2021 BMW 3 Series

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 driver’s side knee air bags. The air bags were replaced, and the airbag module was reprogrammed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,868.

Reported

Jul 2026

Incident date

Jun 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

25V-636 This has been unresolved for 6 months with no sign of a fix. It’s a starter motor, not the space shuttle.

Reported

May 2026

Incident date

Nov 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I am submitting a claim pertaining to NHTSA Recall Number 25V636000 which pertains to a engine starter issue that can result in fire. This recall was reported first on September 23, 2025 and has been gone without a remedy. Since as of today, it has been 212 days without a solution that I am driving a car that may catch fire. This is too long and I am seeking remediation in the form of a replacement vehicle.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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 driving approximately 45 MPH, there was smoke coming from under the passenger side fender. The contact entered a nearby parking lot off the highway when the vehicle caught fire. The contact was able to exit the vehicle, and someone inside a nearby building extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department and police department arrived. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The contact did not sustain any injuries, and no medical attention was needed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and had opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Fire

I phoned BMW today for an update on this recall. After 6 months, Manufacturer still does not have a fix or repair for your recall 25V636000 and no solution date. This is completely unacceptable.

Reported

Apr 2026

Incident date

Apr 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My check engine light came on stating my engine coolant was low. I took it to a shop and was told I needed to replace my filter/coolant housing assembly.

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

In September of 2025, I was notified twice by BMW via mail that my car is under recall. The NHTSA Recall Number is 25V636000. It is possible for water to contact and enter the engine starter. This could lead to corrosion which could cause a short circuit and ultimately a fire. They told me it would be fixed free of charge and I would be notified when the remedy was available. There were no such warnings or messages of the problem prior to being notified of this potential failure. Their mailed instructions told me to park the car outside which I did. My car was exposed to storms and hickory nuts from trees fell on my car causing damage. The extent of the damage was classified as the equivalent of "hail damage" and I had to pay 2000 out of pocket to a Paintless Dent Repair shop to get the damage fixed. I called multiple dealerships back in October and they told me to check in February of 2026. It is now March and a remedy is still not available. I called multiple dealerships today, March 16th 2026, and they have all told me that parts are still not available. This is infuriating. I had to pay a significant amount of money due to a defect on BMW's part. I now park my car in my garage where it belongs. It is infeasible for myself and many others to park a vehicle outside. My safety is put at risk every day and I worry constantly that my vehicle will spontaneously combusts and burns my house down. BMW must make this right. I am seeking a timely resolution to this recall as well as a reimbursement for the cosmetic damage I was forced to repair.

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2021 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted, and confirmed the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Mar 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2021 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that parts were available but in limited quantities. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported

Feb 2026

Incident date

Feb 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

1. The engine starter motor (specifically the pinion starter) has failed, and the auxiliary battery is also showing reduced capacity (only a portion of its 660 cold cranking amps). The vehicle is currently at a service center where the technician has diagnosed these issues. The components should be available for inspection upon request, as they have not yet been replaced. 2. The failure of the starter motor and battery primarily affects the vehicle's ability to start. While this could potentially strand you in an unsafe location, the information provided does not indicate any specific safety incident or risk that occurred during operation. No direct safety hazard has been reported. 3. Yes, a technician has diagnosed the problem and confirmed a fault code in the drivetrain related to the failed starter motor. The technician also identified the auxiliary battery's reduced output. This confirmation comes from a service center, which could be a dealer or independent shop. 4. The only inspection mentioned is by the technician at the service center. There is no indication that the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others have inspected the vehicle or components. 5. Yes. Prior to the failure, when starting the car in the early morning, a "drive train service" message appeared on the display, advising you to visit a service center as soon as possible. This warning was the first symptom of the problem before the starter ultimately failed and the battery drained. This aligns with the technician's diagnosis of a drivetrain fault code related to the starter motor.

Reported

Feb 2026

Incident date

Feb 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

While driving approximately 70 mph on the highway, my vehicle’s sunroof suddenly and violently shattered without any warning. There was no impact from debris, no vehicle in front of me throwing objects, and no prior damage to the glass. The explosion was extremely loud, resembling a gunshot. The sunroof glass appeared to burst outward and then collapse inward, sending broken glass downward. Thankfully, my vehicle has a canvas sunshade beneath the sunroof, which was closed at the time. The sunshade prevented glass from falling directly onto me and my passenger. Without the shade, we likely would have sustained injuries from falling and flying glass. There were no road hazards, weather anomalies, or external impacts that could have caused this failure. The failure appears to be spontaneous. This incident created a significant safety hazard due to: The sudden loud explosion at highway speed The potential for serious injury from falling glass The risk of loss of vehicle control due to distraction or injury The possibility of future occurrences in similar vehicles I believe this may be a manufacturing defect involving the tempered glass panel.

