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2002 BMW Z3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
39
199934
200019
20016
20022
2003
Compare all Z3 years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
2Steering
2Electrical System
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Exterior Lighting
1
All reported categories
Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1

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: 6 of 6 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. 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 reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

2 reports
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35,200 miles · Sep 28, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

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 ENDANGERI…

Read full complaint

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 ODI #11258709

102,000 miles · Dec 21, 2015
Steering

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. TH…

Read full complaint

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 ODI #10811359

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.