2021 BMW 430I Air Bag Thorax Recall (21V176)
BMW of North America, LLC · 1,850 vehicles · Reported March 15, 2021
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 1,850 2021 BMW 430I; 2021 BMW M440I vehicles. In certain side-impact crashes, the head-thorax air bag may not deploy as intended. An air bag that deploys incorrectly can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Contact a dealer about the recall repair.
Recall 21V176 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V176000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 15, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 BMW 430I; 2021 BMW M440I |
| Units affected | 1,850 |
| Component | Air Bags > Side / Window > Thorax |
| Safety risk | An air bag that deploys incorrectly can increase the risk of injury in a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 BMW 430I in recall 21V176?
In certain side-impact crashes, the head-thorax air bag may not deploy as intended.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 430i and M440i 4 Series Convertible vehicles. In certain side-impact crashes, the head-thorax air bag may not deploy as intended.
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 430I with recall 21V176?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An air bag that deploys incorrectly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An air bag that deploys incorrectly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your 430I shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the thorax, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V176?
Recall 21V176 covers 1,850 vehicles: 2021 BMW 430I; 2021 BMW M440I.
NHTSA lists 1,850 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BMW | 430I |
| 2021 | BMW | M440I |
What is the fix for the 430I air bag thorax recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the software, at no charge.
Dealers will update the software, at no charge. All affected vehicles are still in dealer inventory, and therefore no owner letters will be mailed. The recall began March 9, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 21V176 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 21V176 to NHTSA on March 15, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2021 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V176000. |
This recall was filed 67 months ago. If your 430I was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my 430I is part of recall 21V176?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V176 is open on your 430I, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V176000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should 430I owners do about recall 21V176?
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 21V176000 applies to your 430I.
- Call a BMW dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any thorax symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- 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 430I owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 21V176 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 19 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the air bags. 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 430I: 15 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2021 BMW M440I: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
Can recall 21V176 make my 430I 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.
Owners often ask whether this thorax recall means their 430I qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 BMW 430I has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the 430I went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
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.
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 430I been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW 430I recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V176
Is the 21V176000 recall repair free?
Safety recall repairs are normally free at authorized dealers. Check the owner letter or ask the dealer to confirm before work begins.
How do I know if my 430I is part of recall 21V176000?
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.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 21V176000 (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.