Reported

Feb 2026

Incident date

Feb 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2021 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported

Feb 2026

Incident date

Feb 2026

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I have reached out to both the manufacturer and dealership regarding “Recall Campaign No. 25V-636: Engine Starter” who both do not have a remedy for this recall and do not have a reasonable timeframe of when it will be resolved.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Dec 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2021 BMW 330I. The contact stated that several attempts were needed in the morning to start the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "Check Control - Engine Unable to Start" even though the vehicle was running and being driven. Additionally, the contact stated that after stopping at a traffic light, the engine ON/OFF engaged; however, after the traffic light changed and the brake pedal was released, the vehicle failed to restart as designed. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that after disengaging the ON/OFF feature, the vehicle failed to turn off when the vehicle was parked. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, there was no part available for the repair. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there was no information on when parts would become available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Dec 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2021 BMW 330I. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH and coming to a stop at a red traffic light, the contact started smelling smoke. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart with a message that the vehicle was unable to be restarted displayed. The contact turned on the hazard lights with the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. The contact then noticed that there was smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle and immediately called 911. The contact stated that while a Metro service employee was attempting to assist the contact in towing the vehicle to the side of the road, the worker noticed that fire had started underneath the vehicle and called the Fire Department. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed that there was fire underneath the front end. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle then burst into flames. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. A Fire Department report was filed. The front end of the vehicle was significantly burned. A Police Officer arrived at the scene but had not filed a report because there was no injury sustained. The Police Officer provided his badge number to the contact. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was being evaluated by the Insurance Company. The contact stated that the vehicle was a total loss; however, the Insurance Company had not yet confirmed that the vehicle was a total loss. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Nov 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Fire

I bought my car in 2023 with 12,000 miles. I currently have 43,000 on it. I don’t drive it hard and have always had the maintenance done. I had my rear brakes replaced today at BMW and I was told my engine mounts have failed and need to be fixed asap. Was given a quote of 3000.00. My warranty expired literally 2 months ago. I’m told it’s dangerous to drive but how does this happen? Everything I read says they should be lasting 60,000-100,000 miles at least.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Nov 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The front axle support and the right front control arm bearing bracket may be separating, which is causing my vehicle to continually fall out of alignment. This ongoing issue is leading to accelerated tire wear, despite the fact that I have not driven many miles. The manufacturer needs to address the underlying cause, as the dealership continues to recommend alignments without resolving the root problem. I have already paid for two alignments, yet the vehicle consistently goes out of alignment again.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Apr 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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 that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,672.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Nov 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact's son owns a 2021 BMW 330I. The contact's son received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported

Nov 2025

Incident date

Nov 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I just became aware from Consumer Reports about an upcoming recall on BMWs because of a potential fire hazard with the engine starter relays. I own a 2021 BMW 330i which is one of the models listed. I entered my VIN on the NHTSA and BMW websites and both sites indicated my vehicle has no open recalls. According to NHTSA, BMW will start notifying owners on November 14 about the recall. In the Consumer Reports article and several other articles I read about the recall, owners are being directed to park their vehicles outside and away from buildings and other vehicles. Owners are expected to wait until November 14 to see if their specific vehicle is included in the recall. This is not acceptable! NHTSA needs to hold BMW and other manufacturers accountable for informing owners of a recall in a timely manner; a month and a half delay in notification is unacceptable. Owners need to know if their specific vehicle is one of the ones being recalled. I understand the potential delay in scheduling the repairs because of a shortage of parts. However, there should not be a delay in informing owners about the recall status of their specific vehicles. Please escalate this to whomever is involved in the decision making process at NHTSA.

Reported

Sep 2025

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My BMW 330i 2021 caught on fire while I was driving. Smoke came from the hood, and I open the hood and seen the Fire, and I called the Newark NJ Fire Department. see attached photo of the BMW after the fire.

Reported

Sep 2025

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Fire

Motor mounts failed on 2021 G20 that only has 52k miles. Vehicle when purchased as CPO had 27k miles and was suppose to be inspected to be certified as CPO. In less than 30k miles from time of purchase it seems these failed early resulting in me driving the vehicle in an unsafe manner until they were scheduled for repair

Reported

Sep 2025

Incident date

Sep 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My car has ver been wrecked or received any damage to any part of it. While driving to work the following warning popped up on screen. RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING, functionality of the airbags, seatbelt tensions, belt force limits reduced.

Reported

Feb 2025

Incident date

Feb 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Going into a parking spot. Applied brakes, then the car did not brake, then it accelerated hitting a Jeep and finally stopped when the driver side front hit a parking barrier and then the air bags deployed. Sudden unintended acceleration was the cause of this accident. Car was totaled.

