RoadVitals

1996 BMW Z3

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
30
Latest May 28, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Mar 23, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 BMW Z3, most frequently naming the airbags, interior & seats and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 12 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags926.5%
  • Interior & seats514.7%
  • Seat belts514.7%
  • Fuel system38.8%
  • Transmission25.9%
  • Engine25.9%
  • Powertrain (other)25.9%
  • Heating & air conditioning12.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
97V131000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 19, 1997
410,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 30
Interior & seats
Filed May 28, 2018

DRIVER SEAT SLIDING BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION

NHTSA ID
11098301
Incident
May 5, 2018
Mileage
20,400 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Apr 25, 2017
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW Z3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND ALSO BURNED A HOLE IN HER JEANS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10980531
Incident
Apr 25, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsFuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Oct 25, 2014

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARDS DURING ACCELERATION AND BREAKING AT ANY SPEED, GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY ON FULL TANK OR FLUXES ON DASH AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON FOR 3-5 MIN. AT A TIME WHEN STARTING UP IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10649974
Incident
Apr 5, 2012
Mileage
102,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW Z3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE UNLATCHED WHEN THE DRIVER WOULD DEPRESS OR ADD ANY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10524931
Incident
May 23, 2013
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW Z3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN EXHAUST FUMES AND A RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CATALIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT EROSION IN THE MONOLITH BECAME LOOSE IN THE HOUSING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT ANY TIME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF UPDATED 10/07/11

NHTSA ID
10422490
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
94,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 1, 2008

THE DRIVER SEAT MOVES FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE Z3'S. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244151
Incident
Sep 23, 2008
Mileage
30,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 19, 2005

DT: 1996 BMW Z3. THE CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS AN INCORRECTLY MACHINED GUIDE SLEEVE IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT HE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THERE IS NO RECALL. THE PROBLEM STARTED ON MAY 23, 2001. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND OCCURS ONLY IN FIRST GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10136997
Incident
May 23, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2004

SRS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ADJUSTING THE SEAT. BMW HAS ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS RE SRS PROBLEMS, SO CLEARLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. YET BMW REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL TO PROPERLY RETROFIT THE WIRING HARNESS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10062001
Incident
Feb 22, 2004
Mileage
66,200 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SI B12 12 10

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BMW: WHEN AT LOWER SPEEDS OR STOPPING THE ENGINE IDLE DIPS TOO LOW BECAUSE OF A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *RM

121099

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INFORMATION REGARDING VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 99E-A01. *TT

16 01 98

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

INFORMATION ON EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL AND FUEL FILLER CAP / FILLER DOOR LABELS. *YC

12 15 96

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

ROUGH IDLE

12 09 97

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE DATA SET OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (DME) NEEDS TO BE UPDATED. *AK

12 15 96

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

M44 MISFIRE FAULTS 50, 51, 52 OR 53. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW Z3 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004010—
2003210—
2002610—
2001191040.5
2000341055.6
1999393045.2
1998301043.5
1997472050.7
1996Viewing302051.0

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.