2000 BMW Z3 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2000 BMW Z3. The contact’s wife stated that while coming to a stop, the driver’s side front air bag inadvertently deployed with no warning light illuminated. The contact’s wife sustained a bruised arm; no medical attention was provided. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not towed, and the contact’s wife was able to drive the vehicle home.. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a leaky strut on the front left side, and the guibo driveshaft flat disk had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

NHTSA ID

11683639

Incident

Aug 28, 2025

Mileage

63,000 mi

Rear subframe suspension weld bolt crack from the body subframe, Can observe on the truck of the car the fracture weld bolds. Critical, because it hold on site the differential and rear drives components.

NHTSA ID

11553671

Incident

Nov 5, 2023

THE SUBFRAME IS TEARING APART FROM THE FRAME ITSELF IN THE TRUNK. SPOT WELDS HAVE FAILED AND SEPARATION IS OBVIOUS. ## VIN PASSED ## BMW 2000#VPIC# 4 - VIN CORRECTED, ERROR IN ONE POSITION ONLY (INDICATED BY ! IN SUGGESTED VIN), MULTIPLE MATCHES FOUND; 14 - UNABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE CHARACTERS IN THE VIN. #VPIC# ##

NHTSA ID

11383581

Incident

Dec 14, 2020

Mileage

127,000 mi

BOTH AIRBAGS POPPED WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED AT 711. MY DASH AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CAR WAS NOT STARTED. I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT. HAD JUST PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION

NHTSA ID

11354641

Incident

Sep 11, 2020

Mileage

192,000 mi

THE AIR BAG COMES ON ALL THE TIME . I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE TAKAT A AIR BAGS

NHTSA ID

11348677

Incident

Feb 2, 2020

HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM COMPLAINT MADE IN DEC., REF. #11288210. FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING FRONT WINDOW TO SHATTER AND DASH IS DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION. THE PERSON SAT IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND IT EXPLODED.

NHTSA ID

11316436

Incident

Nov 15, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED VERTEBRAE DAMAGE, A STERNUM CONTUSION, AND BREATHING ISSUES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11111226

Incident

Apr 23, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

IN SHOP...' STATIONARY...'. DRAIN PLUGS UNDERNEATH THE CAR..... CONVERTIBLE ROOF MOTOR.... DRAIN PLUGS BECOME BLOCKED.... THE ROOF MOTOR FILLS UP WITH WATER AND THE MOTOR RUST IN ITS CASING..... UTUBE VIDEOS ONLINE SHOW THIS ISSUE..... THANKS

NHTSA ID

11109875

Incident

Jul 4, 2018

IN SHOP..... STATIONARY UP ON LIFT ...' DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET..... UNDERNEATH CAR..... THE WELD RIVETS SEPARATE...THE RIVETS GO ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE TRUNK UNDERNEATH.. .. HAS TOO BE TAKEN APART AND REINFORCED SOLID WELD NEEDED..... THERE ARE UTUBE VIDEOS ONLINE SHOWING THIS ISSUE.... I PUT MY CAR IN SHOP TOO GET IT CHECKED.... THANKS

NHTSA ID

11109874

Incident

Jul 4, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. IN THE PROCESS, ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS ENTERING THE SAME LANE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SWERVE INTO A MEDIAN TO AVOID CRASHING INTO EACH OTHER. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A RUPTURED LEFT BREAST, BACK BRUISES, AND NECK PAINS. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED, INCLUDING AN MRI. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED MONTHS AFTER THE CRASH TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD INVESTIGATE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11102371

Incident

Apr 23, 2018

AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE SHOWS WARNING SIGN ALL TIMES

