1998 Bmw Z3 ROADSTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
72,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 19 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.3% |
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 | 6 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 6; Air Bags: 3; Power Train: 2; Seats: 2; Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc): 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Suspension: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2002: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10061993 · 2004-03-12 (March 12, 2004)
1998 BMW Z3, 1.9. SRS (AIRBAG LIGHT) CONSTANTLY COMING ON EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT! I HAD IT FIXED 3 TIMES ALREADY AT THE DEALERSHIP SUPPOSEDLY UNDER WARANTY BUT STILL COSTING ME ATLEAST 100 DOLLARS R "DIAGNOSTIC FEES". IT CAME ON AGAIN AND I GIVE UP.ITS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW. WHY BOTHER GETTING IT FIXED IF IT WILL JUST COME ON AGAIN! I AM GOING TO TRY BUYING THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL MYSELF AND SEEING IF I CAN HANDLE IT MYSELF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095697 · 2004-10-13 (October 13, 2004)
DRIVER SEAT RAIL IS DEFECTIVE AND IT MOVES BACK AND FORTH AS YOU STOP OR ACCELERATE POSING A DRIVER CONTROL SAFEY HAZARD. BMW WILL NOT FIX AT THEIR COST AND SAYS IT IS A CONSUMER REQUEST REPAIR. I DISAGREE THAT SEAT STRUCTURE FAILURE IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25,401 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095697 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 ↗
Owner report 10133488 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
I HEARD A CREAKING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR, I PUT IT ON JACKS TO CHECK IT OUT. TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR PAN MAINLY AROUND THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT. THE CAR IS CLAIMED TO BE UNDRIVABLE BY BMW, BUT YET THEY WILL NOT TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATTER. I SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IF I DID NOT CHECK IT AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CRACKS AND TEARS IN THE BODY METAL THAT EXIST COULD HAVE CONTINUED EVEN FURTHER AND LED TO AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I WAS ESTIMATED AT A WHOPPING 5200 DOLLARS WHICH BMW SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135003 · 2005-08-31 (August 31, 2005)
DT: 1998 BMW Z3 ROADSTER - THERE WAS A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS. WHILE DRIVING ON A DRY ROUGH ROAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH ANYTHING, AND WAS DRIVING ONLY ABOUT 5 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAY THAT AN IMPACT WITH A POT HOLE CAUSED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CONSUMER CLAIMED HE DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THIS DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHECK TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138337 · 2005-10-03 (October 3, 2005)
BOTH THE DRIVER SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT RAILS ARE DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE SEATS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH DURING STOPS ESPECIALLY DOWNHILL. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER AND AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION FOR THE PASSENGER. BMW SAYS THAT IT WILL NOT PROVIDE A REPAIR AT ITS COST OR AT A REDUCED COST BECAUSE IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND IT ON OTHER Z3S THAT I TEST DROVE. IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT COST BY BMW. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 53,059 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163832 · 2006-07-28 (July 28, 2006)
THE SUBFRAME IS TEARING APART FROM THE FRAME ITSELF IN THE TRUNK. SPOT WELDS HAVE FAILED AND SEPARATION IS OBVIOUS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163832 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.