Model year record

1996 BMW Z3

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 34 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V131000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
410,000
Reported to NHTSA
1997-08-19
Owners notified
1997-10-30

Defect description

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 WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags675,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor374,000 mi
Seats330,000 mi
Air bags: frontal2
Power train: manual transmission284,800 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module140,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1
Engine and engine cooling: engine1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor194,000 mi
Exterior lighting: fog lights1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly1
Fuel system, other1
Fuel/propulsion system1102,000 mi
Power train124,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit1
Seat belts175,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler1100,000 mi
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)1
Suspension: rear1
Tires: tread/belt1

The 1997 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.