2003 BMW Z4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2003 BMW Z4, and owners have filed 414 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2003 BMW Z4
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Air bags
On certain passenger vehicles, incompatible electronic air bag system processors may have been installed.
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.
-
Fuel pump (fuel system)
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.
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.
-
Tires
On certain vehicles equipped with 18" tires, it is possible that the tire has been damaged during the mounting process to the rim.
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.…
-
Buckle assembly (seat belts)
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.
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…
414 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 BMW Z4 have filed 414 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 47,733 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 67 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“This vehicle has a "sticky steering" issue in warm or hot weather, the steering sticks and requires a lot of effort to get the wheel to turn. If I am doing any speeds over 40 mph and keep adjusting th”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 14, 2026 · Steering
“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 mi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 21, 2025 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 BMW Z4 (Z4 Roadster). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18 / 25–27 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Two Seaters |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 2.5/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Automatic (S6); Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW Z4 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW Z4 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 BMW Z4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2003 BMW Z4 | 4 | 414 |
| 2004 BMW Z4 | 1 | 411 |
| 2005 BMW Z4 | 0 | 190 |
| 2006 BMW Z4 | 2 | 91 |
| 2007 BMW Z4 | 2 | 33 |
| 2008 BMW Z4 | 2 | 19 |
| 2009 BMW Z4 | 4 | 22 |
| 2010 BMW Z4 | 5 | 10 |
| 2011 BMW Z4 | 6 | 46 |
| 2012 BMW Z4 | 4 | 5 |
| 2013 BMW Z4 | 3 | 7 |
| 2014 BMW Z4 | 3 | 7 |
| 2015 BMW Z4 | 1 | 5 |
| 2016 BMW Z4 | 1 | 4 |
| 2019 BMW Z4 | 6 | 5 |
| 2020 BMW Z4 | 6 | 5 |
| 2021 BMW Z4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2022 BMW Z4 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 BMW Z4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 BMW Z4 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2003 BMW Z4
How do I know if my 2003 BMW Z4 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2003 BMW Z4; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V032000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.