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: 11 of 47 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.
Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
47 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2000
Seats
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE AND SHIFT OUT OF PLACE DURING NORMAL OPERATION AT ANY SPEED ALL OF THE TIME. REPORTED TO DEALER FOR CORRECTION UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS ADVISED THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE SEAT TO MOVE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT ANY SPEED. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE SEAT MOVEMENT COULD …
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BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE AND SHIFT OUT OF PLACE DURING NORMAL OPERATION AT ANY SPEED ALL OF THE TIME. REPORTED TO DEALER FOR CORRECTION UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS ADVISED THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE SEAT TO MOVE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT ANY SPEED. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE SEAT MOVEMENT COULD RESULT IN DEFICIENT APPLICATION OF BRAKE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL DURING BRAKING CONDITIONS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS CONSIDERED BY NHTSA AS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720673
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL FRONTAL DAMAGE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO ARM, WRIST AND LOWER BACK. NLM
NHTSA ODI #550196
Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2000
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCK PERIODICALLY. YH
NHTSA ODI #784386
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
6 MONTH OLD AND THE HEAD GASKET BLOWS UP, WARPING THE CYLINDERS. BMW WAS NASTY TO DEAL WITH, REFUSED TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF PROBLEM SO WE REFUSED TO TAKE BACK CAR. SERVICE DEPARTMENT HINTED THAT THIS WAS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 1.9L AND THAT THEY WOULD STOP SELLING THE ENGINE (WHICH THEY DID). *AK
NHTSA ODI #714825
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Seats
SEATS JUMP OUT OF GUIDES CAUSING THEM TO JUMP BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX AND IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL BMW'S WHICH I FIND QUESTIONABLE TO THE SAFETY OF ALL
NHTSA ODI #712836
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Seats
BOTH SEATS COME OFF TRACK AND MOVE WHEN STOPPING, CAN NOT BE REPAIRED, NORMAL OPERATION. MJS
NHTSA ODI #548992
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Equipment
GRINDING NOISE WHEN A/C BUTTON ENGAGED AND FAN IS RUNNING. OCCURS AT SPEEDS FROM 0+ MPH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #703349
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 1999
Seats
SEAT HEATER CONTROL IS LOCATED ON THE CONSOLE IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO REACH WHILE DRIVING, NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834519
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT LOCKING DEVICE FAILED, STICKING, NEW UNIT PERFORMS THE SAME. YH
NHTSA ODI #609377
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1998
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior LightingFireInjury
AFTER VEHICLE WAS VACUUMED IT WOULD NOT START; THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE AND THE DRIVER TURNED THE KEY AGAIN TO START IT, AND A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DRIVER QUICKLY TRIED TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION,THEN THE LIGHTS DIMMED. THE KEY BECAME IMMOVABLE IN THE START POSITION, AND SMOKE BEGAN…
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AFTER VEHICLE WAS VACUUMED IT WOULD NOT START; THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE AND THE DRIVER TURNED THE KEY AGAIN TO START IT, AND A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DRIVER QUICKLY TRIED TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION,THEN THE LIGHTS DIMMED. THE KEY BECAME IMMOVABLE IN THE START POSITION, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR FROM ALL THE VENTS. STUNNED, THE DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR TO RUN FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND KNOCKED THE DRIVER UNCONSCIOUS. THE DRIVER WAS PULLED FROM THE VEHICLE AND REVIVED IN TIME TO GET THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTED. EMS ATTENDED TO THE DRIVER'S INJURIES.
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
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.
1997 BMW Z3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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