The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·21V298000·Announced 2021-04-28

2021 BMW 330E Seat Belt Buckle Assembly Bolt Not Properly Secured

BMW is recalling certain 2021 330E, 330i, M340i, and M3 vehicles due to an undertightened bolt on the front seat belt buckle assembly. The defect may prevent proper occupant restraint, increasing injury risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall addresses a risk-of-harm scenario in a critical safety system. While no injuries or deaths are reported, an improperly secured seat belt assembly may not restrain occupants as expected, potentially resulting in injury. This qualifies as 'risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported,' per the High severity rubric criterion.

Plain-English summary

BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2021 BMW 330E, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, and M3 vehicles. The bolt securing the front seat belt buckle assembly to the vehicle frame was not tightened to specification during manufacturing. This affects approximately 12 vehicles.

An improperly installed seat belt assembly may not restrain an occupant as expected in a crash or sudden stop. This increases the risk of occupant injury during a traffic accident. The manufacturing defect was reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on April 28, 2021.

BMW dealers will inspect the front seat belt buckle assembly connection and replace the assembly if necessary, at no charge to owners. Owner notification was sent on June 25, 2021. For more information, owners can contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
BMW M340I, 330I, 330E, M3
Brand
BMW
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — Seat Belt Assembly
Hazard
Affected units
12

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (4)

  • M340I
  • 330I
  • 330E
  • M3

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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