FaultScore

BMW Z4 airbag problems

101 of the 1,444 complaints filed about the BMW Z4 are about the airbag system — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

101

Complaints

7%

Share of all complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

2003 Z4 32 31.7%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

2004 Z4 21 20.8%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2005 Z4 9 8.9%

Median failure at 49,882 miles

2006 Z4 14 13.9%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

2007 Z4 6 5.9%

Median failure at 77,000 miles

2008 Z4 13 12.9%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2009 Z4 2 2.0%
2013 Z4 2 2.0%

Median failure at 61,477 miles

2014 Z4 1 1.0%

Median failure at 111,544 miles

2019 Z4 1 1.0%

What owners said

2014 BMW Z4 at 111,544 miles Santa Margarita, CA

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2014 BMW Z4. The contact stated that rodents had chewed through some electrical wiring in the vehicle. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact was unable to monitor the oil levels due to the damaged electrical wiring. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, where it was determined that the electrical wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact was informed about other methods to deter the varmints from chewing on the electrical wiring. The contact called an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure had occurred on several types of vehicles. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 111,544.

NHTSA complaint #11681645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 BMW Z4 New Orleans, LA

AIR BAGS

The passenger air bag suddenly deployed while the car was parked in my driveway, braking the dashboard and the windshield.

NHTSA complaint #11588461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 BMW Z4 at 52,954 miles Foothill Ranch, CA Crash

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2013 BMW Z4. The contact stated that upon the start of the vehicle, the vehicle failed to reverse without warning upon depression of the accelerator pedal while in the reverse(R) position. The contact stated that the vehicle resumed normal operation upon restart of the engine. A few days later while the contact's husband was driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle continued to accelerate upon depression of the brake pedal. The brake pedal was depressed multiple times but to no avail, as a result, the contact's husband crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not upon impact and no injuries were reported. A police report was not filed. Despite the failure, the vehicle was able driven to the contact's home but was later towed to a dealer. The contact was informed by the dealer that the manufacturer would be sending an investigator to inspect the vehicle. The manufacturer later informed the contact that no fault codes were found on the vehicle; the contact disputed the investigator's finding. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was 52,954

NHTSA complaint #11582362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 BMW Z4 Claremont, CA

AIR BAGS

The airbag sensor in my passenger seat has failed. I have been quoted approximately $2000 to repair this. However researching online I see BMW Service Bulletin SB-[XXX] which indicates this may be a widespread problem? [XXX] I am concerned to take passengers in the vehicle as I do not know if the airbags will deploy, or deploy at the wrong "rate" based on my understanding of how the sensors work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11571078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 BMW Z4 Claremont, CA

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

The airbag sensor in my passenger seat has failed. I have been quoted approximately $2000 to repair this. However researching online I see BMW Service Bulletin SB-[XXX] which indicates this may be a widespread problem? [XXX] I am concerned to take passengers in the vehicle as I do not know if the airbags will deploy, or deploy at the wrong "rate" based on my understanding of how the sensors work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11571078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 BMW Z4 Naranjito, PR

AIR BAGS

Passenger airbag dash deploys while car is parked. It’s deploy from nothing.

NHTSA complaint #11538263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 BMW Z4 Lorain, OH Crash

AIR BAGS

The automatic emergency did not engage the brakes as described to by the dealer, BMW genius and the BMW website. The car was in a collision at low speed (under 35mph) with the car in front of me which put me at risk. BMW sent an engineer from N.J. to inspect the car. The is under warranty and it was in perfect working order. The engineer determined that the system did not engage because the accelerator was depressed, I was told that the system does not work when the accelerator is depressed but that is not how the system is advertised and it is not how it was described in ALL of the BMW marketing materials.

NHTSA complaint #11441010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 BMW Z4 Palm Desert, CA

AIR BAGS

THEY DO NOT WORK

NHTSA complaint #11343502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 BMW Z4 Travelers Rest, SC

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. FACTS: VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED NO IMPACT ' NO COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #11328841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW Z4 at 60,000 miles Lawrence, MA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS FLASHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #11316959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 BMW Z4 at 12,000 miles Augusta, GA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TO TAYLOR BMW 4180 WASHINGTON RD, EVANS, GA 30809 WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA complaint #11310537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW Z4 Poway, CA

AIR BAGS

ABOUT 9 YEARS (2015) AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 55K MILES WHEN ISSUE BEGAN. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A MINOR OR MAJOR ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. CONTACTED BMW ABOUT ISSUE, BUT WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY OF THE AIRBAG RECALLS THEY'VE INITIATED. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY ME TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE AND CONTINUED TO UTILIZE VEHICLE WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ALWAYS ILLUMINATED. IN FEBRUARY 2018, RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW REGARDING WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 15 YEARS FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT (OC3) FOR AIR BAG SYSTEM. BELIEVING AIRBAG ISSUE WAS DUE TO OC3 MAT, BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO LOCAL BMW DEALER TO GET REPAIR. BMW DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A "RESTRAINT PASS LOWER BELT UNIT FAULTING" AND NOT OC3 MAT. HAD REPAIR PERFORMED SUCCESSFULLY.

