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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Bmw Z3 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

50,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seats is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 20 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior420.0%
Electrical and battery issues210.0%
Transmission and shifting15.0%
Steering behavior15.0%

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.

Seats
6
Power Train
3
Suspension
3
Electrical System
2
Air Bags
1
Air Bags:Frontal
1
Electrical System:Wiring
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Seats6
Power Train3
Suspension3
Electrical System2
Air Bags1
Air Bags:Frontal1
Electrical System:Wiring1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood1

Seats: 6; Power Train: 3; Suspension: 3; Electrical System: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 11 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.

2000
1
2001
4
2002
1
2003
5
2005
2
2007
2
2009
1
2011
1
2019
2
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20014
20021
20035
20052
20072
20091
20111
20192
20221

2000: 1; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 5; 2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2019: 2; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Seats leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10115415 · 2005-03-18 (March 18, 2005)

WHILE BRAKING AND SPEEDING THE DRIVER'S SEAT LURCHED FORWARD/BACKWARDS ON THE SEAT TRACKS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115415 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10197347 · 2007-07-24 (July 24, 2007)

MARCH 2007 DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND UPON STOPPING AT RED LIGHT SEAT JOLTS FORWARD CAUSING FOOT TO SLIP OFF OF BRAKE AND NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY NOW ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT OF 1998 BMW Z-3. UPON TAKING CAR TO SHOP AFTER SHOP AND DEALER I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $470.00 A SEAT TO FIX. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS PART WAS DETERMINED DEFECTIVE BY BMW AND CHANGED IN THE NEXT MODEL AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED TO SAVE THE PUBLIC FROM USELESS…

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197347 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043982 · 2003-11-18 (November 18, 2003)

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY $400 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER BELIEVES BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO FAIL ON IMPACT. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043982 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050475 · 2003-12-12 (December 12, 2003)

SAFETY DEFECT 1998 Z3 BMW. *MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE CHECK INDICATED THAT THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS GETTING ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONSUMER REFUSED REPAIR DUE TO THE COST AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM THAT IT SHOULD BE REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050475 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 755193 · 2001-12-02 (December 2, 2001)

TRANSMISSION POPS OR JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR UPON TAKEOFF. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 755193 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 854517 · 2000-01-22 (January 22, 2000)

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. MANUFACTURER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 854517 at NHTSA ↗