RoadVitals

1996 BMW Z3 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Aug 28, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 BMW Z3. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 30 · page 1 of 2

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
Airbags
Filed Mar 7, 2004

SRS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ADJUSTING THE SEAT. ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM NUMEROUS Z3 OWNERS, THIS A COMMON PROBLEM. BMW HAS ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. AS SRS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, BMW SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY PROPERLY REDESIGNING THE DEFECTIVE PART(S). *JB

NHTSA ID
10060648
Incident
Feb 22, 2004
Mileage
652,122 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 20, 2003

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON, BEEN REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND HAS COME ON AGAIN. MANUFACTURER STATES THAT AIRBAGS WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WITHOUT REPAIR. *LA

NHTSA ID
10043236
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jul 6, 2003

PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS UP WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION AND WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10025497
Incident
Jun 17, 2003
Mileage
74,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 28, 2003

THE SHIFTER POPPED OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND DROPPED INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014703
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Mileage
24,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 23, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE IN 1ST GEAR AND MERGING INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND POPPED OUT OF GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ACCELERATION CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
10004506
Transmission
Filed Jan 15, 2003

MANUAL TRANSMISSION...VIOLENTLY POPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR TO NEUTRAL POSITION UPON ACCELERATING FROM STOP..DANGEROUS, AS CAR BEHIND EXPECTS CONTINUED FORWARD MOTION, BUT MUST INSTEAD, AWAIT ANOTHER SHIFT INTO FIRST AND POSSIBLE REPEAT OF POPPING OUT OF GEAR. HAPPENS OFTEN. SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE TO REPAIR. SHOULD DEALER PAY FOR ALL?

NHTSA ID
10002732
Incident
Nov 1, 2002
Mileage
84,800 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN PERMATURE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT,OR NONE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG IN AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER,THEY STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS THE CAUSE. HAD IT REPLACE, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. NLM

NHTSA ID
8019908
Incident
Apr 2, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 28, 2002

FIRESTONE TIRE FIREHAWKSZ50 AT 72182 MILES SHOWED TREAD SEPARATION FORM THE SIDE THE SAME AS FIREHAWK TIRES GTA-02. NO ACCIDENT OR INCISENT OCCURED DURING TREAD SEPARATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
764834
Incident
Jul 27, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Apr 30, 2002

FUEL GAUGE WILL NOT GIVE THE CORRECT LEVEL OF FUEL. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
8008828
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 4, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LOCKED UP, CAUSING RIGHT/ REAR TIRE TO STOP SPINNING. DEALERSHIP IS EXAMINING VEHICLE AND MAKING ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8001550
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 15, 2001

DEALER REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS A COMMON PROBLEM & REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. WHEN BRAKING, THE SEAT SLIDES FORWARD ON THE RAILS 1 TO 2 INCHES. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN A SERIOUS FRONT END COLLISION THE SEAT MAY PROPEL THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER FORWARD AND WITH A LOCKED BELT CAUSE PERSONAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID
754596
Seat belts
Filed Jul 7, 2001

THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY TO NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS AND THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE SEATBELT TENSIONERS. *AK

NHTSA ID
748049
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Apr 1, 2000

FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT LOCKS- SOMETIMES UNUSABLE -RATCHETT ASSEMBLY- DEALER REPLACED 3 X - STILL NOT WORKING -DEALER &BMW MANUF CLAIM NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT????? OTHER OWNERS HAVE SAME COMPLAINT. *AK

NHTSA ID
720864
Airbags
Filed Nov 19, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE BMW Z3 HIT ANOTHER CAR DIRECTLY IN THE SIDE ; THIS WAS A FRONTAL COLLISION BY THE BMW. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING HER SAFETY BELT, BUT HE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ID
715014
Incident
Nov 8, 1999
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
835884
Incident
Dec 29, 1998
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 16, 1998

ELECTRICAL TYPE SMOKE IS SEEN UNDERNEATH STEERING COLUMN. DEALER NOTED PROBLEM WAS A FUSE. PROBLEM HAS NOT STOPPED. DEALER THEN NOTED A FAULTY INSTRUMENT PANEL. PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK

NHTSA ID
822457
Seat belts
Filed Oct 21, 1997

VEHICLE IN MOTION, PASSENGER 'S SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK UP. WOULD RETRACT, BUT NOT RELEASE. WORKED ON IT FOR 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE MOVING. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED MECHANISM NEEDED REPLACING. SEAT BELT RELEASING OR RETRACTING STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
818686
Incident
Jun 11, 1996

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.

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