Skip to content
Air bagsPart report

2000 BMW Z3 Air bags Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
50%of 34 total for the year
Median mileage
72,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 BMW Z3, 50% of the 34 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 72,000 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Both airbags popped while my car was parked at 711. My dash and windshield cracked. The car was not started. I was sitting in the driver seat. Had just put the key in the ignition”

NHTSA complaint #11354641, filed 2020-09, 192,000 miles

“After running over a metal panel in the road the passenger's side air bags inadvertently deployed. The dealership was notified. The dealer replaced the passenger's side air bag at no charge.”

NHTSA complaint #10048281, filed 2004-01, 48,000 miles

“A rock went bounced up under the car and set off the drivers side airbag. The airbag bruised the drivers arm and ribs. The car swerve onto the shoulder of the road due to the airbag forcing the driver to the right, but the car did not leave the road way. Due to the cost of the replacing the system, we were forced to submit an insurance claim which thus raised our insurance premium.”

NHTSA complaint #767390, filed 2002-09

“The contact owns a 2000 BMW Z3. The contact’s wife stated that while coming to a stop, the driver’s side front air bag inadvertently deployed with no warning light illuminated. The contact’s wife sustained a bruised arm; no medical attention was provided. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not towed, and the contact’s wife was able to drive the vehicle home.. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a leaky strut on the front left side, and the guibo driveshaft flat disk had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

NHTSA complaint #11683639, filed 2025-08, 63,000 miles

“Bmw examined the Z3 on august 1, 2002 and told me that the force was insufficient to cause a side air bag deployment. However my car was completely totalled and I sustained severe head injuries because the side airbag did not deploy. Bmw was asked in a letter dated august 21, 2002 to supply the recorded evidence so that I could verify their conclusions. It is now october 1st and they have not complied. I believe that Bmw knows that the air bag should have deployed and are not willing to admit their equipment failed. …”

NHTSA complaint #767945, filed 2002-10

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2002233%
2001211%
20001750%
19991026%
1998310%
19971532%
1996930%

Other parts of the 2000 BMW Z3

Seat belts
5 complaints
Body and structure
5 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
5 complaints
Other or unknown
4 complaints
Suspension
4 complaints
Brakes
2 complaints
Equipment
2 complaints
Vehicle speed control
2 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaints
Engine
1 complaints
Engine cooling
1 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2000 BMW Z3

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology