AutoStatsIQ
Data through Oct 2026
Model year

2002 BMW Z3

Convertible, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Oct 7, 2008 to Jul 18, 2020.

Recalls (1)Complaints (6)Investigations (0)Bulletins (4)
Recall campaigns covering this model year162k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints6Close to the median 2002 convertible
Severity index0.02002 convertibles average 14.4
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2002 BMW Z3 peaked in 2019, with 2 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

00.511.5220082010201220142016201822020202220242026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

33% of complaints about the 2002 BMW Z3 name airbags

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Airbags
2
Steering
2
Electrical system
1
Stability and traction control
1
Lighting
1
Seat belts
1
Brakes
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

One recall campaign covers the 2002 BMW Z3

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2002 BMW Z3
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
06E-026Mar 23, 2006Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed aboveLighting61,944Refund or buyback
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Look up a VIN at NHTSA
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2002 BMW Z3

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

6 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Jul 18, 2020Failure Jul 16, 202055,000 milesAustin, TXElectrical system, Exterior lighting

    WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THE LEFT BLINKERS STARTS BLINKING RAPIDLY AND IS VERY DIM SO NOT REALLY VISIBLE. WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF IT OPERATES NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN MOVING. I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF SAME PROBLEMS REPORTED ON BMW FORUMS LIKE FOLLOWS: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=537810://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=537810

    NHTSA complaint 11340054
  2. Filed Dec 5, 2019Failure Dec 4, 201969,000 milesSAN Carlos, CAAir bags

    AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT IS COMING IN AND OUT ON THE VEHICLE DISPLAY

    NHTSA complaint 11287152
  3. Filed Sep 28, 2019Failure Sep 3, 201935,200 milesHanahan, SCElectronic stability control (esc), Service brakes, Steering

    2002BMW Z3. THE ABS/DSC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40MPH. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ENGAGES AND ABRUPTLY FORCES THE CAR TO PULL HARD RIGHT. THE ABS LIGHTS ON THE DISPLAY PANEL. NO BUMPS OR BAD ROAD CONDITIONS WERE EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO OR AT THE TIME THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ENDANGERING NOT ONLY THE DRIVER, BUT ALL VEHICLE DRIVERS IN PROXIMITY.

    NHTSA complaint 11258709
  4. Filed Aug 9, 2016Failure Aug 9, 201646,000 milesMontclair, NJSeat 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

    NHTSA complaint 10894361
  5. Filed Dec 21, 2015Failure Dec 20, 2015102,000 milesMurrieta, CASteering

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 10811359
  6. Filed Oct 7, 2008Failure Mar 1, 200620,000 milesLake Placid, FLAir bags

    PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILURE. PRESSURE SWITCH IN PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10244619
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
All investigations
Service bulletins

4 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • SI B12 12 10 Jun 1, 2010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    BMW: WHEN AT LOWER SPEEDS OR STOPPING THE ENGINE IDLE DIPS TOO LOW BECAUSE OF A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *RM
  • SIB-63-02-01 Aug 1, 2010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM
  • SIB-32-04-07 Jun 1, 2010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL PROCESS HAS BEEN CREATED FOR BMW TO IDENTIFY CAUSES OF STEERING COMPLAINTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MODELS. *RM
  • SIB-16-02-09 Dec 1, 2009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES…
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.
About service bulletins