Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.
2021 BMW X3 recalls
Electrical system: starter assembly
NHTSA campaign 26V056000 · reported January 30, 2026 · BMW of North America, LLC · 87,394 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Fire increases the risk of injury.
- The 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.
Electrical system: starter assembly, relay
NHTSA campaign 25V636000 · reported September 23, 2025 · BMW of North America, LLC · 199,674 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
- The 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.
Structure
NHTSA campaign 24V764000 · reported October 15, 2024 · BMW of North America, LLC · 8,725 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2022 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. The attachment for the rear cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
- The risk
- Interior rear cargo rail detachment during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicles in this recall were previously remedied for this issue under recall number 24V-534 and will need to have the new repair completed.
Structure
NHTSA campaign 24V534000 · reported July 17, 2024 · BMW of North America, LLC · 282,387 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2023 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. The attachment for the interior cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
- The risk
- Interior cargo rail detachment during a rear crash can increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Seats
NHTSA campaign 23V211000 · reported March 29, 2023 · BMW of North America, LLC · 51 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- The 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.
Fuel system, gasoline: storage, tank assembly
NHTSA campaign 21V199000 · reported March 24, 2021 · BMW of North America, LLC · 17 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, and X4, and 2021 X4 xDrive30i vehicles. The inlet check valve weld may fail, allowing the filling pipe to separate from the fuel tank.
- The risk
- Fuel may leak through the failed weld, increasing the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall is scheduled to begin May 17, 2021. Owners were also contacted by telephone. To date, all repairs have been done. No further owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Back over prevention: software · Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
NHTSA campaign 21V096000 · reported February 19, 2021 · BMW of North America, LLC · 13,858 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- 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 the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- The 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.
- The 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.
Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
NHTSA campaign 20V598000 · reported September 30, 2020 · BMW of North America, LLC · 312 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- The risk
- If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- The fix
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical system: propulsion system, traction battery
NHTSA campaign 20V601000 · reported September 30, 2020 · BMW of North America, LLC · 4,509 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. Debris may have entered one or more of the hybrid battery cells during their production.
- The risk
- The debris could result in a short-circuit, increasing the risk of fire or injury.
- The fix
- BMW will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery module free of charge. The remedy is currently being developed. Until the remedy is completed, drivers are instructed to not charge their vehicles. Drivers are instructed to not drive in manual mode, sport mode, and to not use the shift paddles. Owners were notified of the safety risk October 23, 2020. The recall began November 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical system: propulsion system, traction battery · Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
NHTSA campaign 20V490000 · reported August 18, 2020 · BMW of North America, LLC · 713 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 330e and X5 xDrive45e, 2020-2021 X3 xDrive30e, and 2020 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 vehicles. Loose welding beads may form a conductive path between the hybrid battery cells which could lead to a short-circuit.
- The risk
- A short-circuited hybrid battery may increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery modules, free of charge. BMW issued owners an interim notification on October 16, 2020. Although potentially affected BMW owners received interim owner notification letters, all potentially affected BMW owner vehicles have been remedied; therefore, BMW Final owner notification letters will not be necessary. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
What owners report
Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.
Oct 15, 2026 · Electrical system
At a stoplight in Huntsville, TX, on Oct. 14, 2026, car died. No yellow lights, no warning of any kind. Policeman rerouted traffic, got a tow truck and drove us a Firestone outlet, where problem was diagnosed as a dead battery. Car has only 27,600 miles on it. Battery is OEM. Car has been garaged, beautifully…
Oct 12, 2026 · Unknown or other
Formal complaint regarding improper recall repair of a 2021 BMW X3 and request for assistance. Dear Administrator, I am writing to submit a formal complaint regarding my 2021 BMW X3 and the handling of a recall-related starter replacement performed by BMW of Gwinnett. After taking the vehicle in for the recall repair…
Sep 28, 2026 · Unknown or other
Active Grill shutter malfunction. Randomly the check engine light came on the code was for the grill shutter. Upon inspection the grill shutter is not closing. This was an extended warranty on several prior X3/ X5 models. This appears to be the same issue, I wanted to make BMW aware so they can reevaluate the…
Sep 17, 2026 · Suspension
My vehicle was serviced at arrowhead bmw and they found most steering bushings were cracked front and rear, and only wanted $4,500.00 for repair
Sep 11, 2026 · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V438000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive with the unrepaired recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and…
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received October 15, 2026.