NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 44 owner complaints for the 2021 BMW 3 Series. Most complaints involve engine (18) and electrical system (17). The EPA rates it 25–30 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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."
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.
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."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“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. I ask BMW and NHTSA to include 330E in this recall as 330E is similar to 330I. 330I and 330E uses same parts and similar design and excluding the 330E from this recall doesn't make sense.”
“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. The car was recently throwing Drivetrain Error codes which prompted a visit to the dealership. They found that the 48v battery and negative cable are burnt and quoted $5680 to replace the battery and cables. After investigating I found that there were recalls for this issue on other BMWs, including the same year and model of my vehicle, but my VIN is not pulling up a recall. The issue is a fire risk and a very expensive repair that should be covered by the manufacturer due to a known defect.”
“Here’s a strong version that sounds frustrated but still credible and harder to dismiss: I’ve owned many vehicles over the years, and this BMW has been, without question, the most problematic car I’ve ever had. The list of issues has been absurd for a vehicle in this price range and from a brand that markets itself as a premium luxury manufacturer. The sunroof failed, I’ve had multiple tire blowouts under normal driving conditions, the drive bar/suspension was bent from what should have been a routine road bump, the engine oil housing/component failed, and now I’m dealing with coolant system and drivetrain problems as well. At this point, it feels like one major issue after another. I expected quality, reliability, and engineering excellence from BMW, but my experience has been the complete opposite. Instead, ownership has been stressful, expensive, and incredibly disappointing. A luxury vehicle should not have this many significant failures in such a short span of ownership. Between the repair costs, downtime, and constant concern over what will fail next, this car has completely destroyed my confidence in the BMW brand. I am documenting these issues formally…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 330i Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 26 | 36 | 30 | $2,650 | 298 |
| 330e Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,850 | 160 |
| 330i xDrive Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 25 | 34 | 28 | $2,850 | 313 |
| M340i Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 | 32 | 26 | $3,050 | 333 |
| 330e xDrive Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 30 | 25 | $3,200 | 192 |
| M340i xDrive Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | $3,200 | 346 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
8 safety recalls as of Nov 4, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 44 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (18), electrical system (17), power train (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2021 BMW 3 Series at 25–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2021 BMW 3 Series 5 out of 5 stars overall.