NHTSA ID

11018864

Incident

Sep 12, 2016

Mileage

72,000 mi

ON 24JUN2011, I SWERVED FROM A PARALLEL LANE TO AVOID BEING SIDESWIPED. NO CONTACT WAS MADE BETWEEN VEHICLES. HOWEVER, I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHILE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME THAT: THE FLANGE/BRACKET THAT HELD THE DIFFERENTIAL IN PLACE HAD A COMPLETE HAIR-LINE FRACTURE; AND, THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF SPOT WELDS HOLDING THE BODY ON TO THE FRAME HAD FAILED. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP MCGRATH BMW, OCATED IN WESTMONT, IL AND TOLD THEM OF THE INCIDENT. THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT UNDERTAKE BODY REPAIRS AND DIRECTED ME TO A FIRM WHICH DID ALL TYPES OF BODY AND STRUCTURAL REPAIRS AND WAS ACCREDITED BY BMW. I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR OF BETWEEN $5,000-$6,000, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROGRAM OFFERED BY BMW TO SHARE IN THE COST OF THE FLANGE/BRACKET AND BODY REPAIR. I WENT BACK TO MY LOCAL BODY SHOP AND TOLD THEM TO ESTIMATE THE COST AND I ALSO REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY AUTO INSURANCE (STATE FARM). AN ADJUSTER FROM STATE FARM REVIEWED THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE CONDITION WAS ONE OF A PROBLEM IN MANUFACTURE AND NOT COVERED BY MY AUTO INSURANCE. MY BODY SHOP THEN GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF A NOT TO EXCEED FIGURE OF APPROXIMATELY $2,500. I TOLD THEM TO UNDERTAKE THE REPAIR. THE FLANGE/BRACKET HAS BEEN REPLACED AND REINFORCED AND THE BODY AND FRAME HAVE SINCE BEEN REWELDED AT A TOTAL COST TO ME OF $1600. ADDITIONALLY, I SPENT AN ADDITIONAL $100 FOR A ALIGNMENT (FIRESTONE OF COUNTRYSIDE, IL) THE LOCAL BODY SHOP IS DOUGLAS AUTO BODY, 4015 EBERLY AVENUE, BROOKFIELD, IL (708) 485-7774 - THEY ARE A BODY AND STRUCTURAL REPAIR SHOP APPROVED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED BY ME AS A STREET VEHICLE AND NOT FOR RACING OR TRACK USE OF ANY KIND. THE FAILURES SEEM TO BE A MFG. DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436004

Incident

Jun 24, 2011

I HEARD A CREAKING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR, I PUT IT ON JACKS TO CHECK IT OUT. TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR PAN MAINLY AROUND THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE., BUT YET BMW WILL NOT TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATTER. I SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IF I DID NOT CHECK IT AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CRACKS AND TEARS IN THE BODY METAL THAT EXIST COULD HAVE CONTINUED EVEN FURTHER AND LED TO AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I WAS ESTIMATED AT A WHOPPING 5200 DOLLARS WHICH BMW SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PAY 3000 OF. I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, SO IT SHOULD BE PAID IN FULLY BY THE COMPANY, BUT THEY WILL NOT STAND UP THE THEIR FAULT. I HAVE AT THIS TIME NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE, THERE ARE CASES OF SIMILAR SUBFRAME PROBLEMS POPPING UP ALL OVER FORUMS ONLINE. ENTHUSIASTS OF THE Z3 WILL RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE IF THEY TEDIOUSLY AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THEIR CARS, HOWEVER THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO JUST BUYS THEIR CAR AND DRIVES IT AROUND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA OF THE PROBLEM AT HAND AND THE POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THAT IT MAY LEAD UP TO IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433570

Incident

Oct 4, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO AN INTERSECTION, UNEXPECTEDLY AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES CONSISTING OF A BROKEN COLLAR BONE, EIGHT BROKEN RIBS AND PUNCTURED LUNGS. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION FACILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10360272

Incident

Aug 25, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG. HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT NO ONE WAS STRUCK. HE FILED A REPORT WITH BMW AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE WOULD CALL HIM REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10246665

Incident

Oct 23, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN 8 INCH FRACTURE IN THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WELDED THE FRAME. ONE YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRES, WHERE THE CRACK WAS LOCATED, HAD ABNORMAL WEAR. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE BACK TO A MECHANIC AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ID

10244305

Incident

Dec 28, 2007

Mileage

135,000 mi

NIELLO BMW OF SACRAMENTO CHECKED MY Z3 2000 FOR TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON ADVISE, AND SOME FLUTTERING NOISE CAME OUT DURING ACCELERATION. THEY FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S METAL SHAVINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. THEY REPAIRED IT AND REPLACED IT WITH NEW ONE AS WHAT THEY ADVISED TO ME, PLUS THEY REPLACED THR BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, SENSOR DRIVE BELTS, COVER AIR BAG AND THAT COST $3200.18 WHICH I PAID. I QUESTIONED THEM IF THAT'S STILL BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY SINCE I BOUGHT THAT CAR IN MAY 1999, AND THEY SAID," NO IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY." SO I PAID THE WHOLE AMOUNT OF $3200.18. SO I DROVE MY CAR AND IN A MATTER OF DAYS THE CAR BROKE AGAIN, STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY, AND THAT TIME I HEARD SOME FLUTTERING NOISE AGAIN UNDERNEATH, WHICH SCARED ME. SO I IMMEDIATELY CALLED SOME HELP AND TOOK MY CAR TO NIELLO BMW IN SACRAMENTO FOR REPAIR AND IT THEM A WEEK TO REPAIR MY CAR. AFTER IT WAS BEING REPAIRED I TRADED IT IN WITH LEXUS RX 330 IN ROSEVILLE SINCE I'M SCARED ALREADY DRIVING BMW AND DON'T TRUST THAT CAR AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10149470

