NHTSA Data Explorer

BMW Z3

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the BMW Z3.

Complaints

273

Active records

Recalls

8

Active records

TSBs

97

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

1

Injuries

26

Crashes

20

Fires

6

Top reported issues — BMW Z3

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

192

Safety restraint issue

115

Operating state

69

Safety restraint behavior

55

Reporting mechanism

54

Noise

31

Access/entry issue

10

Engine behavior

10

Driver assistance issue

9

Lighting behavior

9

Thermal issue

9

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

9

Fluid issue

6

Vibration/harshness

6

Braking behavior

5

Infotainment behavior

4

Ride/handling behavior

4

Steering behavior

4

Electrical issue

3

Starting behavior

3

Performance issue

2

HVAC behavior

1

Powering on/off behavior

1

Recent change

1

Smell

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2000 BMW Z3

Filed Aug 28, 2025


1 injured

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…

1999 BMW Z3

Filed Mar 8, 2024


Hello, NHTSA released a recall warning for BMWs made from 2000 to 2006, regarding Takata airbags. The risk to vehicle occupants is dire, it said. My 1999 BMW Z3 was made one year before this, and is not included in the recall. I have been trying to determine whether my '99 BMW has Takata airbags as well, thus far with no success. As of today, BMW will only tell me that there are no outstanding recalls for my car - they have not been willing to tell me what type of airbags they originally…

2000 BMW Z3

Filed Nov 5, 2023


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.

1997 BMW Z3

Filed Mar 24, 2023


1 injured
Crash

The contact owned a 1997 BMW Z3 Roadster. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, there was a multi-car rear-end accident involving two other vehicles after she fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended the vehicle in front of her. The contact stated that no other passengers were in her vehicle; however, only the driver's side air bag had failed to deploy. The contact required hospitalization and was in a coma. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard…

1998 BMW Z3

Filed Apr 24, 2022


The BMW E36 Z3 1996-2002 (I have the 1998 1.9) are prone to having a separation of the Rear subframe from the differential causing the drivetrain to hang off the vehicle and/or rip out of the trunk's weak aluminum sheet subframe. BMW Germany has acknowledged the problem for a few individuals over the past decade and a half and kept it on the low for them to not spread it further. BMW North America fails to acknowledge the design flaw during their manufacturing process in the North American…

2001 BMW Z3

Filed Mar 24, 2021


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.

2000 BMW Z3 ROADSTER

Filed Dec 15, 2020


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 CLAIMED TO BE UNDRIVABLE BY BMW, BUT YET THEY 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…

2000 BMW Z3

Filed Dec 15, 2020


1 death
1 injured

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# ##

2000 BMW Z3

Filed Sep 12, 2020


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

2000 BMW Z3

Filed Aug 11, 2020


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

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.