2001 BMW Z3 Owner Complaints

Component or System Failed: The critical safety component that failed—and was deliberately tampered with—is the ABS/DSC (Anti-lock Braking System / Dynamic Stability Control) module. The compromised component is currently on the vehicle and is readily available for physical inspection upon request. How Safety Was Put at Risk: My safety and the safety of the public were severely compromised because the selling dealership actively concealed a total failure of the primary braking and traction control systems. The ABS/DSC module was physically severed and glued back together to hide the defect. This deceptive tampering disabled critical emergency braking and stability functions without my knowledge, creating an extreme accident hazard during adverse driving conditions. Confirmation by Dealer or Service Center: Yes, the pre-existing defect was confirmed by a franchise dealership service center prior to my purchase on 5/23. Official service records document that at 55,106 miles, the vehicle was diagnosed with an active ABS/Traction failure and a tampered "customer supplied part" was noted on the DSC unit. Furthermore, the selling dealership's own internal documents prove the DSC warning light was actively illuminated while they possessed and drove the vehicle before selling it to me. Inspected by Police, Insurance, or Others: The vehicle has not yet been physically inspected by police, but comprehensive photographic and documentary evidence of the tampering has been formally submitted to the State Attorney General's Office and the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General for active consumer fraud investigations. Warning Lamps and Symptoms: According to the franchise dealer's prior service records, the ABS and Traction Control warning lamps were actively illuminated at 55,106 miles. However, because the selling dealership physically severed and glued the safety module, these dashboard warning systems were fraudulently suppressed and concealed from me

NHTSA ID

11748391

Incident

May 23, 2026

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS BEEN ALIGHT FOR SOMETIME. I'M NOT CERTAIN IF IT'S AN AIRBAG FAILURE OR WHETHER IT'S ON THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS SURPRISED NOT TO FIND MY AUTO INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL LIST EVENT. CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON THIS MATTER? IF SO, MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE.

NHTSA ID

11404637

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN ENGINE IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

11326781

Incident

Dec 10, 2019

Mileage

29,300 mi

2001 BMW Z3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL VEHICLE PROBLEMS AND UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON EBAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ARRIVED AND THEN EVALUATED, HE WAS INFORMED THE TIRES WERE OVER 10 YEARS OLD, SEVERAL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, BOTH FOG LIGHT AND LEFT PARKING AND TURNING LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD, THE SEAT BELT GUIDE ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN, THE SEATS SLID FORWARD WHEN STOPPING WHICH CAUSED HIM, TO UNEXPECTEDLY STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE REAR WINDOW WAS SCRATCHED AND FADED TO ZERO VISIBILITY, THE MAIN SPEAKER WAS BLOWN. IN ADDITION, A MANIFOLD HOSE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO A LEAK, THE KEYS HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND TRUNK. *JB THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED UPDATED 04/15/15*JB

NHTSA ID

10567172

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

DOORLOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLY INSIDE DOOR BREAKS, CAUSING LOCK CYLINDER NOT TO BE HELD IN PLACE & WHEN KEY IS INSERTED IN LOCK CYLINDER THE WHOLE LOCK CYLINDER JUST TURNS WITH THE KEY. MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. I'M EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER DOOR & THE DRIVERS DOOR IS STARTING TO ACT SLOPPY ALSO. THIS IS A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY BMW OWNERS OF DIFFERENT MODELS. BESIDES BEING POORLY DESIGNED IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR; APPROX. $500 TO $800 PER LOCK...NOTE "THE REPAIR DOES NOT REQUIRE NEW LOCK CYLINDERS, JUST THE HARDWARE THAT HOLD THE CYLINDER INPLACE, BUT THIS HARDWARE IS DIFFICULT TO FIND & THE BMW DEALER IS USUALLY THE ONLY PLACE TO GET IT AT A HIGH COST. I HAVE SEEN DOOR LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLY HARDWARE ONLINE FOR UNDER $20.00; BUT BMW CHARGES $100 TO $200." BMW PRIDES ITSELF ON QUALITY. I THINK THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR MOUTH! I'VE HAD CARS OVER 40 YEARS OLD. THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS, BUT DOOR LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES, NO & IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THIS EXPENSIVE TO FIX! THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10519677

Incident

Jul 17, 2012

Mileage

43,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED BARREL CYLINDER IN THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE DOOR JUST TURNS WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED AND TURNS AROUND AND DOES NOT ENGAGE. *BF

NHTSA ID

10505083

Incident

Mar 12, 2013

Mileage

42,600 mi

I HAVE A Z3 2001. THE CAR KEEPS STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN COLUMBUS OHIO HAS BEEN UNABLE DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL PUMP, THEN SAID IT WAS THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE THEN SAID THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.. THEY'VE HAD IT ON AND OFF SINCE MAY 6. (ABOUT ONE MONTH). THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHILE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AFTER THE CAR STALLS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT STALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334640

Incident

Jun 4, 2010

Mileage

81,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW Z3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR VALVE STEMS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WERE CRACKED AND CAUSED AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. THE VALVE STEMS WERE TECH INTERNATIONAL, MODEL TR413. THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY TOYO. THE PART NUMBER AND SERIAL NUMBER FOR THE VALVE STEMS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,861.

