FaultScore

BMW Z3 seat belt problems

35 of the 299 complaints filed about the BMW Z3 are about the seat belts — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

35

Complaints

12%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

Seat Belts complaints by model year

1996 Z3 5 14.3%

Median failure at 74,500 miles

1997 Z3 11 31.4%

Median failure at 131,000 miles

1998 Z3 3 8.6%

Median failure at 53,500 miles

1999 Z3 7 20.0%

Median failure at 41,125 miles

2000 Z3 6 17.1%

Median failure at 27,000 miles

2001 Z3 2 5.7%
2002 Z3 1 2.9%

Median failure at 46,000 miles

What owners said

2000 BMW Z3 at 72,000 miles Cooper City, FL

SEAT BELTS

AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE SHOWS WARNING SIGN ALL TIMES

NHTSA complaint #11018864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 BMW Z3 at 46,000 miles Montclair, NJ

SEAT 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

NHTSA complaint #10894361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 BMW Z3 Palm Desert, CA

SEAT BELTS

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 DUE TO A LEAK, THE KEYS HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND TRUNK. *JB THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED UPDATED 04/15/15

NHTSA complaint #10567172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 BMW Z3 at 75,000 miles Jacksonville, AR

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW Z3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE UNLATCHED WHEN THE DRIVER WOULD DEPRESS OR ADD ANY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #10524931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 BMW Z3 at 131,000 miles Jonesborough, TN

SEAT BELTS

MY 1997 BMW Z3 HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON 2 YEARS AGO. THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SEATBELT TENSIONER. HE REPLACED IT AND ALL WAS FINE. IT'S BACK ON AGAIN. IF THIS IS AS COMMON TO THESE MODELS AS I'VE HEARD WHY HASN'T BMW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS GETTING EXPENSIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10369086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 BMW Z3 at 27,000 miles Seattle, WA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES

I HAVE HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW Z3 2000''INTERNAL WATER PUMP FAILURE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, RATTLING NOISES IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, ETC. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM YEAR OVER YEAR SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE--THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH COMING ON DUE TO THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER BEING FAULTY. ON SERVICE DATES 8/22/03, 12/05/03, 12/18/03, 1/10/04, 3/20/04, 9/10/04, 1/24/05, I HAVE HAD THE SRS PROBLEM FIXED''AND THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE LAST TIME I CAME IN (1/24/05), I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE SRS PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SRS LIGHT SHOULD BE FIXED AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO I DON''T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I AM SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE WEEK OF JULY 11TH FOR THE SRS PROBLEM, ALONG WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER ACTUALLY HOLDS A PERSON IN PLACE--EVEN WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE HELD IN PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10128810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 BMW Z3 at 27,000 miles Seattle, WA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

I HAVE HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW Z3 2000''INTERNAL WATER PUMP FAILURE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, RATTLING NOISES IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, ETC. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM YEAR OVER YEAR SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE--THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH COMING ON DUE TO THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER BEING FAULTY. ON SERVICE DATES 8/22/03, 12/05/03, 12/18/03, 1/10/04, 3/20/04, 9/10/04, 1/24/05, I HAVE HAD THE SRS PROBLEM FIXED''AND THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE LAST TIME I CAME IN (1/24/05), I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE SRS PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SRS LIGHT SHOULD BE FIXED AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO I DON''T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I AM SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE WEEK OF JULY 11TH FOR THE SRS PROBLEM, ALONG WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER ACTUALLY HOLDS A PERSON IN PLACE--EVEN WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE HELD IN PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10128810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 BMW Z3 Tujunga, CA

SEAT BELTS

SEATBELTS LOCK TIGHT, PINNING ME DOWN OR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. BOLT ON DRIVER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED BUT THE SEAT STILL MOVES. CONVERTIBLE TOP IS MISALIGNED CAUSING LEAKS, GAPS COULD BE SEEN 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE AND THEY ARE GROWING. DEALER ARGUES NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. CAR HESITATES BUT HASN'T STALLED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10040838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 BMW Z3 at 59,000 miles Edmond, OK

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DID NOT CLOSE. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10026595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 BMW Z3 at 74,000 miles Erial, NJ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS UP WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION AND WILL NOT RELEASE.

NHTSA complaint #10025497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 BMW Z3 Royal OAK, MI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP MORE OFTEN THAN NORMAL AND AT UN-NEEDED TIMES. THIS CAUSES PAIN TO THE USER WITH THE END RESULT BEING THAT THE USER TENDS TO REMOVE THE SEAT BELT, OR IS FORCED TO SIT THERE IN PAIN WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND LOCKED UP. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 BMW Z3 at 53,500 miles Redding, CA Crash 2 injured

SEAT BELTS

THE DRIVER WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED IN THE FRONT AT 45 MPH. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10024010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 BMW Z3 at 23,250 miles Birmingham, AL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

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.

1997 BMW Z3 Gold Canyon, AZ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

BOTH SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8006061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 BMW Z3 Phoenix, AR

SEAT BELTS

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.

1997 BMW Z3 Phoenix, AR

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

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.

2001 BMW Z3 Morganville, NJ

SEAT BELTS

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS. THE AUTOMATIC TENSION DOES NOT WORK. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR TWICE AND TOLD ME THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS. IT IS UNSAFE AS IT DOES NOT TIGHTEN AROUND PASSENGER AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFETY IN THE EVENET OF A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #757402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 BMW Z3 EL Paso, TX

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

ONGOING SEAT BELT PROBLEMS AND HAD TO KEEP REPLACING SEAT BELTS. WHEN UNFASTENING SEAT BELT, IT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK IN HOLDER. HAD TO FEED IT BACK INTO HOLDER.

NHTSA complaint #894278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 BMW Z3 Akron, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

AIRBAG LIGHT IN DASBOARD REMAINS ILLUMINATED. SEATBELTS APPEAR TO WORK, BUT I HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY 2 DIFFERENT SERVICE SHOPS (DAVE WALTER BMW AND AUTOBAHN - BOTH IN AKRON, OH) AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY SEATBELT LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #748982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 BMW Z3 Upland, CA

SEAT BELTS

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER 1999. DEALERSHIP ANALYZED THE FAULT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RECEPTICLE. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN JUNE OF 2001, AIRBAG LITE CAME ON AGAIN. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RECEPTACLE. REPLACEMENT COST IS $266.00. I SAID THEY REPLACED THE SAME PART A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THE SAID THE WARRANTY ON PARTS IS ONE YEAR. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND REQUESTED HELP WITH THE REPAIR. THEY SAID THE PARTS WARRANTY IS ONE YEAR. I SAID IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE AND ITS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE PART THEY MANUFACTURE. WITHOUT THE SENSOR IN THE SEATBELT RECEPTACLE FUNCTIONING, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THEY REPLIED, PARTS WARRANTY IS ONE YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #748070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other BMW Z3 problems