IllustrationVehicle threw code 21A50A (Starter Pinion Timeout) and a Drivetrain Malfunction warning. Car still starts and drives. This is the exact mechanical failure described in Starter Recall 26V-438 / 26V-441, but my 2022 330e VIN is currently excluded.
2022 BMW 330E
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 330E years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsHours after a software update to the vehicle, a sudden unintended acceleration event occurred as I pulled into the alley of my office's driveway/garage. The brakes failed to work, and the vehicle rapidly accelerated in less than 2 seconds. In order to avoid endangering anyone, I steered the vehicle into City trash cans that were…
Read full complaint
Hours after a software update to the vehicle, a sudden unintended acceleration event occurred as I pulled into the alley of my office's driveway/garage. The brakes failed to work, and the vehicle rapidly accelerated in less than 2 seconds. In order to avoid endangering anyone, I steered the vehicle into City trash cans that were in front of a telephone pole. The vehicle was completely damaged, and both my passenger and I sustained severe injuries, including a vertebral compression fracture and torn neck ligaments. The vehicle is currently undergoing inspection by my insurance company. My safety was jeopardized entirely. If the vehicle had not collided with the telephone pole, it would have entered a street full of cars, thereby endangering pedestrians and other drivers. As of now, the issue has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer, and no attorney is willing to pursue the case due to the exorbitant costs associated with litigating against a major auto manufacturer. The police were present at the crash site, and the insurance company is currently examining the vehicle. There were no warnings displayed on the dashboard, nor was there any unusual behavior exhibited by the vehicle prior to the incident.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
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 March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.