NHTSA ID

10270028

Incident

May 26, 2009

Mileage

29,861 mi

THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAULTY ELECTRONIC SWITCH IGNITION ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008962

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

THE SEAT MOTOR DID NOT WORK, DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008960

Incident

Feb 19, 2003

THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008959

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

THE FRONT TIRE DID NOT HOLD AIR.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008957

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

THIS DEFECT WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER THE POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE IS AN OPEN QUESTION. THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY 2001 Z3 ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN ACCELLERATING, COMING TO A STOP OR EVEN WHEN MERELY SHIFTING MY WEIGHT ON MY RIGHT LEG WHEN MOVING MY RIGHT FOOT FROM ACCELLERATOR TO BRAKE. I HAVE NOTIFIED BOTH MY DEALER, BMW CLEVELAND, AND BMW NORTH AMERICA OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER INITIALLY DENIED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED THEN, AFTER GETTING BMW NORTH AMERICA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE INVOLVED, ADMITTED THE PROBLEM AND ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, BY OCTOBER OF 2002 THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THE DEALER HAS NOW UPON A LATER VISIT STATED NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I AM ONCE AGAIN IN CONTACT WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA WHO DENIES THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM AND DENIES BEING AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A PERVASIVE DESIGN DEFECT AMONG Z3'S. I HAVE LOCATED AND FORWARDED TO BMW NORTH AMERICA DOCUMENTATION THAT LOOSE SEATS ARE IN FACT A PERVASIVE PROBLEM AMONG Z3'S. THAT COUNTLESS OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THEIR DEALERS AND THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMMUNICATED THE EXISTENCE OF THIS PROBLEM TO BMW NORTH AMERICA REPRESENTATIVES. I HAVE ALSO DIRECTED BMW TO AN INTERNET FORUM WHERE AT LEAST 70 OTHER OWNERS HAVE CORROBORATED THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE OWNERS ON THAT WEBSITE HAS ENGINEERED NYLON BUSHINGS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. HE HAS REPORTED TO ME THAT HE HAS DISTRIBUTED BUSHINGS TO APPROXIMATELY 150 Z3 OWNERS. HOWEVER, TO DATE, BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY MOST RECENT ALLEGATIONS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. DT

NHTSA ID

768843

Incident

May 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE2255016, DOTMXMXE. *AK THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE TIRE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD. *YH

NHTSA ID

8016759

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS. THE AUTOMATIC TENSION DOES NOT WORK. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR TWICE AND TOLD ME THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS. IT IS UNSAFE AS IT DOES NOT TIGHTEN AROUND PASSENGER AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFETY IN THE EVENET OF A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID

757402

Incident

Jul 8, 2000

ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIM IN BRIGHTNESS UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CYCLES. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND INFORMED CONSUMER THIS IT IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, ON LAST VISIT DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR, CONSUMER AND DEALER WORKING OUT TRADE-IN DEAL.*AK *TT CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE IDLE STARTS GOING UP AND DOWN, AND VEHICLE ALSO LOSES POWER WHEN THE A/C IS ON, DEALER STATED THIS IS NORMAL REACTION OF THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO THE SUDDED INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL LOAD. RIGHT SIDE SEAT SWITCH IS LOOSE AND GETS STUCK, DEALER REPLACED SEAT SWITCH. CONSUMER HEARS A SQUEAKING/POPPING NOISE AT REAR OF DRIVERS DOOR OR CONVERTIBLE TOP NEAR DRIVERS SHOULDER AREA. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8001422

Incident

Jun 21, 2001

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO TELL EXACT MILEAGE OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8001220

SPEEDOMETOR IS INCORRECT BY 9.4 MILES. VEHICLE IS GOING SLOWER THAN SPEEDOMETOR IS READING. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ALLOW DEALERS TO FIX PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001219

Incident

Jul 31, 2001

M SERIES. SHORTLY AFTER STARTING VEHICLE IT WILL STALL WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 75 % OF THE TIME. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 3-4 TIMES, AND ENGINE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

899932

Incident

Jul 15, 2001