2000 BMW Z3

34 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Aug 28, 2025Failure Aug 28, 202563,000 milesGreensburg, PAAir bags1 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 guibo driveshaft flat disk had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11683639
2. Filed Nov 5, 2023Failure Nov 5, 2023Rochester, NYBody, Suspension

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11553671
3. Filed Dec 15, 2020Failure Dec 14, 2020127,000 milesFranklin, TNRearview system braking, Engine, Suspension1 injured1 killed

   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# ##

   NHTSA complaint 11383581
4. Filed Sep 12, 2020Failure Sep 11, 2020192,000 milesLOS Angeles, CAAir bags, Unknown or other

   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

   NHTSA complaint 11354641
5. Filed Aug 11, 2020Failure Feb 2, 2020Simi Valley, CAAir bags

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

   NHTSA complaint 11348677
6. Filed Mar 5, 2020Failure Nov 15, 201989,000 milesYucaipa, CAAir bags

   HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM COMPLAINT MADE IN DEC., REF. #11288210. FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING FRONT WINDOW TO SHATTER AND DASH IS DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION. THE PERSON SAT IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND IT EXPLODED.

   NHTSA complaint 11316436
7. Filed Jul 13, 2018Failure Apr 23, 201880,000 milesFernadina Beach, FLAir bagsCrash1 injured

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11111226
8. Filed Jul 6, 2018Failure Jul 4, 2018Lockhart, TXUnknown 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

   NHTSA complaint 11109875
9. Filed Jul 6, 2018Failure Jul 4, 2018Lockhart, TXUnknown 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

   NHTSA complaint 11109874
10. Filed Jun 18, 2018Failure Apr 23, 2018Fernandina Beach, FLAir bagsCrash1 injured

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 11102371
11. Filed Aug 22, 2017Failure Sep 12, 201672,000 milesCooper City, FLAir bags, Seat belts

    AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE SHOWS WARNING SIGN ALL TIMES

    NHTSA complaint 11018864
12. Filed Nov 16, 2011Failure Jun 24, 2011Brookfield, ILManual transmission, Body

    ON 24JUN2011, I SWERVED FROM A PARALLEL LANE TO AVOID BEING SIDESWIPED. NO CONTACT WAS MADE BETWEEN VEHICLES. HOWEVER, I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHILE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME THAT: THE FLANGE/BRACKET THAT HELD THE DIFFERENTIAL IN PLACE HAD A COMPLETE HAIR-LINE FRACTURE; AND, THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF SPOT WELDS HOLDING THE BODY ON TO THE FRAME HAD FAILED. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP MCGRATH BMW, OCATED IN WESTMONT, IL AND TOLD THEM OF THE INCIDENT. THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT UNDERTAKE BODY REPAIRS AND DIRECTED ME TO A FIRM WHICH DID ALL TYPES OF BODY AND STRUCTURAL REPAIRS AND WAS ACCREDITED BY BMW. I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR OF BETWEEN $5,000-$6,000, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROGRAM OFFERED BY BMW TO SHARE IN THE COST OF THE FLANGE/BRACKET AND BODY REPAIR. I WENT BACK TO MY LOCAL BODY SHOP AND TOLD THEM TO ESTIMATE THE COST AND I ALSO REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY AUTO INSURANCE (STATE FARM). AN ADJUSTER FROM STATE FARM REVIEWED THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE CONDITION WAS ONE OF A PROBLEM IN MANUFACTURE AND NOT COVERED BY MY AUTO INSURANCE. MY BODY SHOP THEN GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF A NOT TO EXCEED FIGURE OF APPROXIMATELY $2,500. I TOLD THEM TO UNDERTAKE THE REPAIR. THE FLANGE/BRACKET HAS BEEN REPLACED AND REINFORCED AND THE BODY AND FRAME HAVE SINCE BEEN REWELDED AT A TOTAL COST TO ME OF $1600. ADDITIONALLY, I SPENT AN ADDITIONAL $100 FOR A ALIGNMENT (FIRESTONE OF COUNTRYSIDE, IL) THE LOCAL BODY SHOP IS DOUGLAS AUTO BODY, 4015 EBERLY AVENUE, BROOKFIELD, IL (708) 485-7774 - THEY ARE A BODY AND STRUCTURAL REPAIR SHOP APPROVED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED BY ME AS A STREET VEHICLE AND NOT FOR RACING OR TRACK USE OF ANY KIND. THE FAILURES SEEM TO BE A MFG. DESIGN FLAW. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10436004
13. Filed Oct 30, 2011Failure Oct 4, 201170,000 milesDayton, OHBody, Suspension

