2021 BMW M440I problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 BMW M440I, most often about seats & seat belts. There are 5 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
4
Recalls
5
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Median mileage
—
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Seats & Seat Belts is the most-reported problem area, named in 1 of 4 complaints (25%).
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (1) and brakes (1) follow.
  • Owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire and 2 injuries.
  • The 2021 BMW M440I has 5 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
  • It has the most serious complaint record of all 4 BMW M440I model years we track.

2021 BMW M440I problems by category

  • Seats & Seat Belts
    1 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    1 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    1 complaints
  • Brakes · 1 crash
    1 complaints
  • Engine
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Engine1
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control1
Seat belts1
Seats1
Service brakes1
Unknown or other1

2021 BMW M440I recalls (5)

  • Recall 23V584000Aug 16, 2023144 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · SEAT BELTS

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2022 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 2022 430i Coupe, 2021-2022 430i, M440i Convertible, and 2020-2022 228i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. The receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the driver to fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the receiver audio module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  • Recall 21V554000Jul 21, 202121,537 vehicles
    SEAT BELTS

    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."

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

    Remedy: 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).

  • Recall 21V176000Mar 15, 20211,850 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:HEAD · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:THORAX

    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.

    Risk: An air bag that deploys incorrectly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 21V096000Feb 19, 202113,858 vehicles
    BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive vehicles. When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  • Recall 20V761000Dec 9, 2020812 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections.

    Risk: Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • DP22005Opened Jan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023led to recall 22V063000

    Pedestrian alert sounds

    NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc…

Recent 2021 BMW M440I complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Jul 28, 2026MDDriver Assistance & Safety TechSeats & Seat Belts
    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. The seat harnesses are catching in the sliding track mechanism during forward and backward adjustments, isn't that a manufacturer error as the harnesses are only kept in place by plastic routing clips, which may or may not be there. I am just…
    NHTSA complaint #11753304 · source
  2. Filed Jun 17, 2025COFireEngine
    The car basically blew up on the highway at rush hour. BMW knows of this issue with this model and has some of their other models under a recall for this very thing. I have a service action from BMW saying that the water pump assembly needs to be fixed before this very problem occurs but for some reason even though our model is on the service report it isn't on the recall list nor was this part replaced as instructed even though the vehicle has always been service at a BMW…
    NHTSA complaint #11667474 · source
  3. Filed Sep 29, 2021NJOther / Unknown
    Brought a New 2021BMW M440 only 5 months ago, garage kept, has less than 4,000 miles. I woke up with a 10” crack across windshield @ 6:30 am on 9/28/2021with popping sounds. Windshield was shown on camera the night prior with no damage and shows no apparent evidence of ever getting hit. No scratches or chips. On 9/29/21 @ 7am car had more popping sounds and now crack has reached 15” - increased. By 5 “ after measuring. Dealer inspected 9/28/2021 and only states windshield…
    NHTSA complaint #11434885 · source

Compare the 2021 BMW M440I with another vehicle →

Other 2021 BMW models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology