BMW Z3Model year report

1997 BMW Z3 Problems

Complaints: 47filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 88,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 1campaigns on record
Trend: RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating: —overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy: 23 mpgcombined, 1.9L 4-cyl RWD · 20 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 BMW Z3 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 47 consumer complaints for the 1997 BMW Z3. The part named most often is air bags, with 15 complaints (32% of the total), followed by seats (13) and seat belts (10). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 18% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 88,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Fuel system (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “My 1997 Bmw Z3 has the srs light constantly on, I get it fixed and it goes on again. I've done this like 3 times, now my mechanic is saying it's like 800 to fix. Rediculous! It'a definitely a safety issue, I'm not sue the system will work now.”

NHTSA complaint #10087000, filed 2004-08, 32,000 miles

Seats: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10562829, filed 2014-02, 130,000 miles

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, filed 2010-12, 131,000 miles

Other or unknown: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10371628, filed 2010-12, 110,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

18% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 56,423 and 131,000 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 88,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1997 BMW Z3 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
Z3 Roadster RWD	1.9L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	20	29	24	$3,400
Z3 Roadster RWD	1.9L 4-cyl	4-speed automatic	20	29	23	$3,550
Z3 Roadster RWD	1.9L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	20	29	23	$3,550
Z3 Roadster RWD	1.9L 4-cyl	4-speed automatic	20	28	23	$3,550
Z3 Roadster RWD	2.8L 6-cyl	5-speed manual	17	25	20	$4,100
Z3 Roadster RWD	2.8L 6-cyl	4-speed automatic	16	23	19	$4,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

97V131000Aug 19, 1997
Vehicle speed control
Covers: BMW Z3 1996–1997, 525I 1989–1995, 318I 1992–1997 +12 more
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…

Recall details for the 1997 BMW Z3 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.

10037702Jun 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: when at lower speeds or stopping the engine idle dips too low because of a software problem.

Other model years of the BMW Z3

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2002	6	50,500	0	—	20	—	Not enough data
2001	19	42,600	0	—	—	—	Falling
2000	34	71,000	0	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1999	39	88,000	2	—	19	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
1998	30	50,000	0	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1997	47	88,000	1	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
1996	30	74,000	1	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable

All BMW Z3 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 BMW Z3 have?

NHTSA recorded 47 consumer complaints for the 1997 BMW Z3 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 BMW Z3 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 15 complaints (32% of the total), followed by seats with 13.

Has the 1997 BMW Z3 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1997 BMW Z3 get?

The EPA rates the 1997 BMW Z3 (Z3 Roadster, 1.9L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 BMW Z3 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 88,000 miles and the middle half falls between 56,423 and 131,000 miles; 18% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.