    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 UNDRIVABLE., BUT YET BMW 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 WHOPPING 5200 DOLLARS WHICH BMW SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PAY 3000 OF. I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, SO IT SHOULD BE PAID IN FULLY BY THE COMPANY, BUT THEY WILL NOT STAND UP THE THEIR FAULT. I HAVE AT THIS TIME NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE, THERE ARE CASES OF SIMILAR SUBFRAME PROBLEMS POPPING UP ALL OVER FORUMS ONLINE. ENTHUSIASTS OF THE Z3 WILL RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE IF THEY TEDIOUSLY AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THEIR CARS, HOWEVER THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO JUST BUYS THEIR CAR AND DRIVES IT AROUND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA OF THE PROBLEM AT HAND AND THE POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THAT IT MAY LEAD UP TO IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10433570
14. Filed Oct 13, 2010Failure Aug 25, 200965,000 milesSUN Lakes, AZSide/windowCrash1 injured

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO AN INTERSECTION, UNEXPECTEDLY AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES CONSISTING OF A BROKEN COLLAR BONE, EIGHT BROKEN RIBS AND PUNCTURED LUNGS. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION FACILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10360272
15. Filed Oct 24, 2008Failure Oct 23, 2008115,000 milesLOS Angeles, CAFrontal

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG. HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT NO ONE WAS STRUCK. HE FILED A REPORT WITH BMW AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE WOULD CALL HIM REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10246665
16. Filed Oct 3, 2008Failure Dec 28, 2007135,000 milesNorth Middle Town, NJFrame and members

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN 8 INCH FRACTURE IN THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WELDED THE FRAME. ONE YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRES, WHERE THE CRACK WAS LOCATED, HAD ABNORMAL WEAR. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE BACK TO A MECHANIC AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10244305
17. Filed Feb 5, 2006Failure Apr 24, 200451,639 milesSacramento, CAEquipment, Differential unit, Service brakes, Hydraulic

    NIELLO BMW OF SACRAMENTO CHECKED MY Z3 2000 FOR TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON ADVISE, AND SOME FLUTTERING NOISE CAME OUT DURING ACCELERATION. THEY FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S METAL SHAVINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. THEY REPAIRED IT AND REPLACED IT WITH NEW ONE AS WHAT THEY ADVISED TO ME, PLUS THEY REPLACED THR BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, SENSOR DRIVE BELTS, COVER AIR BAG AND THAT COST $3200.18 WHICH I PAID. I QUESTIONED THEM IF THAT'S STILL BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY SINCE I BOUGHT THAT CAR IN MAY 1999, AND THEY SAID," NO IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY." SO I PAID THE WHOLE AMOUNT OF $3200.18. SO I DROVE MY CAR AND IN A MATTER OF DAYS THE CAR BROKE AGAIN, STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY, AND THAT TIME I HEARD SOME FLUTTERING NOISE AGAIN UNDERNEATH, WHICH SCARED ME. SO I IMMEDIATELY CALLED SOME HELP AND TOOK MY CAR TO NIELLO BMW IN SACRAMENTO FOR REPAIR AND IT THEM A WEEK TO REPAIR MY CAR. AFTER IT WAS BEING REPAIRED I TRADED IT IN WITH LEXUS RX 330 IN ROSEVILLE SINCE I'M SCARED ALREADY DRIVING BMW AND DON'T TRUST THAT CAR AGAIN. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10149470
18. Filed Jul 14, 2005Failure Jan 24, 200527,000 milesSeattle, WAWarning light/devices, Retractor

    I HAVE HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW Z3 2000''INTERNAL WATER PUMP FAILURE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, RATTLING NOISES IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, ETC. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM YEAR OVER YEAR SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE--THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH COMING ON DUE TO THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER BEING FAULTY. ON SERVICE DATES 8/22/03, 12/05/03, 12/18/03, 1/10/04, 3/20/04, 9/10/04, 1/24/05, I HAVE HAD THE SRS PROBLEM FIXED''AND THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE LAST TIME I CAME IN (1/24/05), I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE SRS PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SRS LIGHT SHOULD BE FIXED AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO I DON''T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I AM SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE WEEK OF JULY 11TH FOR THE SRS PROBLEM, ALONG WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER ACTUALLY HOLDS A PERSON IN PLACE--EVEN WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE HELD IN PLACE.

    NHTSA complaint 10128810
19. Filed Mar 7, 2005Failure Mar 7, 2005Silverdale, WAAir bags

    BMW Z3 SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAULT. BY READING ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAULT. SEAT BELT IS FINE, BUT FAULT CAUSES THE AIRBAG TO NOT DEPLOY. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10112682
20. Filed Mar 12, 2004Failure Dec 29, 200330,300 milesFort Worth, TXFrontal

    SRS LIGHT ON MY MW Z3 IS ON. KNOWN REPEATING PROBLEM ON Z3.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10061995