2021 BMW 330I Seat Belt Buckle Recall (21V298)

Recall 21V298 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 BMW 330I in recall 21V298?

The bolt securing the seat belt assembly to the frame was not tightened to specification.

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M3, and 330e xDrive vehicles. The bolt securing the seat belt assembly to the frame was not tightened to specification.

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 330I with recall 21V298?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly installed seat belt assembly may not restrain an occupant as expected, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly installed seat belt assembly may not restrain an occupant as expected, increasing the risk of injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your 330I shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the buckle assembly, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V298?

Recall 21V298 covers 12 vehicles: 2021 BMW 330E; 2021 BMW 330I; 2021 BMW M3; 2021 BMW M340I.

NHTSA lists 12 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the 330I seat belt buckle recall?

Yes. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belt buckle assembly connection and, if necessary, replace it, free of charge.

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belt buckle assembly connection and, if necessary, replace it, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 25, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

When was recall 21V298 announced?

BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 21V298 to NHTSA on April 28, 2021.

This recall was filed 66 months ago. If your 330I was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my 330I is part of recall 21V298?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V298 is open on your 330I, 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 21V298000. 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 330I owners do about recall 21V298?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V298000 applies to your 330I.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized BMW dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any buckle assembly symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are 330I owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the seat belts.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 21V298 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 47 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the seat belts. 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 330I: 29 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW M340I: 11 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW 330E: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW M3: 3 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts

Can recall 21V298 make my 330I 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 21V298000 does not automatically make your 330I 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))?

A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2021 BMW 330I affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.

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.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the 330I 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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V298