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2021 BMW 2 Series

Gas
Subcompact Cars
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA8
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA28 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 BMW 2 Series is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 228i Gran Coupe, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 8 complaints, most often about the exterior lighting.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
228i Gran CoupeGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243328$2,750
230i CoupeGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253228$2,750
228i xDrive Gran CoupeGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233327$2,850
230i ConvertibleGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233327$2,850
230i CoupeGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo213225$3,100
230i xDrive ConvertibleGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo213024$3,250
230i xDrive CoupeGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo213024$3,250

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43561, 42995, 42818, 42918, 42874, 43609, 42817.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 BMW 2 Series is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Seat Belts

144 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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."RiskAn audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V584000reported Aug 16, 2023BMW of North America, LLC
▲high

Seat Belts

21,537 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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 (CooperRiskDuring a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.FixDealers 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).
NHTSA campaign 21V554000reported Jul 21, 2021BMW of North America, LLC
▲high

Structure

2 vehicles
ProblemBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 BMW 230i and M240i vehicles. Supports within the roof liner may be insecurely attached.RiskThe support may separate from the roof liner and fall into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash necessitating the deployment of the head air bag.FixDealers will inspect and repair or replace the roof liner as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters will not be sent. The one owner was notified on June 15, 2021 by telephone and the vehicle has been repaired. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign 21V342000reported May 12, 2021BMW of North America, LLC
●moderate

Visibility

14,011 vehicles
ProblemBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 228i, 228i xDrive, and M235i xDrive vehicles. If the driver initiates an automatic closure of the sunroof, and the vehicle key status is changed to "off" or "lock," the sunroof may continue to close. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-operated Window Systems."RiskIf the sunroof continues to close after the vehicle is shut off, it may increase the risk of injury.FixBMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the sunroof electronic coding software, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign 21V091000reported Feb 18, 2021BMW of North America, LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
8complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting2
Service Brakes2
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Visibility1
Electrical System1
Forward Collision Avoidance1

What owners describe

“Engine mount replace required at 37000 per dealership service inspection. Informed that it is standard for this part to fail repeatedly during life of engine. Retail price of repair at dealership estimated at $3000, offered repair for $1200. Informed that a driving hazard and cause for more engine damage if not replace…”Jun 5, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“BMW DRL (Daytime Running Light) module is is overheating causing damage to the internal fiber optic tube. Dealer said this is a common issue and requires module replacement to prevent requiring a whole headlight assembly as BMW does not sell the fiber optic cable separately. Lights should not be overheating and causing…”Jan 9, 2026 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2021 BMW 228I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear brakes. The service brakes warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the rear brake rotors. The contact wa…”Mar 10, 2025 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other 2 Series model years

A

2027 BMW 2 Series

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 BMW 2 Series

0 recalls · 1 complaints

B

2025 BMW 2 Series

1 recalls · 2 complaints

D

2024 BMW 2 Series

3 recalls · 2 complaints

F

2023 BMW 2 Series

5 recalls · 7 complaints

F

2022 BMW 2 Series

5 recalls · 11 complaints

C

2020 BMW 2 Series

3 recalls · 5 complaints

A

2019 BMW 2 Series

1 recalls · 1 complaints

B

2018 BMW 2 Series

2 recalls · 7 complaints

A

2017 BMW 2 Series

0 recalls · 14 complaints

B

2016 BMW 2 Series

1 recalls · 26 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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