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Airbags, seat belts and seats · UNITED STATES

21V176000: In certain side-impact crashes, the head-thorax air bag may not deploy as intended

BMW 430I / BMW M440I: check the listed vehicles, the reported issue and the manufacturer remedy for 21V176000. Keep the official status and service answers in one private record.

Official record checked 2026-10-19 UTC · Filing date 2021-03-15

Start with the specific vehicle

The report lists 2 model-year entries. Read the equipment and production restrictions in the reported issue, then use the official lookup or manufacturer to establish whether this campaign applies to your vehicle.

View the listed model years
  • 2021 BMW 430I
  • 2021 BMW M440I

Check your VIN on NHTSA →

Enter the VIN only on the official service or manufacturer site. This worksheet does not ask for it.

What the official report says

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.

Official NHTSA campaign record

Why the reported issue matters

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

Official NHTSA campaign record

Prepare your observation

Use vehicle documents and existing service records. Leave airbag, belt and seat disassembly or deployment testing to the service provider.

A reported defect describes the campaign. It does not establish what caused a symptom on your individual vehicle, and absence of a symptom does not establish that an open recall is complete.

The reported manufacturer 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.

Official NHTSA campaign record

Confirm current remedy arrangements

The source does not explicitly establish current remedy availability. Ask the manufacturer about the applicable remedy, required parts or software, appointment arrangements and any interim instructions.

This describes the dated source record. Current arrangements for your VIN remain unconfirmed.

Additional official notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

View the source

Choose the next step from the official result

Not checked or unavailable

Keep eligibility unconfirmed. Use the official lookup or contact the manufacturer with 21V176000.

This campaign is open

Confirm current interim instructions, remedy availability and service arrangements. Keep the dated answer.

Not listed as open

Review earlier repair records and lookup limits if needed. A zero-open result does not explain an unresolved symptom.

Work order records recall work

Keep the campaign number, remedy and date together. Ask separately about a symptom that remains after the visit.

Your campaign-specific service questions

Use these questions with the official report. Keep the answers beside the remedy record; “discussed” records a conversation, not a completed repair.

  1. Does the manufacturer confirm that campaign 21V176000 applies to this VIN, including the report’s equipment and production restrictions?

    A matching model and year is only a starting point. The official lookup or manufacturer must establish the individual vehicle’s status.

  2. What remedy, required parts or software, and appointment arrangements are currently available for this VIN, and which interim instructions apply?

    The source does not explicitly establish current remedy availability. Ask the manufacturer about the applicable remedy, required parts or software, appointment arrangements and any interim instructions.

  3. Which seating position or restraint component is included, and does the manufacturer give any interim occupancy instruction for this VIN?

    Compare the answer with the reported components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:HEAD; AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:THORAX.

  4. Which module and software completion record demonstrate that the update for 21V176000 was applied?

    Ask the service provider how the campaign-specific software remedy is documented. A dashboard reset is not evidence of the specified update.

  5. What dated document records the remedy performed under 21V176000, and what should I do if the reported concern remains?

    Keep campaign completion and unresolved symptoms as separate questions. A saved worksheet or booked appointment does not establish a repair.

Download the full guide and blank worksheet

Source and lookup coverage

NHTSA 21V176000: official campaign data · Official lookup and coverage limits

The quoted issue, consequence and remedy come from the official record as checked above. This independent guide adds a vehicle-check decision process, service questions and a private worksheet. Confirm current eligibility, remedy availability and interim instructions with the manufacturer.

The official VIN lookup may omit completed recalls, some recent campaigns and recalls outside its coverage. Vehicle notes and answers stay in this browser. A downloaded brief contains your notes; keep it appropriately. Groundwork is independent of NHTSA and the manufacturer.