Risk An improperly installed seat belt assembly may not restrain an occupant as expected, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belt buckle assembly connection and, if necessary, replace it, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 25, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Filed under 330e, 330i, M340i Campaign NHTSA 21V298000 · Apr 28, 2021

Merged from NHTSA model names: 330i, M340i, 330e. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component44

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

44Complaints filed

1Involving a crash

3Involving a fire

2Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	18	41	0	1	1
Electrical system	17	39	0	3	0
Power train	6	14	0	0	1
Unknown or other	5	11	0	1	0
Air bags	4	9	1	0	1
Suspension	3	7	0	0	0
Service brakes	3	7	1	0	1
Forward collision avoidance	3	7	1	0	1
Lane departure	2	5	0	0	0
Steering	2	5	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	2	5	0	0	1
Engine and engine cooling	1	2	0	1	0
Wheels	1	2	0	0	0
Visibility/wiper	1	2	0	0	0
Structure	1	2	0	0	0

An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names 3 Series, 330E, M340I.

Latest reports

Engine
“I am getting error code 21A50A and 216115 which Starter Overheating that can cause fire. Similar error code were coming on other cars and BMW have recalled it the recall number is 26V056.”
Filed 09/02/2026 · ODI 11761564
Air bags
“The contact owns a 2021 BMW 330I. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, there was an audible alert heard, and a red air bag light was displayed on the instrument panel.”
Filed 07/17/2026 · ODI 11751173
Electrical system
“I have been smelling a burning odor in the vehicle for almost a year which the dealership and an independent shop had not been able to diagnose.”
Filed 07/02/2026 · ODI 11747887

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2021 BMW 3 Series recall questions

How many recalls does the 2021 BMW 3 Series have?

NHTSA lists 10 safety recall campaigns for the 2021 BMW 3 Series. The most recent, 26V056000 (reported January 30, 2026), concerns electrical system. 1 campaign carries a park-it or park-outside warning. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2021 BMW 3 Series recalls for?

The largest group is electrical system, with 5 campaigns. Others: seat belts (3), seats (1), back over prevention (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2021 BMW 3 Series?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 18 complaints out of 44 filed with NHTSA (41%). Across all complaints, owners reported 1 crash and 3 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2021 BMW 3 Series?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised BMW dealer.

Check a specific BMW by VIN

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