2003 BMW Z4 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
459
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
10
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 BMW Z4
The 2003 BMW Z4 has received a total of 459 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, TIRES. 10 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (325 complaints), Air Bags (27 complaints), and Electrical System (13 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 BMW Z4
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2003 BMW Z4, potentially affecting up to 16,635 vehicles.
Recall 04V247000 — AIR BAGS
| 51 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, INCOMPATIBLE ELECTRONIC AIR BAG SYSTEM PROCESSORS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY NOT OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM PROCESSORS. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
View full details →Recall 04V182000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 13,769 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, A VAPOR LOCK IN THE FUEL PUMP COULD OCCUR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MINUTES.
Consequence: IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE ELECTRICAL LINE POWERING THE FUEL PUMP IN ORDER TO PREVENT AN OCCURRENCE OF VAPOR LOCK. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
View full details →Recall 03V214000 — TIRES
| 180 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 18" TIRES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE TIRE HAS BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE MOUNTING PROCESS TO THE RIM.
Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, A LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE, OR A TIRE FAILURE, COULD OCCUR. DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL UNSEAT THE TIRE FROM ITS RIM, INSPECT FOR ANY DAMAGE, AND THEN RESEAT THE TIRE TO ITS RIM. IF INSPECTION REVEALS THAT A FRONT TIRE HAS INCURRED DAMAGE DURING THE MOUNTING PROCESS, IT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION...
View full details →Recall 03V032000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
| 2,635 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CONNECTION OF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE TO THE STEEL ROPE OF THE TENSIONER DOES NOT MEET BMW SPECIFICATIONS. IN SEVERE FRONTAL CRASHES, THIS CONNECTION CAN DETACH.
Consequence: IF THE CONNECTION DETACHES, THE PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SAFETY BELT IS LIKELY TO BE IMPAIRED, AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER COULD OCCUR THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE MITIGATED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT TENSIONER AND BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THESE PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 BMW Z4
459 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 BMW Z4. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Steering is binding up, very hard to steer and control. Car starts out running fine after parked in hot weather and restarted it is almost uncontrollable. Looking for corrective action. Only 39,920 miles on car. Would like to use it or sell it, can do neither in current condition. Steering column needed or components
When outside temp is 80degrees or higher it becomes difficult to maintain the vehicle in the correct driving lane due to a stickyness in the steering wheel. I will not allow anyone to drive the vehicle when the temp is over 80 degrees ... sucks to have a convertable that you can't drive in warm weather!
My girlfriend, [XXX] , purchased a used 2003 BMW z4 2.5i. It is pristine with 47K original miles. Always maintained, garaged and never driven in foul weather. I, [XXX] , drove it home for her and noticed the steering to be "sticky". This showed on the highway traveling at 65 MPH. It was very unsettling to feel the car want to track in a direction that i could not control. I used "more force" to pull the steering wheel to get tracking correctly and stay in my travel lane. Lucking I did not overcorrect and lose control or cause and accident. Once it happened it continued to happen the balance of the drive on the highway and back roads. I've owned and driven many different makes and models of vehicles from Dodge, Renault, Toyota, GMC, Chrysler, Volvo, Geo, etc. and never has "steering" been an issue. Once we got home I looked up "sticky steering" issue for the 2003 Z4 and this is a known issue. Driving this BMW was unsettling and unsafe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Dealer sold me a car and the next day the car no turn on engine and have a full leaking under
The contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the coolant warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that she noticed smoke underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, she noticed a leak on the ground located near the rear passenger’s side tire. Additionally, the contact then stated that while operating the convertible drop top, she heard an abnormal sound in the motor. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
Safety Rating for the 2003 BMW Z4
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 BMW Z4 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 BMW Z4
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 10 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 BMW Z4. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SI-B72-02-09 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BMW: BELT TENSIONER HARNESSES. A REPAIR HARNESS FOR THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT TENSIONERS AT THE BELT RETRACTORS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. *PE
04V182 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-182 ENGINE STALLING. *TT
041904 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V182 - ENGINE STALLING. CORRECTION PRODUCTION DATES. *TT
720204 — AIR BAGS
RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-XXX CHECK AIRBAG COMPONENTS AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY. *TT
121003 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF A READINESS CODE, THE SELF-DIAGNOSIS OF THE TANK VENTING VALVE (TEV) IS NOT BEING COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY. THIS SERVICE ACTION REPROGRAMS THE DME FOR TANK VENTING VALVE OPERATION. *TT
610203 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CANNOT INSTALL FOG LAMP / CRUISE CONTROL RETROFIT KITS. *TT
120403 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
SERVICE ACTION TO REPROGRAM THE DME FOR ELECTRONIC FAN ACTIVATION. PRODUCED FROM 11/13/02 UP TO 12/3/02. *TT
720402 — AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON, FC 986B OR 98EB STORED. VEHICLES PRODUCED UP TO DECEMBER, 2002. *TT
640702 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
IHKA HEATING OUTPUT IS INADEQUATE. *TT
090501 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
CODING, INDIVIDUALIZATION, PROGRAMMING (CIP) MODULE. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 BMW Z4
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW Z4
- 2002 BMW Z4 — 6 complaints
- 2003 BMW Z4 (current)
- 2004 BMW Z4 — 443 complaints
- 2005 BMW Z4 — 204 complaints
- 2006 BMW Z4 — 107 complaints
- 2007 BMW Z4 — 42 complaints
- 2008 BMW Z4 — 27 complaints