14 of the 66 complaints about the 1997 BMW Z3 are about the seats — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 109,000 miles.
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEATS
THE SEAT TRACKS OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALLOWED THE SEATS TO MOVE AT LEAST 10MM FORWARD AND REARWARD UNDER BRAKING AND ACCELERATION. THIS MOVEMENT CAUSES A PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10562829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
SEAT RAILS DO NOT LOCK PROPERLY THEREBY ALLOWING SEAT(S) TO SLIDE FORWARD DURING BRAKING. CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10222149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
1997 BMW Z3 WITH SLIDING SEAT PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE SEAT WOULD SLIDE FORWARD WHEN HE PUSHED ON THE BRAKE AND SLIDE BACK WHEN HE ACCELERATED**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE WORM GEAR ON THE SEAT BRACKET HAD WORN OUT BEYOND REPAIR AND A COMPLETE SEAT BRACKET WAS NEEDED.
NHTSA complaint #10199186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE SEAT TRACKS OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALLOWED THE SEATS TO MOVE AT LEAST 10MM FORWARD AND REARWARD UNDER BRAKING AND ACCELERATION. THIS MOVEMENT CAUSES A PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 32K MILES ON IT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PREMATURE FAILURE AND A DEFECT OF BOTH TRACKS. THIS FAILURE MODE IS DOCUMENTED BOTH ON THIS SITE AND ON MANY BMW FORUMS. THE ENTIRE TRACK ASSEMBLY OF BOTH SEATS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10023166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE BRACKET WHICH HELD THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE FLOOR BECAME LOOSE. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH WHEN A STOP WAS MADE. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE SEAT. *JB *CB *JB THE DEALER WITNESSED ALOT OF THIS PROBLEM. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10020196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
FIRST FAILURE, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE COMING LOOSE FROM THE TRACK THAT THE SEATS MOVE BACK AND FORTH ON. THE SEATS CAN MOVE BACK AND FORTH A FEW INCHES, WITHOUT DEPRESSING ON THE LEVEL TO MOVE THE SEATS BACK AND FORTH. THE AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE TRACK AND IT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER CONTENDS THIS IS A REPAIR ITEM AND DOES NOT BELIEVE IT TO BE DEFECT IN THE SEATS OR A SAFETY PROBLEM SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. THE FACT THAT BOTH SEATS NOW DO THIS AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR WOULD INDICATE OTHERWISE. THE AUTOMOBILE HAS ONLY 42,000 MILES AND IS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD. SECOND FAILURE: THE OUTER TRIM OF THE DASHBOARD HOUSING OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAS COME LOOSE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT MAY DISRUPT OR ALTER THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG SHOULD A COLLISION OCCUR. DEALERSHIP AND AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURE CONTENDS THIS SITUATION WOULD NOT CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO MALFUNCTION AND THEREFORE NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY WOULD NOT SUPPLY INFORMATION OR DATA TO SUPPORT THEIR ASSESSMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10010799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE SEAT DOES NOT LOCK ON THE TRACK, IT SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH WHILE ACCELERATING OR BRAKING, IT WAS A DEFECT WHEN MANFURED BUT MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT, MANY Z 3 OWNERS HAVE THE PROBLEM, I FEEL IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR KILL SOMEONE, IF IT WAS A US COMPANY LIKE GM, FORD, OR CHRY I KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE REPAIRED THE DEFECT, WHY DO WE ALLOW FOREIGN COMPANIES TO GET AWAY WITH PRODUCING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WE WOULD NOT ALLOW ONE OF OUR COMPANIE TO PRODUCE. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY SEAT. BY THE WAY BMW HAS AGREED IT WAS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BUT THEY WANT TO GET ANOTHER $4-500 BUCKS TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS PLAINLY A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEM BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION. I ASK YOU HELP ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE Z 3 OWNERS WHO MIGHT END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE WRITTEN BMW BUT THEY DID NOT EVEN GIVE ME THE COURTESY OF AN ANSWER. HELP PLEASE.
NHTSA complaint #763069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATEED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER AND HARNESS WAS CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, THE HOOD SENSOR FOR THE ALARM WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR, THE GLOVE BOX WAS REPLACED AND THE SEAT CAME OUT OF PLACE WHEN STOPPING.
NHTSA complaint #8003673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATEED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER AND HARNESS WAS CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, THE HOOD SENSOR FOR THE ALARM WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR, THE GLOVE BOX WAS REPLACED AND THE SEAT CAME OUT OF PLACE WHEN STOPPING.
NHTSA complaint #8003673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
PASSENGER SEAT BELT TIGHTENS AROUND PASSENGERS NECK AND CHEST, CAUSING PAIN AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. I HAVE INFORMED MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #729024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE AND SHIFT OUT OF PLACE DURING NORMAL OPERATION AT ANY SPEED ALL OF THE TIME. REPORTED TO DEALER FOR CORRECTION UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS ADVISED THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE SEAT TO MOVE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT ANY SPEED. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE SEAT MOVEMENT COULD RESULT IN DEFICIENT APPLICATION OF BRAKE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL DURING BRAKING CONDITIONS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS CONSIDERED BY NHTSA AS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #720673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
SEATS JUMP OUT OF GUIDES CAUSING THEM TO JUMP BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX AND IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL BMW'S WHICH I FIND QUESTIONABLE TO THE SAFETY OF ALL
NHTSA complaint #712836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
BOTH SEATS COME OFF TRACK AND MOVE WHEN STOPPING, CAN NOT BE REPAIRED, NORMAL OPERATION. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SEAT HEATER CONTROL IS LOCATED ON THE CONSOLE IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO REACH WHILE DRIVING, NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #834519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.