FaultScore

1999 BMW Z3 airbag problems

10 of the 56 complaints about the 1999 BMW Z3 are about the airbag system — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 84,975 miles.

F

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 6 60.0%
Sensor/Control Module 3 30.0%
Side/Window 1 10.0%

Airbags across every BMW Z3 year

1997 16 37.2%
1999 10 23.3%
2000 17 39.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Huntsville, AL

AIR BAGS

Hello, NHTSA released a recall warning for BMWs made from 2000 to 2006, regarding Takata airbags. "The risk to vehicle occupants is dire," it said. My 1999 BMW Z3 was made one year before this, and is not included in the recall. I have been trying to determine whether my '99 BMW has Takata airbags as well, thus far with no success. As of today, BMW will only tell me that there are no outstanding recalls for my car - they have not been willing to tell me what type of airbags they originally installed in it. Do your records indicate what type of airbags I have?

NHTSA complaint #11576189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Council Bluffs, IA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT

NHTSA complaint #11288865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles Anacortes, WA

AIR BAGS

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. WHETHER CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

NHTSA complaint #11288157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,860 miles Kula, HI 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DRIVER SIDE (DOOR) AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. IMPACT CAUSED ME TO SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES.

NHTSA complaint #10491929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 82,000 miles Clarksville, TN

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT ON. SHOP MECHANIC STATED "RETRIEVED DTC CODE FOR DRIVERS SEAT BELT SWITCH OPEN OR SHORT CIRCUIT. CLEANED CONNECTORS, CLEARED DTC INFO OPERATIONAL CHECK OK. IF FAULT RECURS, RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF DRIVERS SEAT BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY." PROBLEM FIXED JUNE 18, 2008. NOW PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON IS BACK. THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG SENSORS AND SEAT BELT LATCHES ON VARIOUS BSM VEHICLES ACCORDING TO INTERNET SEARCHES.

NHTSA complaint #10310014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,950 miles Galt, CA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DURING CLEAR CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS OR POTHOLES PRESENT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CUTS, BRUISING AND SCARING TO THE LEFT ARM. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE AND INJURIES. UPDATED 11/16/2006 -THE GAS GAUGE AND ODOMETER WERE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE DRIVER'S DOOR GRAB HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE REAR SHOCKS AND MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A POWER STEERING LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE RES TO PUMP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FLEX COUPLER ON THE DRIVE SHAFT.

NHTSA complaint #10171793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shenandoah, IA

AIR BAGS

1999 BMW Z3 SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA complaint #10072655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Pedro, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

REOCURRING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING.*MR VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP TWICE BEFORE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10044461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,250 miles Birmingham, AL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON CONTINUOUSLY. TOOK IN TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND HAS NEVER GONE OFF, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. PASSENGER SEAT BELT GETS STUCK WHILE PASSENGER IS BELTED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10010570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #8019651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 BMW Z3 problems

← Full 1999 BMW Z3 report