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1999 BMW Z3 Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Mar 8, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 39 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 BMW Z3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2024

Hello, NHTSA released a recall warning for BMWs made from 2000 to 2006, regarding Takata airbags. "The risk to vehicle occupants is dire," it said. My 1999 BMW Z3 was made one year before this, and is not included in the recall. I have been trying to determine whether my '99 BMW has Takata airbags as well, thus far with no success. As of today, BMW will only tell me that there are no outstanding recalls for my car - they have not been willing to tell me what type of airbags they originally installed in it. Do your records indicate what type of airbags I have?

NHTSA ID
11576189
Incident
Mar 8, 2024
Airbags
Filed Dec 13, 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT

NHTSA ID
11288865
Incident
Jul 16, 2017
Mileage
103,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 10, 2019

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. WHETHER CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
11288157
Incident
Oct 10, 2019
Mileage
53,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2013
1 injury reported

DRIVER SIDE (DOOR) AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. IMPACT CAUSED ME TO SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10491929
Incident
Jan 7, 2013
Mileage
117,860 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 12, 2010

AIR BAG LIGHT ON. SHOP MECHANIC STATED "RETRIEVED DTC CODE FOR DRIVERS SEAT BELT SWITCH OPEN OR SHORT CIRCUIT. CLEANED CONNECTORS, CLEARED DTC INFO OPERATIONAL CHECK OK. IF FAULT RECURS, RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF DRIVERS SEAT BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY." PROBLEM FIXED JUNE 18, 2008. NOW PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON IS BACK. THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG SENSORS AND SEAT BELT LATCHES ON VARIOUS BSM VEHICLES ACCORDING TO INTERNET SEARCHES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10310014
Incident
Feb 12, 2010
Mileage
82,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+3 more
Filed Oct 25, 2006
1 injury reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DURING CLEAR CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS OR POTHOLES PRESENT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CUTS, BRUISING AND SCARING TO THE LEFT ARM. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE AND INJURIES. UPDATED 11/16/2006 -THE GAS GAUGE AND ODOMETER WERE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE DRIVER'S DOOR GRAB HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE REAR SHOCKS AND MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A POWER STEERING LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE RES TO PUMP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FLEX COUPLER ON THE DRIVE SHAFT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171793
Incident
Sep 6, 2006
Mileage
87,950 mi
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2004

1999 BMW Z3 SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072655
Incident
Apr 28, 2004
Airbags
Filed Oct 21, 2003

REOCURRING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING.*MR VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP TWICE BEFORE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THE FAILURE. *PH

NHTSA ID
10044461
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 17, 2003

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 ID
10010570
Incident
May 24, 2001
Mileage
23,250 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 27, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED. *MR

NHTSA ID
8019651
Incident
Sep 1, 2002

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Body & structure11Powertrain (other)9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .