RoadVitals

2003 BMW Z4 Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
12
Latest May 23, 2023
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.
3%
of 414 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.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 BMW Z4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 engine

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

Body & structureEngine
Filed May 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the coolant warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that she noticed smoke underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, she noticed a leak on the ground located near the rear passenger’s side tire. Additionally, the contact then stated that while operating the convertible drop top, she heard an abnormal sound in the motor. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

NHTSA ID
11523426
Incident
Apr 23, 2023
Mileage
64,000 mi
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Jan 25, 2018

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. STALLS AT OR IN TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH INTERSECTIONS

NHTSA ID
11064993
Incident
Jan 25, 2018
Mileage
52,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jan 24, 2012

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED ON THE CAR MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LUCKILY IT FAILED WHILE ON A STRAIGHT PART OF AN INTERSTATE AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THIS SEVERELY FRIGHTENED HER. SHE DID NOT OVERREACT AND WE TOOK APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA IN 2010 BUT CAN NOT FIND ANY INDICATION THAT AN ACTUAL RECALL IS IN PLACE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE WITH A LOT OF WINDING ROADS (TENNESSEE). I PURCHASED THE CAR USED LAST YEAR AND ALSO HAD A WATER PUMP FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A BLOWN ENGINE. I WISH THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED ALSO AS I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES READING INCORRECTLY. I READ THAT ONE OWNER WAS CONTACTED BY BMW NORTH AMERICA AFTER THEY FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE POWER STEERING WITH NHTSA AND BMW VOLUNTARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE OWNER. I HOPE I HAVE THE SAME LUCK AFTER POSTING THIS COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10445000
Incident
Jan 3, 2012
Mileage
81,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 23, 2011

2003 BMW, Z4-CAR STARTED FINE, THEN IT SHUT OFF, TRIED TO RESTART AND WOULDN'T. HAD VEHICLE TOWED, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET OF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10384169
Incident
Feb 14, 2011
Mileage
87,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Dec 24, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HIS VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT THE TIME THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES FAILED. IT BECAME WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED THERE WAS A BUBBLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA THAT LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES. NO PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. HE WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $152 FOR A DIAGNOSIC CHECK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ID
10252705
Incident
Dec 18, 2008
Mileage
41,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2008

BMW Z4 ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10217874
Incident
Sep 7, 2007
Mileage
48,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 5, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER. AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10167375
Incident
Sep 5, 2006
Mileage
24,599 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 15, 2004

2003 BMW Z-4 COMPUTER GLITCH THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND KILL THE ENGINE RPM'S CREATTING A VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUATIONS FOR DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10066211
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Mileage
7,370 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2004

ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10058340
Incident
Feb 13, 2004
Engine
Filed Sep 12, 2003

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED ENGINE "EML" MEANING ENGINE ELECTRONIC PROBLEM, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT REGISTERED IN THE CAR COMPUTER. THEREFORE DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *PH

NHTSA ID
10039907
Incident
Sep 12, 2003
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 21, 2003

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN MY JUNE 2003 PRODUCTION BMW Z4 3.0I ROADSTER. THE CAR SUDDENLY DIES AT 65 MPH. THE "EML" LIGHT COMES ON, BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, RPM NEEDLE SURGES, THROTTLE IS UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE FOOT BRAKES ARE FROZEN AND CANNOT BE DEPRESSED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO SWERVE OFF THE INTERSTATE, ACROSS THE SERVICE ROAD, AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKES TO GET THE CAR TO STOP COMPLETELY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10033253
Incident
Aug 20, 2003
Mileage
4,800 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 7, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH

NHTSA ID
10032374
Incident
Jul 17, 2003

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

Steering342Airbags31Electrical13Body & structure8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .