The 2002 BMW Z3 has 1 safety recall and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (2 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints6filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006 · 61,944 vehicles · opened 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 Roadster
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 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
Z3 Roadster
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
Z3 Roadster
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
Z3 Roadster
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/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
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Air bags
2
0
0
0
—
Steering
2
0
0
0
—
Seat belts
1
0
0
0
—
Service brakes
1
0
0
0
—
Electronic stability control (esc)
1
0
0
0
—
Electrical system
1
0
0
0
—
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jul 16, 2020 · 55,000 milesElectrical system WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THE LEFT BLINKERS STARTS BLINKING RAPIDLY AND IS VERY DIM SO NOT REALLY VISIBLE. WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF IT OPERATES NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN MOVING. I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF SAME PROBLEMS REPORTED ON BMW FORUMS LIKE FOLLOWS: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=537810://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=537810
Dec 4, 2019 · 69,000 milesAir bags AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT IS COMING IN AND OUT ON THE VEHICLE DISPLAY
Sep 3, 2019 · 35,200 milesService brakes 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.
Aug 9, 2016 · 46,000 milesSeat belts SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM - SEAT-BELT GUIDE HAS BROKEN AS IT IS WARPED PLASTIC AND STOPPING SHORT CAN BREAK IT. IN AN ACCIDENT SEAT BELT COULD SLIP UP, OR IMPACT NECK AS IT IS NOT HELD INTO PLACE NEAR THE SEAT. DEALER WANTS $400 TO FIX WHAT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT
Dec 20, 2015 · 102,000 milesSteering 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…
Mar 1, 2006 · 20,000 milesAir bags PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILURE. PRESSURE SWITCH IN PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.