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 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."
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Executive Vehicle Verdict
The 2021 BMW M3 is associated with 3 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 3 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.
The most frequently reported component area is AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS, accounting for 1 reports (33% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 5 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3L 6-Cyl hybrid, 2l 4-cyl, and 3l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 19 to 26 MPG combined. Detailed NHTSA crash-test ratings are not available in the current AutoUtility dataset for this model year. The 2021 BMW M3 belongs to the 6th generation (G80) M3 platform spanning model years 2021–2026.
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 3 consumer reports filed
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 3 official campaigns
- • Primary Defect Domain: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS (1 / 33%)
- • NCAP Crash Safety: Not rated by NHTSA
- • EPA Certified Range: 19–26 MPG across 5 powertrain trims
What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 BMW M3?
Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M340i Hybrid | 3L 6-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 MPG | 32 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,900 / yr |
| X2 M35i | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 MPG | 30 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 |
| M3 | 3L 6-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 16 MPG | 23 MPG | 19 MPG | — | $4,000 / yr |
| M3 Competition | 3L 6-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 16 MPG | 23 MPG | 19 MPG | — | $4,000 / yr |
What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 BMW M3?
Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD | — | ||||
| 4 DR RWD | — |
Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 BMW M3 models.
What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 BMW M3?
Summary of 3 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
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 M3 problems & component breakdown (3 categories) →Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 BMW M3?
Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
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.
Defect Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, and 2021 M3, M3 Competition, M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, X5 xDrive45e, 745 Le xDrive. The rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may not have been welded properly and could separate during a hard braking event, possibly resulting in a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and braking assistance.
Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 BMW M3
Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 BMW M3
How many safety recalls does the 2021 BMW M3 have?
The 2021 BMW M3 is associated with 3 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.
If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 BMW M3?
NHTSA records list 3 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 BMW M3. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS, appearing in 1 filings (33% of submissions).
Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.
Is there an official NHTSA crash safety rating for the 2021 BMW M3?
An official NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test rating is not available for the 2021 BMW M3 in AutoUtility's current federal dataset.
NHTSA publishes crash safety evaluations for a selected sample of passenger vehicles each model year. Consult NHTSA.gov for active safety equipment records and vehicle safety bulletins.
What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2021 BMW M3 get?
Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2021 BMW M3 range from 19 to 26 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.
Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
- NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
- U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.