1996 BMW Z3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
34
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
5
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 BMW Z3
The 1996 BMW Z3 has received a total of 34 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. 5 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (6 complaints), Seat Beltsfrontretractor (3 complaints), and Seats (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 BMW Z3
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1996 BMW Z3, potentially affecting up to 471,944 vehicles.
Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
View full details →Recall 97V131000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 410,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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.
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 BMW Z3
34 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 BMW Z3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontretractor | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bagsfrontal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringfuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingfog Lights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seatsfront Assemblyrecliner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringgear Box Other Than Rack And Pinion | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionrear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestreadbelt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW Z3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND ALSO BURNED A HOLE IN HER JEANS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARDS DURING ACCELERATION AND BREAKING AT ANY SPEED, GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY ON FULL TANK OR FLUXES ON DASH AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON FOR 3-5 MIN. AT A TIME WHEN STARTING UP IGNITION. *TR
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARDS DURING ACCELERATION AND BREAKING AT ANY SPEED, GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY ON FULL TANK OR FLUXES ON DASH AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON FOR 3-5 MIN. AT A TIME WHEN STARTING UP IGNITION. *TR
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARDS DURING ACCELERATION AND BREAKING AT ANY SPEED, GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY ON FULL TANK OR FLUXES ON DASH AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON FOR 3-5 MIN. AT A TIME WHEN STARTING UP IGNITION. *TR
Safety Rating for the 1996 BMW Z3
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 BMW Z3 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 BMW Z3
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 BMW Z3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
12 09 97 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE DATA SET OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (DME) NEEDS TO BE UPDATED. *AK
52 01 97 — SEATS
SEAT BACKREST PADDDING WEARING. *TW
16 01 97 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK FLOURINATION. *TW
61/18/96 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DIMMING FUNCTION OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH INOPERATIVE. *TW
41/02/96 — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CREAKS OR RATTLES FROM A-PILLAR AREA. *TW
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 BMW Z3
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW Z3
- 1996 BMW Z3 (current)
- 1997 BMW Z3 — 66 complaints
- 1998 BMW Z3 — 45 complaints
- 1999 BMW Z3 — 56 complaints
- 2000 BMW Z3 — 54 complaints
- 2001 BMW Z3 — 28 complaints