Worst years for a BMW Z3
Owners have filed 299 complaints about the BMW Z3 with NHTSA across model years 1996 to 2003. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.
Every BMW Z3 year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 2002 | — | 9 | 0 | 0 | 46,000 | Airbags |
| 2001 | B | 31 | 0 | 0 | 42,600 | Electrical System |
| 2000 | D | 54 | 6 | 0 | 71,000 | Airbags |
| 1999 | C | 56 | 0 | 0 | 87,950 | Body & Structure |
| 1998 | C | 45 | 3 | 3 | 53,500 | Seats |
| 1997 | D | 66 | 4 | 6 | 88,000 | Airbags |
| 1996 | C | 34 | 4 | 1 | 75,000 | Airbags |
What breaks on a BMW Z3
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Worst in 1998
Worst in 1999
Worst in 1997
Worst in 1997
Worst in 1998
Worst in 2002
Worst in 1998
Worst in 2000
Worst in 1996
Exactly what failed on a BMW Z3
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every BMW Z3, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Compare the BMW Z3
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.