Incident

Apr 24, 2004

Mileage

51,639 mi

I HAVE HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW Z3 2000''INTERNAL WATER PUMP FAILURE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, RATTLING NOISES IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, ETC. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM YEAR OVER YEAR SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE--THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH COMING ON DUE TO THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER BEING FAULTY. ON SERVICE DATES 8/22/03, 12/05/03, 12/18/03, 1/10/04, 3/20/04, 9/10/04, 1/24/05, I HAVE HAD THE SRS PROBLEM FIXED''AND THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE LAST TIME I CAME IN (1/24/05), I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE SRS PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SRS LIGHT SHOULD BE FIXED AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO I DON''T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I AM SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE WEEK OF JULY 11TH FOR THE SRS PROBLEM, ALONG WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER ACTUALLY HOLDS A PERSON IN PLACE--EVEN WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE HELD IN PLACE.

NHTSA ID

10128810

Incident

Jan 24, 2005

Mileage

27,000 mi

BMW Z3 SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAULT. BY READING ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAULT. SEAT BELT IS FINE, BUT FAULT CAUSES THE AIRBAG TO NOT DEPLOY. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?*AK

NHTSA ID

10112682

Incident

Mar 7, 2005

SRS LIGHT ON MY MW Z3 IS ON. KNOWN REPEATING PROBLEM ON Z3.*AK

NHTSA ID

10061995

Incident

Dec 29, 2003

Mileage

30,300 mi

AFTER RUNNING OVER A METAL PANEL IN THE ROAD THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG AT NO CHARGE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10048281

Incident

Nov 14, 2003

Mileage

48,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BUCKING, RUNNING ROUGH, STABILITY/CONTROL. *SCC

NHTSA ID

763483

Incident

May 4, 2000

BMW EXAMINED THE Z3 ON AUGUST 1, 2002 AND TOLD ME THAT THE FORCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CAUSE A SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED AND I SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES BECAUSE THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BMW WAS ASKED IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 21, 2002 TO SUPPLY THE RECORDED EVIDENCE SO THAT I COULD VERIFY THEIR CONCLUSIONS. IT IS NOW OCTOBER 1ST AND THEY HAVE NOT COMPLIED. I BELIEVE THAT BMW KNOWS THAT THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND ARE NOT WILLING TO ADMIT THEIR EQUIPMENT FAILED. IN THE LETTER I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN WHY THE Z3 SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND YET THE STRIKING VEHICLE OF SIMILIAR WEIGHT THAT WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH HAD IT'S FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOY. I TOLD THEM THAT IF THE FORCE WAS SUFFICEINT TO CAUSE A FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IT SEEMS THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG IS WHERE THE DANGER OF INJURY IS EVEN GREATER. SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED EVEN MORE READILY. THEY HAVE NOT ANSWERED ME BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE AIR BAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I STILL HAVE DOUBLE VISION AND WILL REQUIRE EYE SURGERY TO HOPEFULLY CORRECT MY VISION PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER SO THAT BMW WILL NOT MAKE ANY OTHER PERSON A VICTIM. MR

NHTSA ID

767945

Incident

Jul 29, 2002

A ROCK WENT BOUNCED UP UNDER THE CAR AND SET OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG BRUISED THE DRIVERS ARM AND RIBS. THE CAR SWERVE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD DUE TO THE AIRBAG FORCING THE DRIVER TO THE RIGHT, BUT THE CAR DID NOT LEAVE THE ROAD WAY. DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPLACING THE SYSTEM, WE WERE FORCED TO SUBMIT AN INSURANCE CLAIM WHICH THUS RAISED OUR INSURANCE PREMIUM.

NHTSA ID

767390

Incident

Jun 21, 2001

DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN A BOUNCING ROCK STRUCK UNDER THE CAR, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, INJURING THE DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ID

764970

Incident

Jul 29, 2002