KnownCarProblems2021 BMW 330i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 BMW 330i, most often about the electrical (45% of complaints). It is 10th of 16 330i model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2021 BMW 330i problems
Electrical
13 complaints · 45%The contact owns a 2021 BMW 330i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, the engine was shaking abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v636000 (electrical system). The dealer was contacted and confirmed…
The contact owned a 2021 BMW 330i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v056000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while…
Engine
9 complaints · 31%The contact owns a 2021 BMW 330i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, the engine was shaking abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v636000 (electrical system). The dealer was contacted and confirmed…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 17%Air bags
4 complaints · 14%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. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failure in the driverâs side knee air bags. The air bags were…
Driver assistance
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: warnings, warning, automatic emergency braking.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2021 BMW 330i recalls
Electrical: starter assembly
Risk: Fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: relay
Risk: A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: software
Risk: An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Seats
Risk: An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts
Risk: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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).
Full defect summary
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 a
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: An improperly installed seat belt assembly may not restrain an occupant as expected, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Backup camera: software
Risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began april 16, 2021. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2019-2021 x3 sdrive30i, x3 xdrive30i, x3 m40i, x3m, x4 xdrive30i, x4 m40i, m550i, x4m, x5 sdrive40i, x5 xdrive40i, x5 xdrive50i, x5m, x5 m50i, x7 xdrive40i, x7 xdrive50i, x7 m50i, alpina xb7, 330i, 330i xdrive, m340i, m340i xdrive, and 8 series coupe, convertible and grand coupe, 840i, 840i xdrive, m850i xdrive, m8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xdrive, 330e, 330e xdrive, 745le, 745le xdrive, x5 xdrive45e, x3 xdrive30e, x6 sdrive40i, x6 xdrive40i, x6 xdrive50i, x6 m50i, x6m, 530i, 530i xdrive, 540i, 540i xdrive, m550i xdrive, m5, 740i, 740li, 740li xdrive, m760i drive, m760li xdrive, 750li xdrive alpina, alpina b7 xdrive, and 2021 4 series coupe 430i, 430i xdrive, m440i xdrive vehicles. When shifting into reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2021 BMW 330i
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 BMW 330i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (13 complaints); engine (9 complaints); other or unspecified (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2021 BMW 330i have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 30, 2026 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2021 a bad year for the BMW 330i?
- It is 10th of 16 330i model years by number of complaints, with 29 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.