2021 BMW 330E High-Voltage Battery Recall (20V490)
BMW of North America, LLC · 713 vehicles · Reported August 18, 2020
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 713 2021 BMW 330E; 2021 BMW X3; 2021 BMW X5 vehicles. Loose welding beads may form a conductive path between the hybrid battery cells which could lead to a short-circuit. A short-circuited hybrid battery may increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 20V490 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V490000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 18, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 BMW 330E; 2021 BMW X3; 2021 BMW X5 |
| Units affected | 713 |
| Component | Electrical System > Propulsion System > Traction Battery |
| Safety risk | A short-circuited hybrid battery may increase the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 BMW 330E in recall 20V490?
Loose welding beads may form a conductive path between the hybrid battery cells which could lead to a short-circuit.
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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 330E with recall 20V490?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A short-circuited hybrid battery may increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A short-circuited hybrid battery may increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the traction battery.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V490?
Recall 20V490 covers 713 vehicles: 2021 BMW 330E; 2021 BMW X3; 2021 BMW X5.
NHTSA lists 713 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BMW | 330E |
| 2021 | BMW | X3 |
| 2021 | BMW | X5 |
What is the fix for the 330E high-voltage battery recall?
Yes. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery modules, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 20V490 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 20V490 to NHTSA on August 18, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 18, 2020 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V490000. |
This recall was filed 74 months ago. If your 330E was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my 330E is part of recall 20V490?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V490 is open on your 330E, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 20V490000 is open on your 330E, it will be listed there. You can also ask any BMW dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should 330E owners do about recall 20V490?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V490000 applies to your 330E.
- Call a BMW dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the traction battery happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are 330E owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 223 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 71 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Since recall 20V490 was reported on August 18, 2020, owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 10 of them (14%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the ev and hybrid battery and were received on or after August 18, 2020, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related ev and hybrid battery issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 223 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 71 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 BMW X3: 111 complaints in total, 33 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2021 BMW X5: 108 complaints in total, 36 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2021 BMW 330E: 4 complaints in total, 2 about the ev and hybrid battery
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The passenger side daylight running light stopped functioning. I called BMW dealership while it was still under warranty and was told that if it was simply a light needing replacement it would be $500.
2021 BMW X3 owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11663898, filed May 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had decelerated and was jerking abnormally. There was an abnormal flickering sound coming from the vehicle.
2021 BMW X3 owner, MS, NHTSA complaint 11680321, filed August 13, 2025
One cell in the Hybrid Battery failed causing the car to go into safety mode. Battery assistance to the engine stopped and gas engine was the only source of power. Was told the car could be a fire hazard in this condition and required repairing the hybrid system.
2021 BMW X3 owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11697339, filed November 4, 2025
Can recall 20V490 make my 330E a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 20V490000 does not automatically make your 330E a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Battery and electric drive repairs are among the slowest repairs in the industry. A 2021 BMW 330E waiting on a battery module or drive unit can sit at the dealer for weeks, and every day counts toward the 30-day figure in California's lemon law presumption.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your 330E been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW 330E recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V490
Did the recall 20V490 fix work?
Since recall 20V490 was reported on August 18, 2020, owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 10 of them (14%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 20V490000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my 330E is part of recall 20V490000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V490000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or BMW. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.