Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 BMW Z4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Takata recall. 2003 BMW Z4 air bags did not deploy nor did seat belts lock when car hit a tracter trailer who suddenly stopped short on the highway. BMW was moving at approx 80 MPH when driver hit breaks upon seeing trailer stop short.
On July 2018 BMW issued an important limited warranty information notice related to this vehicle. BMW would cover repairs to the front passenger seat occupancy for the SRS/air bag system. Unfortunately this warranty repair will not cover my vehicle because the 15 year period does not include my vehicle that was put into service in January 2003. I believe that BMW should cover any 2003 BMW Z4 rather than cutting off those made in the prior 6 months. BMW refuses to cover. The other concern I have relates to the servo motor/electronic steering control unit. Recently this failed and I note that other bmws have had this problem too. I believe your agency should determine whether or not this warrants a recall too. It is very dangerous to be driving and the power steering ceases to function. People will be killed. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to taylor BMW (4180 washington rd, evans, ga 30809, [phone]) and the contact was informed that the warranty had expired; therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The manufacturer was contacted and also stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The contact later received a letter from the manufacturer stating that they were extending the warranty to 15 years with unlimited mileage. The contact called the manufacturer back and was advised to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The dealer wanted to charge a diagnostic fee and the contact refused. The dealer called the manufacturer, but the contact never heard back from the dealer. …
Follow up to NHTSA complaint id 10353056. Received letter from BMW that the airbag replacement warranty for my vehicle serial number was extended to 15 years. Received letter on 7/31/18, with 15 year service date expired on 7/11/18. Letter was worthless, as they waited until the 15 year extension had expired by several weeks before sending the notification. The inability of the passenger airbag to inflate in an accident is a serious safety defect that continues to be ignored for my vehicle as well as others reported to the NHTSA. BMW needs to be held liable for any injuries resulting from an airbag failing to deploy in an accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the front passenger air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it was diagnosed that the passenger air bag failed. The front passenger air bag sensor was reset several times; however, the failure was not corrected. The independent mechanic concluded that the failure was caused by the front passenger sensor mat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.
On August 1 of this year I received a letter from BMW stating that there was a problem with the front passenger seat occupancy mat(oc3) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS/air bag system) . I made an appointment for the following week and when I got to the dealership they told me my extended warranty had run out in March of this year. When I called BMW of north America I was told the only way to get it fixed is at my expense. Over the next 2 days I spoke to them 3 different times and they would not pay to fix a safety problem that was in the vehicle when it came off the factory floor.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light illuminated and the vehicle was taken the to taylor BMW 4180 washington rd, evans, ga 30809 where a diagnostic determined that the passenger air bag was inoperable and needed to be services. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V247000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit, which was a safety concern. The vehicle was taken to bergstrom BMW (3002 n victory ln, appleton, wi) where it was diagnosed that the air bag control unit was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 85,698.
From day one I had airbag problem for the passenger side. Air bag never worked. BMW had recall and extended warranty for 10 years, but they don't accept responsibility steering column has problems too
Takata recall. BMW sent recall notice for airbag before expiration date. I called BMW and they gave me a expiration date to take car to dealership to have repaired. I took the car to a new sewell BMW dealership in grapevine tx, USA before the expire date given by BMW. They asked if the airbag light was displayed. I replied it was reset years before and hasn't been displayed since. Sewell said they would not look at replacing airbag without paying for diagnostic and airbag up front. I know it hasn't been replaced, but had to decline for upfront costs with unknown reimbursement. Sewell pulled up the VIN details on my car. No airbag replacement. I'm sure the replacement date has expired by a year. . . But I tried. Just got a big 'not interested' by the BMW dealership in grapevine, tx. (p.s. Was reminded by the morgan freeman Takata airbag commercial on a&e tv channel airing 8/9/19)
Related recalls
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.
Airbag complaints in other Z4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2003 BMW Z4?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 BMW Z4, 7% of the model year's 414 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 BMW Z4 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-247 (air bags, May 24, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 BMW Z4 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.