BMW Z3 Complaints

253 consumer complaints on file.

#10004506January 23, 2003
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002732January 15, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001349December 20, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR STUCK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. THE CONSUME BELIEVES THIS ACCIDENT IS RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL #8324 97V-131000 OF THE CRUISE CONTROL THROTTLE CABLES CABLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#8023166November 22, 2002
SEATS
VEHICLE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WILL LAUNCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022446November 8, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISON. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768843October 24, 2002
SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767945October 1, 2002
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#8019908October 1, 2002
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8019651September 27, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767390September 19, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#8016924August 21, 2002
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING, NEGATIVE CAMBER CAUSED TREAD TO WEAR DOWN ON REAR TIRES. *AK THIS CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE REAR TIRES AND HAD A POTENTIAL OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JG *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016925August 21, 2002
TIRES
NEGATIVE CAMBER CAUSED INCREASE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRES, WHICH CAUSED 6 TIRE BLOW OUTS. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016759August 20, 2002
TIRES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764970July 31, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN A BOUNCING ROCK STRUCK UNDER THE CAR, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, INJURING THE DRIVER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#764834July 28, 2002
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763483June 25, 2002
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
BMW SAW PROBLEM AT THE BMW Z-3 HOMECOMING. SAID IF IT WAS NOT THE COMPUTER CAUSING THE DOOR LOCKS TRAPPING PASSENGERS INSIDE THIS CAR, IT WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. COMPUTER CHANGED AND THE DOOR LOCKS TRAPPED CONSUMER INSIDE THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS BEGINNING ON THE N.J. TURN PIKE HEADED TO NOVA SCOTIA. THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR WHEN THE DOOR LOCKS SHORTENED OUT IS TO EITHER PUT DOWN THE ROOF AND WINDOWS AND CLIMB OUT OF THE CAR OR ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND REACH ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AND UNLOCK IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. A NOVA SCOTIA BMW DEALER SAID LOCKS WERE GOING INTO THE DOUBLE LOCKING POSITION WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN FROM LOCKING THIS CAR FROM THE INSIDE. ONLY FROM THE OUT SIDE. I HAVE WRITTEN DOZENS OF LETTERS TO BMW CONCERNING THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BUT NO PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED SINCE OCTOBER 2000. THE DOOR LOCKS TRAPPED ME INSIDE THIS CAR TWO WEEKS AGO IN AUGUSTA GEORGIA AND AGAIN IN BRUNSWICK GEORGIA THIS PAST WEEKEND. I ALSO HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS OF A LEAKING ROOF, A RATTLING DASHBOARD, RADIO CUTTING IN AND OUT IN THE LEFT CHANNEL AND A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS. I ASKED OVER 2 YEARS AGO FOR THIS 2000 BMW Z-3 TO BE REPLACED, BUT BMW REFUSED. IT HAS BEEN IN BMW SHOPS OVER 7 TIMES FOR OVER A MONTH AND THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE.*AK *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763069June 14, 2002
SEATS
THE SEAT DOES NOT LOCK ON THE TRACK, IT SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH WHILE ACCELERATING OR BRAKING, IT WAS A DEFECT WHEN MANFURED BUT MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT, MANY Z 3 OWNERS HAVE THE PROBLEM, I FEEL IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR KILL SOMEONE, IF IT WAS A US COMPANY LIKE GM, FORD, OR CHRY I KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE REPAIRED THE DEFECT, WHY DO WE ALLOW FOREIGN COMPANIES TO GET AWAY WITH PRODUCING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WE WOULD NOT ALLOW ONE OF OUR COMPANIE TO PRODUCE. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY SEAT. BY THE WAY BMW HAS AGREED IT WAS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BUT THEY WANT TO GET ANOTHER $4-500 BUCKS TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS PLAINLY A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEM BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION. I ASK YOU HELP ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE Z 3 OWNERS WHO MIGHT END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE WRITTEN BMW BUT THEY DID NOT EVEN GIVE ME THE COURTESY OF AN ANSWER. HELP PLEASE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8010882June 2, 2002
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
LEFT REAR FRAME RAIL CRACKED WITH CAUSE UNKNOWN. THIS CRACK WAS ONLY DETECTED BY OWNER WHEN CHANGING TIRE. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS MAY HAVE COME FROM MANUFACTURE TIGHTNING FRAME TOO TIGHT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8008828April 30, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
FUEL GAUGE WILL NOT GIVE THE CORRECT LEVEL OF FUEL. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#761217April 25, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BMW HAS FAILED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT DEFECTS ON THIS CAR. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE FROZEN AND CANNOT BE USED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ON THE Z3 ROADSTER, BUT ARE TRYING TO BRUSH US OFF. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE SURE WE CAN USE THE SEAT BELTS WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE SEAT SYSTEM IN THIS CAR IS LOUSEY, AND REQUIRED US TO HAVE THE DRIVER SEAT BACK BRACKET REPALCED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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