Model year record

2001 BMW Z3 recalls & problems

The 2001 BMW Z3 has 1 safety recall and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints19filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E02600061,944 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Z3 Coupe

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

Z3 Coupe

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition › Switch	4	—
SeatsFront assembly › Power adjust	4	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline	3	—
Tires	3	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	3	42,600 mi
Power train	2	—
StructureBody	2	—
Seat belts	2	—
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	2	—
Air bags	2	—
Exterior lighting	1	—
VisibilityGlass, side/rear	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
Component or System Failed: The critical safety component that failedâand was deliberately tampered withâis the ABS/DSC (Anti-lock Braking System / Dynamic Stability Control) module. The compromised component is currently on the vehicle and is readily available for physical inspection upon request. How Safety Was Put at Risk: My safety and the safety of the public were severely compromised because the selling dealership actively concealed a total failure of the primary braking and traction control systems. The ABS/DSC module was physically severed and glued back together to hide the defect. This deceptive tampering disabled critical emergency braking and stability functions without my…
May 23, 2026
Air bags
THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS BEEN ALIGHT FOR SOMETIME. I'M NOT CERTAIN IF IT'S AN AIRBAG FAILURE OR WHETHER IT'S ON THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS SURPRISED NOT TO FIND MY AUTO INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL LIST EVENT. CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON THIS MATTER? IF SO, MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE.
Jan 1, 2013
Air bags
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN ENGINE IS ON. *TR
Dec 10, 2019 · 29,300 miles
Tires
2001 BMW Z3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL VEHICLE PROBLEMS AND UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON EBAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ARRIVED AND THEN EVALUATED, HE WAS INFORMED THE TIRES WERE OVER 10 YEARS OLD, SEVERAL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, BOTH FOG LIGHT AND LEFT PARKING AND TURNING LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD, THE SEAT BELT GUIDE ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN, THE SEATS SLID FORWARD WHEN STOPPING WHICH CAUSED HIM, TO UNEXPECTEDLY STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE REAR WINDOW WAS SCRATCHED AND FADED TO ZERO VISIBILITY, THE MAIN SPEAKER WAS BLOWN. IN ADDITION, A MANIFOLD HOSE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT…
Mar 3, 2014
Latches/locks/linkages
DOORLOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLY INSIDE DOOR BREAKS, CAUSING LOCK CYLINDER NOT TO BE HELD IN PLACE & WHEN KEY IS INSERTED IN LOCK CYLINDER THE WHOLE LOCK CYLINDER JUST TURNS WITH THE KEY. MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. I'M EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER DOOR & THE DRIVERS DOOR IS STARTING TO ACT SLOPPY ALSO. THIS IS A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY BMW OWNERS OF DIFFERENT MODELS. BESIDES BEING POORLY DESIGNED IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR; APPROX. $500 TO $800 PER LOCK...NOTE "THE REPAIR DOES NOT REQUIRE NEW LOCK CYLINDERS, JUST THE HARDWARE THAT HOLD THE CYLINDER INPLACE, BUT THIS HARDWARE IS DIFFICULT TO FIND & THE BMW DEALER IS USUALLY THE ONLY PLACE TO GET IT AT A…
Jul 17, 2012 · 43,000 miles
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
THE CONSUMER STATED BARREL CYLINDER IN THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE DOOR JUST TURNS WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED AND TURNS AROUND AND DOES NOT ENGAGE. *BF
Mar 12, 2013 · 42,600 miles
Engine and engine cooling
I HAVE A Z3 2001. THE CAR KEEPS STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN COLUMBUS OHIO HAS BEEN UNABLE DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL PUMP, THEN SAID IT WAS THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE THEN SAID THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT.. THEY'VE HAD IT ON AND OFF SINCE MAY 6. (ABOUT ONE MONTH). THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHILE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AFTER THE CAR STALLS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT STALLS. *TR
Jun 4, 2010 · 81,000 miles
Equipment
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW Z3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR VALVE STEMS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WERE CRACKED AND CAUSED AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. THE VALVE STEMS WERE TECH INTERNATIONAL, MODEL TR413. THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY TOYO. THE PART NUMBER AND SERIAL NUMBER FOR THE VALVE STEMS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,861.
May 26, 2009 · 29,861 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.