NHTSA complaint #11300223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 BMW Z4 at 24,000 miles Augusta, GA

AIR BAGS

FROM DAY ONE I HAD AIRBAG PROBLEM FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. AIR BAG NEVER WORKED. BMW HAD RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS, BUT THEY DON'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY STEERING COLUMN HAS PROBLEMS TOO

NHTSA complaint #11290625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW Z4 Gilbert, AZ

AIR BAGS

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 BMW Z4. AFTER A WEEK OF OWNERSHIP THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. FAULT CODE POINTS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR OC3. BMW ISSUED A 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY TO MANY BMW MODELS INCLUDING THE 2006 AND 2007 Z4 WITH COMFORT SEATS, BUT NOT TO THE 2008 MODEL. THIS REPAIR COSTS UPWARDS OF $1500 AND IS SAFETY RELATED. BMW NEEDS TO STEP UP AND COVER ALL AFFECTED MODELS!

NHTSA complaint #11282391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW Z4 Gilbert, AZ

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 BMW Z4. AFTER A WEEK OF OWNERSHIP THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. FAULT CODE POINTS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR OC3. BMW ISSUED A 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY TO MANY BMW MODELS INCLUDING THE 2006 AND 2007 Z4 WITH COMFORT SEATS, BUT NOT TO THE 2008 MODEL. THIS REPAIR COSTS UPWARDS OF $1500 AND IS SAFETY RELATED. BMW NEEDS TO STEP UP AND COVER ALL AFFECTED MODELS!

NHTSA complaint #11282391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW Z4 Dunkirk, NY

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

THE AIRBAG RED LIGHT ON DASH APPEARED AND STAYED ON,ALSO PASSENGER YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON .TOOK TO BMW DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST AROUND 1,600.00 . ERROR CODE 93C3 THEY INFORMED ME WITH THIS PROBLEM I DO NOT HAVE ANY AIRBAG PROTECTION . THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE REPAIRED OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THIS MODEL . WHY ?

NHTSA complaint #11271045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW Z4 Dunkirk, NY

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG RED LIGHT ON DASH APPEARED AND STAYED ON,ALSO PASSENGER YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON .TOOK TO BMW DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST AROUND 1,600.00 . ERROR CODE 93C3 THEY INFORMED ME WITH THIS PROBLEM I DO NOT HAVE ANY AIRBAG PROTECTION . THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE REPAIRED OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THIS MODEL . WHY ?

NHTSA complaint #11271045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW Z4 Dunkirk, NY

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

THE AIRBAG RED LIGHT ON DASH APPEARED AND STAYED ON,ALSO PASSENGER YELLOW AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON .TOOK TO BMW DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST AROUND 1,600.00 . ERROR CODE 93C3 THEY INFORMED ME WITH THIS PROBLEM I DO NOT HAVE ANY AIRBAG PROTECTION . THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE REPAIRED OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THIS MODEL . WHY ?

NHTSA complaint #11271045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW Z4 at 80,000 miles Plano, TX

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

DASHBOARD AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON - OBD SCAN INDICATES THE PASSENGER SEAT OC3 AIRBAG SENSOR MAT HAS FAILED. I BELIEVE THIS MEANS THE VEHICLE CAN NO LONGER DETECT IF THERE IS A CHILD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND WILL DEPLOY AIRBAGS REGARDLESS OF PASSENGER WEIGHT. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR MANY OTHER MODELS AND YEARS (INCLUDING MY Z4 MODEL - BUT NOT YET FOR MY 2008 MODEL YEAR).

NHTSA complaint #11268089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW Z4 at 80,000 miles Plano, TX

AIR BAGS

DASHBOARD AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON - OBD SCAN INDICATES THE PASSENGER SEAT OC3 AIRBAG SENSOR MAT HAS FAILED. I BELIEVE THIS MEANS THE VEHICLE CAN NO LONGER DETECT IF THERE IS A CHILD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND WILL DEPLOY AIRBAGS REGARDLESS OF PASSENGER WEIGHT. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR MANY OTHER MODELS AND YEARS (INCLUDING MY Z4 MODEL - BUT NOT YET FOR MY 2008 MODEL YEAR).

NHTSA complaint #11268089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other BMW Z4 problems