IllustrationAFTER RUNNING OVER A METAL PANEL IN THE ROAD THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG AT NO CHARGE. *NM
2000 BMW Z3
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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: 14 of 34 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
34 reportsTHE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BUCKING, RUNNING ROUGH, STABILITY/CONTROL. *SCC
BMW EXAMINED THE Z3 ON AUGUST 1, 2002 AND TOLD ME THAT THE FORCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CAUSE A SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED AND I SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES BECAUSE THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BMW WAS ASKED IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 21, 2002 TO SUPPLY THE RECORDED EVIDENCE SO THAT I COUL…
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BMW EXAMINED THE Z3 ON AUGUST 1, 2002 AND TOLD ME THAT THE FORCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CAUSE A SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED AND I SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES BECAUSE THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BMW WAS ASKED IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 21, 2002 TO SUPPLY THE RECORDED EVIDENCE SO THAT I COULD VERIFY THEIR CONCLUSIONS. IT IS NOW OCTOBER 1ST AND THEY HAVE NOT COMPLIED. I BELIEVE THAT BMW KNOWS THAT THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND ARE NOT WILLING TO ADMIT THEIR EQUIPMENT FAILED. IN THE LETTER I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN WHY THE Z3 SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND YET THE STRIKING VEHICLE OF SIMILIAR WEIGHT THAT WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH HAD IT'S FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOY. I TOLD THEM THAT IF THE FORCE WAS SUFFICEINT TO CAUSE A FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IT SEEMS THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG IS WHERE THE DANGER OF INJURY IS EVEN GREATER. SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED EVEN MORE READILY. THEY HAVE NOT ANSWERED ME BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE AIR BAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I STILL HAVE DOUBLE VISION AND WILL REQUIRE EYE SURGERY TO HOPEFULLY CORRECT MY VISION PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER SO THAT BMW WILL NOT MAKE ANY OTHER PERSON A VICTIM. MR
A ROCK WENT BOUNCED UP UNDER THE CAR AND SET OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG BRUISED THE DRIVERS ARM AND RIBS. THE CAR SWERVE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD DUE TO THE AIRBAG FORCING THE DRIVER TO THE RIGHT, BUT THE CAR DID NOT LEAVE THE ROAD WAY. DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPLACING THE SYSTEM, WE WERE FORCED TO SUBMIT AN…
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A ROCK WENT BOUNCED UP UNDER THE CAR AND SET OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG BRUISED THE DRIVERS ARM AND RIBS. THE CAR SWERVE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD DUE TO THE AIRBAG FORCING THE DRIVER TO THE RIGHT, BUT THE CAR DID NOT LEAVE THE ROAD WAY. DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPLACING THE SYSTEM, WE WERE FORCED TO SUBMIT AN INSURANCE CLAIM WHICH THUS RAISED OUR INSURANCE PREMIUM.
DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN A BOUNCING ROCK STRUCK UNDER THE CAR, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, INJURING THE DRIVER. *AK
A GRINDING SOUND CAME FROM REAR BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER ,AND DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKES. CURRENTLY, AT 8, 600 MILES PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDEN ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING A COLLISON. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
BOTH THE LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED SOFT SPOTS/BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALL. AUTHORIZED DEALERS CLAIM DAMAGE FROM ROAD HAZARD. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER Z3'S WITH SIMILAR ISSUES ON THESE TIRES, AND DO NOT BELIEVE ROAD HAZARD TO BE THE CAUSE. DIRECT CORRESPONDENCE TO MICHELIN REMAINS UNAMSWERED.*AK (TIRESIZE: 225/50 R…
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BOTH THE LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED SOFT SPOTS/BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALL. AUTHORIZED DEALERS CLAIM DAMAGE FROM ROAD HAZARD. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER Z3'S WITH SIMILAR ISSUES ON THESE TIRES, AND DO NOT BELIEVE ROAD HAZARD TO BE THE CAUSE. DIRECT CORRESPONDENCE TO MICHELIN REMAINS UNAMSWERED.*AK (TIRESIZE: 225/50 R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/50 R16 )
AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN AUTOMOBILE STRUCK AN OBJECT UNDER THE CAR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES PER HOUR, INJURING THE DRIVER. *AK
AT LEAST 6 TIMES THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS JAMMED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FASTEN THE SEAT/SHOULDER RESTRAINT. AT LEAST 6 OTHER TIMES THE JAMMING HAS OCCURRED AND WE WERE ABLE TO SOMEHOW GET IT TO RELEASE. THE 6 TIMES WE HAVE REPORTED REQUIRE
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.