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2001 BMW Z3 Roadster

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 8 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

2 reports
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68,000 miles · Aug 22, 2008
Air BagsInjury

I OWN A 2001 BMW Z3 3.0I ROADSTER THAT SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ITS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIRBAG WHEN I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION IN THE DRIVEWAY, RESULTING IN A LARGE BRUISE AND BURN ON MY LEFT ARM. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON A FEW DAYS EARLIER, BUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT INDICATE ANY HAZARD OF SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT, AND…

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I OWN A 2001 BMW Z3 3.0I ROADSTER THAT SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ITS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIRBAG WHEN I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION IN THE DRIVEWAY, RESULTING IN A LARGE BRUISE AND BURN ON MY LEFT ARM. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON A FEW DAYS EARLIER, BUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT INDICATE ANY HAZARD OF SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT, AND I HAD NOT YET GOTTEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY AND IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE CAR REMAINS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN, EXAMINED, DIAGNOSED, OR REPAIRED SINCE THE MALFUNCTION. I HAVE CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS REGARDING THE MATTER. THEY SEEMED RATHER UNCONCERNED. I TOLD THEM IT IS NOT MY INTENTION TO SUE, AND LIKEWISE I WILL NOT LET THEM COVER UP THIS PROBLEM. RATHER, I WANT THEIR ENGINEERS TO TEST-BENCH MY CAR TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE MALFUNCTION AND TO ISSUE A RECALL IF APPROPRIATE. I FURTHER EXPECT THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM, REPLACING ALL SUSPECT PARTS, AT NO COST TO ME. THEY SAID THEY WILL PASS ALONG MY CONCERNS TO THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY AND THAT I WILL RECEIVE A CALL BY NEXT TUESDAY. I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH THEIR LEVEL OF CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10239274

18,500 miles · Jan 29, 2004
Air Bags

VEHICLE DROVE OVER A LARGE CHUNK OF CONCRETE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE SIDE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056139

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.