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1999 BMW Z3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 BMW Z3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

25 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

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.

  • Structure. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2003
EquipmentSeat BeltsUnknown Or Other

SEATBELTS LOCK TIGHT, PINNING ME DOWN OR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. BOLT ON DRIVER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED BUT THE SEAT STILL MOVES. CONVERTIBLE TOP IS MISALIGNED CAUSING LEAKS, GAPS COULD BE SEEN 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE AND THEY ARE GROWING. DEALER ARGUES NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. CAR HESITATES BUT HASN'T STALLED YET.

NHTSA ODI #10040838

59,000 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Seat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DID NOT CLOSE. *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026595

23,250 miles · Mar 17, 2003
Air BagsSeat Belts

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON CONTINUOUSLY. TOOK IN TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND HAS NEVER GONE OFF, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. PASSENGER SEAT BELT GETS STUCK WHILE PASSENGER IS BELTED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010570

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Seat Belts

ONGOING SEAT BELT PROBLEMS AND HAD TO KEEP REPLACING SEAT BELTS. WHEN UNFASTENING SEAT BELT, IT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK IN HOLDER. HAD TO FEED IT BACK INTO HOLDER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894278

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Seat Belts

INTERMITTENTLY SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES WILL NOT COME OUT OF RETRACTOR. SOMETIMES WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, SEAT BETS LOCK UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS NOT USING SEAT BELT CORRECTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #866133

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2000
Seat Belts

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILING TO RELEASE WHEN NEEDED. UNABLE TO USE SAFETY BELT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #861033

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2000
Seat Belts

CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS RETRACTING AFTER EXITING THE AUTOMOBILE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855841

Official recalls

2

99V272000 · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

Oct 7, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL MAY CONTAIN RING GEAR BOLTS THAT WERE INCORRECTLY TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY. THE BOLT OR BOLTS COULD LOOSEN LEADING TO NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BOLT OR BOLTS COULD LOOSEN LEADING TO NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND IF A BOLT WERE TO COMPLETELY WORK LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNT, LOCKUP OF THE REAR AXLE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S DIFFERENTIAL AND IF INVOLVED, WILL REPLACE IT.

98V275000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Nov 3, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE NUT THAT SECURES THE MAIN POSITIVE CABLE TO THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO LOOSEN OVER TIME. IF THIS OCCURRED, THE CABLE COULD ULTIMATELY LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY COULD BE INTERRUPTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE COULD STOP. ALSO, IF THE VEHICLE WERE BEING OPERATED AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTING SYSTEM COULD SHUT OFF, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.

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.