2021 BMW 230i Problems & Complaints

Few complaints45% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 230i at the same age

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2021 BMW 230i with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is a low number of complaints for a car on sale this long. The most reported problem area is the locks & latches (1 complaint, typically around 5,000 miles). 2 recalls cover this model year.

1complaints
2recalls
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2021 BMW 230i problems

  • Locks & latches~5,000 miles
    1100%

Share of the 1 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

BMW 230i complaints by model year

20172018202120222023114144
Owner complaints per model year, BMW 230i. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best 230i years: 2021. Compare all years →

2021 BMW 230i recalls (2)

Seat belts

NHTSA recall 21V-554 · Jul 21, 2021 · 21,537 vehicles

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…

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.

Structure › Body › Roof and pillars

NHTSA recall 21V-342 · May 12, 2021 · 2 vehicles

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 BMW 230i and M240i vehicles. Supports within the roof liner may be insecurely attached.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the roof liner as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters will not be sent.

2021 BMW 230i engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.0L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticRWD25 / 32 / 28
2.0L 4-cyl turbo6-speed manualRWD21 / 32 / 25
2.0L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticAWD21 / 30 / 24

EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 BMW 230i a good car?

Based on 1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA, the 2021 230i rates few complaints: 45% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 230i at the same age. It is one of the best 230i years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2021 BMW 230i?

The locks & latches — 1 complaint, 100% of all complaints for this model year, most often about doors › latch.

How many recalls does the 2021 BMW 230i have?

There are 2 recalls for the 2021 BMW 230i, the most recent from July 21, 2021 (seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the BMW 230i?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021. See the full BMW 230i years comparison.

At what mileage do 2021 BMW 230i problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 5,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.