Home › Reliability › BMW › 3 Series › 2021

2021 BMW 3 Series Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 0 NHTSA recalls and 31 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

B
81/100

Good Choice — 2021 BMW 3 Series

The 2021 BMW 3 Series has an acceptable safety and complaint profile with some areas to monitor. Review the open recalls and known problems below before buying.

0
NHTSA Recalls
No known recalls
31
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
1
Crashes + Injuries
3 fire reports

Own or buying a 2021 BMW 3 Series?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

✅

NHTSA Recalls — 2021 BMW 3 Series

No NHTSA recalls found for the 2021 BMW 3 Series.

While this is a positive sign, recall status can change. Always verify at NHTSA.gov before purchasing.

💬

Most Common Problems — 2021 BMW 3 Series

Based on 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
11
Engine
5
Power Train
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Suspension
2
Air Bags
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Steering
1
📊

BMW 3 Series — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 0 complaints 2016 93 complaints 2017 70 complaints 2018 58 complaints 2019 38 complaints 2020 50 complaints 2021 31 complaints 2022 6 complaints 2023 0 complaints 2024 0 complaints 2025 0 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2018 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2015, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 BMW 3 Series

Is the 2021 BMW 3 Series reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 BMW 3 Series has no open recalls and 31 owner complaints. This is generally considered a reliable model year.
How many recalls does the 2021 BMW 3 Series have?
There are currently no NHTSA recalls on file for the 2021 BMW 3 Series. Always verify at NHTSA.gov before purchasing as recalls can be added at any time.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 BMW 3 Series?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 BMW 3 Series are: Electrical System, Engine, Power Train, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 BMW 3 Series safe to buy?
The 2021 BMW 3 Series has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year BMW 3 Series should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the BMW 3 Series are: 2015, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2018.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.