BMW Z3 Complaints

253 consumer complaints on file.

#11165993January 9, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 1998 Z3 M ROADSTER AND THE TRUNK WELDS HOLDING THE SUBFRAME IS FAILING. THIS IS A COMMONLY DOCUMENTED ISSUES. BMW DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE BUT BMW NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT FIX IT. THIS IS A WELDING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN LEAD TO THE DIFFERENTIAL AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN THE REAR TO COMPLETELY SEPARATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111226July 13, 2018
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11109874July 6, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11109875July 6, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11102371June 18, 2018
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11098301May 28, 2018
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT SLIDING BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11032127October 6, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
VERY WELL KNOWN FAILURE, JUST SEARCH FOR "BMW Z3 SUBFRAME FAILURE". IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BY BMW THAT AFFECTS A LOT OF Z3'S THROUGH ALL MODEL YEARS. MINE STARTED TO POP ONE WELD AT 88K MILES. IT CAN CAUSE THE REAR ALIGNMENT TO BE OFF, IN WORST CASE THE TRUNK FLOOR IS TORN OUT AND THE DIFFERENTIAL FALLS TO THE GROUND. CLUNKING FROM THE BACK WHILE SHIFTING IN THE FIRST TWO GEARS IS ONE INDICATOR THIS DAMAGE IS NOT FAR AWAY. THIS IS ONE FORUM THREAD THAT DESCRIBES THE ISSUE WELL: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?1979601-SUBFRAME-TRUNK-FLOOR-DIFFERENTIAL-MOUNT-FAILURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11018864August 22, 2017
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE SHOWS WARNING SIGN ALL TIMES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10995656June 17, 2017
SUSPENSION
A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM REAR END WAS NOTICED. UPON INSPECTION, BY BMW DEALERSHIP IT WAS DETERMINED THE REAR SUBFRAME HOLDING REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE (SPOT WELD FAILURE). I WAS TOLD IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND TO FIX IMMEDIATELY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. HIGHER DISPLACEMENT MODELS ARE A HIGHER OCCURRENCE DUE TO CREATING MORE TORQUE ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET. MINE IS THE M VERSION WHICH IS ALMOST A GUARANTEED FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10980531April 25, 2017
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW Z3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND ALSO BURNED A HOLE IN HER JEANS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10970992April 6, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
REAR SUBFRAME / TRUNK FLOOR / DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FAILURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10955460February 18, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FILLS WITH WATER WHEN TO RAINS AND DOES NOT EMPTY. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES RUST AND MOISTURE IN THE TRUNK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10946920January 23, 2017
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE JERKS, SHUTTERS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. REAR SUB FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL BUSHING FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10894361August 9, 2016
SEAT BELTS
SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM - SEAT-BELT GUIDE HAS BROKEN AS IT IS WARPED PLASTIC AND STOPPING SHORT CAN BREAK IT. IN AN ACCIDENT SEAT BELT COULD SLIP UP, OR IMPACT NECK AS IT IS NOT HELD INTO PLACE NEAR THE SEAT. DEALER WANTS $400 TO FIX WHAT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10874771June 17, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW Z3. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED INTO REVERSE, A CLANKING SOUND EMERGED FROM THE REAR END WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V272000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10836261February 15, 2016
SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. AND ALSO LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I RARELY HAVE PASSENGERS SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME NOTICED THAT IT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. IT HAPPENS WHILE STATIONARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811359December 21, 2015
STEERING
TWO TIMES WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WE HAVE HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. WE THOUGHT THAT THE FIRST TIME WAS A MISTAKE, THEN IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME. NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRIED, WE COULD NOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED TO DRIVE THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARKING POSITION AND WE COULD NOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE. WE HAVE A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH A KEY LOCK. WE WOULD PARK THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AND WHEN WE RETURNED, WE WOULD PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR WOULD BE IN PARK WITH EVERYTHING OFF, AND NOTHING WOULD MOVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714743May 5, 2015
STEERING, WHEELS, SUSPENSION
AS I HAVE LEARNED AS I RESEARCH WHAT I THOUGH WAS AN ISOLATED DANGEROUS STEERING ISSUE IS THAT THERE ARE MANY MANY BMW Z4 DANGEROUSLY DRIVING ON OUR PUBLIC ROADS. MY CAR STEERS IN MANY DIRECTIONS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY IN HOTTER WEATHER WHERE AS THE TEMPERATURE STARTS TO GET HOTTER IT SEEMS THAT MY NEWLY PURCHASED USED BMW Z4 LOSSES ALL POWER STEERING, ITS LIKE DRIVING A CAR THAT IS TURNED OFF FROM THE STEERING PERSPECTIVE. I LIVE IN THE DALLAS METROPLEX SO AS IT BEEN GETTING HOTTER I HAVE FOUND OUT FIRST HAND THAT THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH 100% FULL ATTENTION TO WORK THE STEERING. PLEASE HAVE BMW FACE UP TO WHAT THEY KNOW IS A SERIOUS RECALL AND A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH ON OUR HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. SINCERELY [XXX] OWNER OF A 2003 BMW Z4 WITH LESS THAN 30K MILES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676809January 20, 2015
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS SEPARATING FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR, UNDER OR NEAR THE TRUNK AREA. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE Z3 SERIES OF VEHICLES. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IF THE READ DIFFERENTIAL SEPARATES FROM THE SUBFRAME, AND COULD CAUSE A HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORIST. THIS APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE FRAME WAS DESIGNED FOR A 1.9L ENGINE, AND BMW DID NOT REDESIGN THE SUBFRAME TO ALLOW FOR THE LARGER ENGINES IT LATER SOLD IN THE Z3 SERIES OF CARS. BMW ALSO HAD THIS SAME ISSUE ON 3XX SERIES OF VEHICLES, AND AGREED TO REPAIR THOSE CARS DUE TO A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE SETTLEMENT. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DESIGN ISSUE, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10649974October 25, 2014
SEATS, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARDS DURING ACCELERATION AND BREAKING AT ANY SPEED, GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY ON FULL TANK OR FLUXES ON DASH AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON FOR 3-5 MIN. AT A TIME WHEN STARTING UP IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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