NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 BMW Z3 Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 BMW Z3 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 47 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 BMW Z3. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1997 BMW Z3 owner complaints

Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW Z3, describing incidents dated February 1, 1997 to February 14, 2017.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 15 complaints
Seats 13 complaints
Seat Belts 10 complaints
Unknown or Other 4 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints

Of the 47 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 47 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11513678 · Filed March 24, 2023
The contact owned a 1997 BMW Z3 Roadster. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, there was a multi-car rear-end accident involving two other vehicles after she fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended the vehicle in front of her. The contact stated that no other passengers…
ODI #10946920 · Filed January 23, 2017
VEHICLE JERKS, SHUTTERS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. REAR SUB FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL BUSHING FAILURE.
ODI #10562829 · Filed February 4, 2014
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. *TR

Read all 47 complaints

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E026000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2006 · PRO-A MOTORS, INC.

Potentially affected: 61,944 vehicles

Owners notified April 3, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO PRO-A MOTORS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

BMW/CRUISE CONTROL-THROTTLE CABLE

NHTSA #97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA notice

Reported August 19, 1997 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 410,000 vehicles

Owners notified October 30, 1997 · Vehicles built July 1, 1995 – July 30, 1997 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY THE END OF OCTOBER 1997. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 BMW Z3. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

47 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 BMW Z3.

Air Bags

ODI #11513678

Crash 1 injury

Incident: February 14, 2017 · Filed: March 24, 2023

The contact owned a 1997 BMW Z3 Roadster. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, there was a multi-car rear-end accident involving two other vehicles after she fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended the vehicle in front of her. The contact stated that no other passengers were in her vehicle; however, only the driver's side air bag had failed to deploy. The contact required hospitalization and was in a coma. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and later auctioned. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed the VIN was not included in an air bag recall. The approximate failure mileage was 199,000. The VIN was not available.

Suspension

ODI #10946920

Incident: January 19, 2017 · Filed: January 23, 2017

VEHICLE JERKS, SHUTTERS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. REAR SUB FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL BUSHING FAILURE.

Seats

ODI #10562829

Incident: October 3, 2012 · Filed: February 4, 2014

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. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10404652

Incident: May 26, 2011 · Filed: May 30, 2011

UPON STARTING THE CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TWO TIME IT COST APPROXIMATELY $350 TO REPAIR. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN A THIRD TIME IS INDICATIVE OF A DESIGN FAULT.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10371628

Fire

Incident: November 12, 2010 · Filed: December 18, 2010

I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE. IT STARTED NORMALLY. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (5 SPEED TRANS.) TO ALLOW IT TO WARM-UP FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES WHILE I CHECKED MY VOICE MAIL ON MY PHONE. AS I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDSHIELD TO PULL OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE, I SAW DENSE WHITE SMOKE ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I LOOKED AT THE DASH FOR ANY WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHTS; THERE WERE NONE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF, POPPED THE HOOD, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. I WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE SMOKE WAS NO LONGER ROLLING OUT BEFORE ACTUALLY OPENING THE HOOD, AS I WAS AFRAID OF INTRODUCING A RUSH OF AIR IF SOMETHING WAS ON FIRE. AS THE SMOKE RAPIDLY INCREASED AND PROGRESSED TO BLACK SMOKE, I CALLED MY FACILITY SECURITY FROM AN EMERGENCY CALL BOX WHILE ALSO CALLING 911 FROM MY CELL PHONE. DURING THE 911 CALL, FLAMES BECAME VISIBLE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FOUR FIRE ENGINES ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. ALL FOUR LEVELS OF MY FACILITIES PARKING DECK WERE FILLED WITH TOXIC SMOKE WHICH WAS EVACUATED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE DEPT. TOLD ME THAT NIGHT THAT THE CAR WAS TOO BADLY BURNED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THEY SUPPOSED IT WAS ELECTRICAL. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR DID NOT BELIEVE THE FIRE TO BE FROM ELECTRICAL ORIGIN, BUT INSTEAD FUEL / ENGINE RELATED. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. NO SERVICE HAD BEEN RECENTLY PERFORMED. I HAD NOT BEEN EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE.

Seat Belts

ODI #10369086

Incident: December 2, 2010 · Filed: December 3, 2010

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. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10238068

Incident: April 1, 2008 · Filed: August 13, 2008

PASSENGER GOT INTO FRONT SEAT AND ADJUSTED IT DOWN AND BACK WITH THE POWER SEAT CONTROLS. AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE. I CHECKED FOR BROKEN OR DAMAGED WIRING BUT FOUND NOTHING OBVIOUS. BMW IS RECALLING MANY OF THEIR NEW CARS, BUT IT SEEMS THEIR OLD ONES EXHIBIT THE SAME FAILURES. *TR

Seats

ODI #10222149

Incident: February 10, 2008 · Filed: March 24, 2008

SEAT RAILS DO NOT LOCK PROPERLY THEREBY ALLOWING SEAT(S) TO SLIDE FORWARD DURING BRAKING. CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

Seats

ODI #10199186

Filed: August 7, 2007

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. *JB

Air Bags

ODI #10101604

Crash 1 injury

Incident: November 22, 2004 · Filed: November 23, 2004

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON I-95 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO WORK. THE CONSUMER HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB

Other BMW Z3 model years

Check your 1997 BMW Z3 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW Z3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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