Bmw Z3 ROADSTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 44 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 11.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 6.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 10 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 10; Air Bags: 6; Suspension: 5; Power Train: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Seats: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10105645 · 2005-01-03 (January 3, 2005)
WHILE ON A TRIP I NOTICED AN ODD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE DURING ACCELLERATION WHILE IN 1ST GEAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE CAR'S SUB FRAME IN THE AREA SUPPORTING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FRACTURED AND BREAKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE THAT HAD POPPED OUT OF ITS RETENTION CLIP, DUE TO THE PHYSICAL MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPORTING MATERIAL AROUND IT. IF THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED, I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED THE FAILURE UNTIL THE MOUNT HAD BROKEN AWAY ENTIRELY. SINCE THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 61,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226732 · 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW Z3 ROADSTER. WHILE DRIVING 2-3 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT LINKAGE ARM FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE STEERING RACK SEVERED. HE FELT THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE LINKAGE RUBBING AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE. AS OF MAY 5, 2008, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS MODULE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE STEERING TUBE, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TUBE TO SP…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10336091 · 2010-06-13 (June 13, 2010)
THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 1998 BMW Z3 (WITH LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER), INDICATING THE AIRBAG (OR AIRBAGS) AND SEAT BELT TENSIONERS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS WAS "A COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THIS MODEL AND TOLD US EXACTLY WHAT MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO ANY DIAGNOSTICS'THAT THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE SEATBELT LATCH AND WIRING THAT CAUSED 'HIGH RESISTANCE'. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS $825. A GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS SAME PROBLEM IS ESSENTIALLY UBIQUITOUS. I SEARCHED …
Owner-reported narrative. 15,725 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10955460 · 2017-02-18 (February 18, 2017)
THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FILLS WITH WATER WHEN TO RAINS AND DOES NOT EMPTY. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES RUST AND MOISTURE IN THE TRUNK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10955460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036629 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
I HAVE A 2003 BMW Z4 WITH SEQUENTIAL MANUAL GEARBOX. THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR AUTOMATICALLY WHEN STOPPING BUT THEN IT SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SHIFT KNOB AND IT DOES SO WHENEVER IT DECIDES TO DO IT. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY AND BMW STATES THERE IS NO RECALLS ON IT OR …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462350 · 2012-06-19 (June 19, 2012)
I AM DRIVING AS NORMAL AND THEN THE CAR BEGINS TO HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. THE OWNERS MANUAL TELL YOU TO PULL OVER AND SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK AND THEN APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. IT SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL OCCURS ON DAYS WHEN THE AIR TEMP. IS HIGH. I HAVE HAD THE CAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH NO CURE. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION OR ECU. BUT THIS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103979 · 2004-12-16 (December 16, 2004)
ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN REAR OF CAR SLID LEFT DURING TURN WHILE DRIVING AT 30-40 MPH. AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL (ATC) DID NOT ENGAGE AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO, ALLOWING SLIDE TO CONTINUE. DRIVER PROPERLY CORRECTED STEERING. CAR OVERCORRECTED WITH THE REAR OF THE CAR SLIDING TO THE RIGHT. DRIVER PROPERLY CORRECTED AGAIN, BUT REAR OF CAR SLID AGAIN TO THE LEFT. DRIVER COULD NOT CORRECT IN TIME TO PREVENT SPIN, LEADING TO IMPACT WITH CONCRETE WALL. ATC IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO THIS TYPE OF POSITION BUT DID NOT. DRIVER INJURED. CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120737 · 2005-05-12 (May 12, 2005)
THE SEAM ON THE GAS TANK OF MY BMW Z3 HAS A DEFECT. IT HAS ONLY 86,000 MILES ON IT, HAS NEVER BEEN IN A SALT OR CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. IT HAS APPARENTLY BEEN LEAKING GAS FOR QUITE A WHILE. WITH THE LOW FLASHPOINT OF GAS AND THE PROPENSITY FOR INJURY IF THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT I AM OUTRAGED. I WANT TO PURSUE THIS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120737 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1998: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0