Menu

2021 BMW M3Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 3 owner complaints about the 2021 BMW M3, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-554 the manufacturer reports only 96% of affected cars repaired.

2021 BMW M3
–
CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 96%Owner complaints30 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem1Air bags

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 1, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2021 BMW M3 has problems

3 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags10
Seat belts10
Steering10
Suspension10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2021 BMW M3 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

96%repaired · 2023 Q2

Seat belts

Recall 21V-554 · Jul 21, 2021 · 21,537 vehicles · 20,780 repaired

Risk. During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

100%repaired · 2021 Q3

Front: buckle assembly

Recall 21V-298 · Apr 28, 2021 · 12 vehicles · 12 repaired

Risk. An improperly installed seat belt assembly may not restrain an occupant as expected, increasing the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

97%repaired · 2023 Q1

Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall 21V-062 · Feb 10, 2021 · 893 vehicles · 868 repaired

Risk. A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.

Best & worst years

2021 vs. every other M3 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the M3 median. How we score

'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'21'22'23'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2021 BMW M3 safety ratings

2021 BMW M3 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Standard
  • Lane departure warning: Standard

Own a 2021 M3?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.