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: 11 of 47 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.
Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
47 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2002
Seats
THE SEAT DOES NOT LOCK ON THE TRACK, IT SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH WHILE ACCELERATING OR BRAKING, IT WAS A DEFECT WHEN MANFURED BUT MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT, MANY Z 3 OWNERS HAVE THE PROBLEM, I FEEL IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR KILL SOMEONE, IF IT WAS A US COMPANY LIKE GM, FORD, OR CHRY I KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE REPAIRED THE DEFE…
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THE SEAT DOES NOT LOCK ON THE TRACK, IT SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH WHILE ACCELERATING OR BRAKING, IT WAS A DEFECT WHEN MANFURED BUT MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT, MANY Z 3 OWNERS HAVE THE PROBLEM, I FEEL IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR KILL SOMEONE, IF IT WAS A US COMPANY LIKE GM, FORD, OR CHRY I KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE REPAIRED THE DEFECT, WHY DO WE ALLOW FOREIGN COMPANIES TO GET AWAY WITH PRODUCING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WE WOULD NOT ALLOW ONE OF OUR COMPANIE TO PRODUCE. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY SEAT. BY THE WAY BMW HAS AGREED IT WAS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BUT THEY WANT TO GET ANOTHER $4-500 BUCKS TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS PLAINLY A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEM BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION. I ASK YOU HELP ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE Z 3 OWNERS WHO MIGHT END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE WRITTEN BMW BUT THEY DID NOT EVEN GIVE ME THE COURTESY OF AN ANSWER. HELP PLEASE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #763069
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2002
Structure
LEFT REAR FRAME RAIL CRACKED WITH CAUSE UNKNOWN. THIS CRACK WAS ONLY DETECTED BY OWNER WHEN CHANGING TIRE. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS MAY HAVE COME FROM MANUFACTURE TIGHTNING FRAME TOO TIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS
NHTSA ODI #8010882
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Seat Belts
BOTH SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8006061
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2002
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATEED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER AND HARNESS WAS CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, THE HOOD SENSOR FOR THE ALARM WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR, THE GLO…
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WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATEED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER AND HARNESS WAS CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, THE HOOD SENSOR FOR THE ALARM WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR, THE GLOVE BOX WAS REPLACED AND THE SEAT CAME OUT OF PLACE WHEN STOPPING. *YD
NHTSA ODI #8003673
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING 50-60 MPH WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER FROM SIDE TO SIDE, FINALLY SPUN AROUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT DIFFERENTIAL HAD LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8002952
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2001
Air BagsSeat Belts
AIRBAG LIGHT IN DASBOARD REMAINS ILLUMINATED. SEATBELTS APPEAR TO WORK, BUT I HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY 2 DIFFERENT SERVICE SHOPS (DAVE WALTER BMW AND AUTOBAHN - BOTH IN AKRON, OH) AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY SEATBELT LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT.
NHTSA ODI #748982
Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2001
Air BagsSeat Belts
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER 1999. DEALERSHIP ANALYZED THE FAULT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RECEPTICLE. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN JUNE OF 2001, AIRBAG LITE CAME ON AGAIN. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A SHORT IN…
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AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER 1999. DEALERSHIP ANALYZED THE FAULT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RECEPTICLE. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN JUNE OF 2001, AIRBAG LITE CAME ON AGAIN. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RECEPTACLE. REPLACEMENT COST IS $266.00. I SAID THEY REPLACED THE SAME PART A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THE SAID THE WARRANTY ON PARTS IS ONE YEAR. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND REQUESTED HELP WITH THE REPAIR. THEY SAID THE PARTS WARRANTY IS ONE YEAR. I SAID IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE AND ITS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE PART THEY MANUFACTURE. WITHOUT THE SENSOR IN THE SEATBELT RECEPTACLE FUNCTIONING, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THEY REPLIED, PARTS WARRANTY IS ONE YEAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #748070
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2000
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT ON. BROUGHT TO BMW CHARGED $80 TO DIAGNOSE, SAW INTERNET OTHER OWNERS SAME PROBLEM / THEN FOUNDOUT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLITEN
NHTSA ODI #736637
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2000
Seats
PASSENGER SEAT BELT TIGHTENS AROUND PASSENGERS NECK AND CHEST, CAUSING PAIN AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. I HAVE INFORMED MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM.
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1997 BMW Z3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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