IllustrationPASSENGER'S SID ESEAT BELT LOCKS UP WHEN EXTENDED OUT ABOUT 8-9 FEET FOR A LARGE PERSON. ONCE LOCKED, IT WILL NOT UNLOCK EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS AT COMPLETE STOP. *AK
1997 BMW Z3
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 BMW Z3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Z3 years →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: 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 reportsCAMSHAFT FAILED.
SEAT BELT DESIGN CAUSING BELT TO PULL AND LOCK UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION, CAUSING COMFORT PROBLEMS.
TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTER FAILURE.
JUNE 2, 1997 CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE ON FUEL GAUGE FOR SECOND TIME. TIIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING VEHICLE SOMETIMES. *AK
VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE PARKED OR AT IDLE.
WHEN DRIVER COMES OFF THE CLUTCH, FOOT CATCHES THE PROTRUDING BUBBLE AREA OF THE SHROUD, RESULTING IN CAR LURCHING FORWARD.
Official recalls
197V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 19, 1997
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.