The Used Car Index

2003 BMW Z4 problems

NHTSA lists 414 complaints for the 2003 BMW Z4, 5 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW Z4.

At a glance

Complaints
414
With crash
5
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0
Recalls
4
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
13,769
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
45

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
STEERING34282.6%
AIR BAGS317.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM133.1%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING112.7%
STRUCTURE81.9%
POWER TRAIN71.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL61.4%
EQUIPMENT51.2%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE51.2%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES41.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STEERINGELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE6
AIR BAGSFRONTAL5
STRUCTUREBODY5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDELIVERY4
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
STEERINGCOLUMN3
STEERINGHYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM3
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGBRAKE LIGHTS2
POWER TRAINMANUAL TRANSMISSION2

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

4 recalls.

04V247000

Date: 2004-05-24. Systems: AIR BAGS.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

04V182000

Date: 2004-04-12. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

03V214000

Date: 2003-06-09. Systems: TIRES.

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 BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

03V032000

Date: 2003-02-04. Systems: SEAT BELTS.

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 NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE10020

Opened: 2010-06-28. Closed: 2011-06-28.

Sticky Steering

ODI has evaluated the sticky steering condition, which included reviews of complaints and warranty claims, interviews and surveys of owners of complaint vehicles, road tests of complaint vehicles, and a review of BMW's engineering and test data.ODI found the sticky steering condition does not result in a significant steering effort, thus the impact on the driver's ability to control the vehicle do

Systems: STEERING.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

45 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11
EQUIPMENT10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
VISIBILITY5
AIR BAGS4
POWER TRAIN3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2

10249437

Date: 2024-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

10225126

Date: 2022-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.

10194296

Date: 2021-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR, STEERING.

Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.

10175267

Date: 2020-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN.

Power Reduction FC2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC2 A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Fault: The "Service Engine Soon" (MIL) lamp is illuminated and engine power reduction is perceived. This situation can occur after driving for some time with the engine at full operating temperature. If the ignition is cycled

10162404

Date: 2019-07-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY.

"Outside Door Mirror Moves when Locking or Unlocking the Vehicle. The door mirror tilts immediately after unlocking or locking. The mirror position does not correspond to the memory position preset by the customer. Pressing the seat memory button typically will return the mirror to the stored positi

10145306

Date: 2018-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:

10143564

Date: 2018-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:

10151023

Date: 2016-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Whistling Noise Coming from the Center Vent - A/C is Off . A very high pitched whistling or beeping noise is heard coming from the center vents. The flow of refrigerant through the expansion valve at certain temperature differentials.

10147136

Date: 2015-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: TIRES, WHEELS.

Valve Stem Replacement with Wheel Electronics. INFORMATION The valve stems are single-use only, and must be replaced every time the wheel electronics are replaced. If you loosen the nut (1), you must replace the valve stem. Failure to replace the valve stem will lead to a pressure leak. The proper r

10148018

Date: 2014-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT.

"?SI B01 09 14 September 2014 WarrantiesWarranties This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 09 14 dated August 2014. Please read this Service Information bulletin in its entirety, the content has been completely updated. designates changes to this revision SUBJECT Front Passenger Air Ba

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
Z4414

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2003

Sources

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