Reported

Jan 2025

Incident date

Nov 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash 1 injuries

This BMW vehicle's odometer readings are inconsistent and inaccurate resulting in overage of mileage for lessee. This cars BMW tires were not verifiable to be from BMW and tires subsequently failed within 15,000 miles. No entity at BMW, not the dealership, not the sales, not BMW Financial Services or BMW of North America LLC could provide any information regarding the original tires or provide any warranty information regarding the tires - this impact mileage efficiency, miles per gallon and is a way to game the systems. BMW front sensors on act erratically sometimes working and sometimes going off without anything present, during rain/snow sensors would constantly go off for no reason. Issues have been raised through certified mail to BMW and all have been ignored. There is no accountability regarding the tires with no warranty that fail, inaccurate odometer readings, car sensors and we request an investigation into these three matters.

Reported

Jul 2024

Incident date

May 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

On 5/22/24 had a catastrophic failure of the Electric Motor Electronics and 12v Battery. I have requested that the BMW Serice Assistant provide me with all affected parts for inspection. Shutdown of the vehicle high voltage system could result in a crash. When this part fails along with the 12v battery you lose control of all vehicle electronics (steering, braking, electrical power, and propulsion). Yes, there was a previous voluntary recall campaign 19V-599s Service Information Bulletin (Revision 2) which replaced SI B12 27 19 dated October 2019 by BMW for this device. The vehicle and component has been inspected by the Richmond BMW Service Technician. I started to experience problems with the vehicle in late April and took it in for servicing and repair in early May. I was told that the problem was a computer programming recall that was fixed.

Reported

May 2024

Incident date

May 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

While I was driving down the highway, sunroof has exploded without any apparent reason. I really didn’t realize what had happened at first, all I heard was a loud bang which could’ve lead to distraction and cause an accident. Luckily it wasn’t the case for me. Although, broken pieces of the sunroof has came off and flown to roadway. I brought the vehicle to BMW dealership, by the time I got there there was an apparent hole in the sunroof, they inspected it and saying it happened because something making contact with sunroof but when I asked for a proof for their claim they told me there is no physical evidence to provide.

Reported

Feb 2023

Incident date

Feb 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

When driving the car when dark enough to activate auto headlights and raining enough to activate auto wipers, after 20 minutes the following message comes on the screen EVERYTIME: Drive Assistance temporarily limited Lane departure also turns on and off while driving in these conditions Also attached are BMW's response after inspecting the car on 3 separate occasions

Reported

Feb 2023

Incident date

Jan 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Message on Console - " Passenger Restraint system malfunction ". Took vehicle in for Repair; BMW Dealership "thinks" it may be a wiring harness electrical short. They evidently need to discuss problem with BMW Corporate to figure out to properly diagnose problem and how to repair. My husband and I are very concerned about driving this car even after it may be "so called" repaired. We are concerned that if an accident does occur, and one or more of the airbags do not deploy; there may be serious injury or death to myself, my husband, grandkids, or other passengers.

Reported

Aug 2022

Incident date

Aug 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Engine Wiring is made of Soy products with attracts Rodents to feed and destroy the wiring. When this occurs it puts the driver ad passengers in danger because certain functions such as brake light, Headlights and windshield wipers may not work properly. This is becasue when the wiring is compromised , circuits are broken which causes the vehicle's systems connected to that circuit to partially or completely fail, Rending a vehicle partially or completely inoperable. The vehicle was inspected the the BMW dealership service center and they confirmed it was rodent damage . Geico insurance also inspected the vehicle. The vehicle started to restrict engine performance and the Engine service light came on stating there was a Drive Tran malfunction.

Reported

Feb 2022

Incident date

Feb 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My sunroof exploded randomly, without warning as I was traveling on the highway at approximately 65 MPH. There was no impact from an object. The cloth cover beneath the sunroof was fully intact and undamaged after the incident.

Reported

Feb 2022

Incident date

Jan 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

In Buford GA at the corner of Elm Tree Terrace and Buford Dam road, I was waiting for the light to turn on a decline. It is important to note that the car was driving in all-electric mode on a full charge. Once the light turned green I stepped on the accelerator to go and the car stalled. I believe the transmission slipped. The gears caught at high torque and jolted the car involuntarily forward. I didn't notice it at first but after a couple of sleepless nights with shoulder pain: I got an MRI and was found to have a torn rotator cuff. It is difficult to associate the injury as it is hard to access the force applied to the jolt. The only word I can use to describe the force of the jolt was violent. I believe there is a safety issue when a high torque electric motor is being run through a slipping or failing transmission and I suspect as a result I have suffered a injury as a result.

Reported

Dec 2021

Incident date

Dec 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

1 injuries