2021 BMW 230I Seat Belt Recall (21V554)

Recall 21V554 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 BMW 230I in recall 21V554?

The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts.

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Is it safe to drive a 2021 230I with recall 21V554?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.

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 seat belts.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V554?

Recall 21V554 covers 21,537 vehicles: 2021 BMW 228I; 2021 BMW 230I; 2021 BMW 330E; 2021 BMW 330I; 2021 BMW 430I; 2021 BMW 530I; 2021 BMW 540I; 2021 BMW M2; 2021 BMW M235I; 2021 BMW M240I; 2021 BMW M3; 2021 BMW M340I; 2021 BMW M4; 2021 BMW M440I; 2021 BMW X1; 2021 BMW X2; 2021 BMW Z4; 2021 MINI Cooper; 2021 MINI Cooper S; 2021 MINI Cooper S Clubman; 2021 MINI Cooper SE; 2021 MINI Countryman; 2021 Toyota Supra.

NHTSA lists 21,537 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the 230I seat belt recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417; 1-866-825-1525 (MINI); 1-877-877-3735 (Rolls Royce); and 1-888-270-9371 (Toyota).

When was recall 21V554 announced?

BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 21V554 to NHTSA on July 21, 2021.

This recall was filed 63 months ago. If your 230I was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my 230I is part of recall 21V554?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V554 is open on your 230I, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 230I vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should 230I owners do about recall 21V554?

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 21V554000 applies to your 230I.
2. Call a BMW dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. 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.
4. Keep a simple log of any seat belts 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 230I owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the seat belts.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 142 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 7 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 Toyota Supra: 20 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW 530I: 17 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW 430I: 15 complaints in total, 3 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW M340I: 11 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW X1: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW 540I: 9 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
• 2021 BMW 228I: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

I have a code Passanger restraint failure that will not come off unless I pay $2700 to fix. This coding came on after 3 months of getting the vehicle and I’m not the only with the same issue. This is a dangerous situation that Bmw is not recalling but putting this as the owners expense.

2021 BMW 530I owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11643861, filed February 20, 2025

I am seeing a lot of concerns regarding the seatbelt extenders, the buckle end pretensioner, seat wiring harness and the yellow box connectors that are where the main power and air bag SRS connections sit under the drivers seat.

2021 BMW M440I owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11753304, filed July 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 BMW 540I. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the front and rear passenger’s and driver’s side seat belts failed to detach after being connected. The contact stated that he forced the rear passenger’s side seat belt to detach with a screwdriver. No warning lights was illuminated.

2021 BMW 540I owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11490291, filed October 21, 2022

Can recall 21V554 make my 230I 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.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.

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 230I 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 21V554