The 2021 BMW 3 Series is associated with 43 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 10 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 11 reports (26% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 6 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl, 2L 4-Cyl plug-in hybrid, and 3L 6-Cyl hybrid configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 25 to 30 MPG combined. Plug-in hybrid variants are rated up to 75 MPGe (25–28 MPG on gasoline) with up to 23 miles of electric driving range. The 2021 BMW 3 Series belongs to the 7th generation (G20) 3 Series platform spanning model years 2019–2026.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 43 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 10 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Engine (11 / 26%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 1 crash / 3 fire / 2 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 25–30 MPG (6 variants • PHEV up to 75 MPGe)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| 330i | 2L 4-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 26 MPG | 36 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,550 / yr |
| 330i xDrive | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 25 MPG | 34 MPG | 28 MPG | — | $2,700 / yr |
| 330e Plug-in Hybrid | 2L 4-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 72 MPGe (25 MPG) | 80 MPGe (33 MPG) | 75 MPGe (28 MPG) | 23 mi EV (320 mi total) | $2,700 / yr |
| M340i Hybrid | 3L 6-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 MPG | 32 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,900 / yr |
| M340i xDrive Hybrid | 3L 6-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 22 MPG | 31 MPG | 25 MPG | — | $3,050 / yr |
| 330e xDrive Plug-in Hybrid | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 64 MPGe (22 MPG) | 71 MPGe (30 MPG) | 67 MPGe (25 MPG) | 20 mi EV (290 mi total) | $3,050 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| 4 DR AWD | | | | | 9.2% |
| 4 DR RWD | | | | | 9.2% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 BMW 3 Series models.
View complete 2021 BMW 3 Series crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2021 BMW 3 Series problems & component breakdown (23 categories) →
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
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.
Free Manufacturer 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.
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
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.
Free Manufacturer 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.
Affected Component: SEAT BELTS
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."
Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2021 BMW 3 Series recalls & campaign history (10 campaigns) →