Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 16 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Structure. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
19 reports
79,553 miles · Nov 14, 2005
Structure
(1)I NOTICED THERE WERE CREAKS COMING FROM THE TRUNK. I SAW FIVE SPOT WELDS PULLED THROUGH THE SHEET METAL FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE LEFT SIDE, AND THE SHEET METAL WAS SEPARATING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK. (2) AFTER BRINGING IN THE '98 M-ROADSTER IN TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR AN ESTIMATE I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE IF I WE…
Read full complaint
(1)I NOTICED THERE WERE CREAKS COMING FROM THE TRUNK. I SAW FIVE SPOT WELDS PULLED THROUGH THE SHEET METAL FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE LEFT SIDE, AND THE SHEET METAL WAS SEPARATING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK. (2) AFTER BRINGING IN THE '98 M-ROADSTER IN TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR AN ESTIMATE I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE IF I WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. (3) THE TRUNK WAS RE-WELDED, BUT NOT REINFORCED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10142644
132,000 miles · Oct 5, 2005
Structure
TEAR IN SUBFRAME OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL SUPPORT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10138744
29,990 miles · Sep 7, 2005
Structure
CAR IS A 1998 BMW M ROADSTER. SPOT WELDS ATTACHING THE SUBFRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS TO THE CAR ARE SEPARATING, CAUSING AN UNSAFE STRUCTURAL SITUATION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10135539
28,470 miles · Aug 19, 2005
Structure
REAR SUBFRAME WELD FAILURE ALLOWING THE DIFFERENTIAL TO DROP TO THE POINT THAT THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT IN ARE THE HALFSHAFTS RESTING ON THE FRAME RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE
NHTSA ODI #10133480
76,550 miles · Aug 18, 2005
Structure
1998 BMW M ROADSTER REAR SUB-FRAME FAILURE (1) NORMAL DRIVING (NON-RACING) LED TO A TORN REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT AND SUB-FRAME CRACK. (2) CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AS THE REAR AXLES WERE RUBBING ON THE EXHAUST AND THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS 5" FROM TOUCHING THE GROUND (3) I HAD A PRIVATE MECHANIC DO THE REPAIR WORK WHICH CONSISTED OF REP…
Read full complaint
1998 BMW M ROADSTER REAR SUB-FRAME FAILURE (1) NORMAL DRIVING (NON-RACING) LED TO A TORN REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT AND SUB-FRAME CRACK. (2) CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AS THE REAR AXLES WERE RUBBING ON THE EXHAUST AND THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS 5" FROM TOUCHING THE GROUND (3) I HAD A PRIVATE MECHANIC DO THE REPAIR WORK WHICH CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE WHOLE REAR SUB-FRAME AND PUTTING IN A NEW, REINFORCED ONE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10133407
55,000 miles · Sep 19, 2004
Structure
THE CHASSIS IS DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE CRACKS, PULLED SPOTWELDS AND SEPARATION (DELAMINATION) OF UNIBODY IN THE TRUNK AREA. THE SEPARATION CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, AS THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CHASSIS.*AK THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW Z3 CARS. MORE DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP:/…
Read full complaint
THE CHASSIS IS DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE CRACKS, PULLED SPOTWELDS AND SEPARATION (DELAMINATION) OF UNIBODY IN THE TRUNK AREA. THE SEPARATION CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, AS THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CHASSIS.*AK THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW Z3 CARS. MORE DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.368S.COM/INDEX.PHP?P=23 PLEASE REQUIRE BMW TO FIX THIS DESIGN DEFECT BEFORE IT CLAIMS A LIFE. # OF FAILURES IS ESTIMATED. ACTUAL FIGURE IS PROBABLY HIGHER AND BELIEVED TO BE DOUBLE DIGIT PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES PRODUCED.
NHTSA ODI #10091290
35,000 miles · Jul 28, 2004
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. IT ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10083684
44,000 miles · Mar 16, 2004
Structure
IN REGARD TO ALL MODEL YEAR Z3 BMW AUTOMOBILES. LATELY, INCLUDING WITH MY CAR, BMW Z3'S AS WELL AS ///M ROADSTERS AND COUPES (LIKE MY CAR), HAVE BEGUN EXPERIENCING HORRIFIC FAILURE IN THE REAR END DUE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CRACKING AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS. COUNTLESS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING LARGE CRACKS IN THEIR FRAME NEAR THE…
Read full complaint
IN REGARD TO ALL MODEL YEAR Z3 BMW AUTOMOBILES. LATELY, INCLUDING WITH MY CAR, BMW Z3'S AS WELL AS ///M ROADSTERS AND COUPES (LIKE MY CAR), HAVE BEGUN EXPERIENCING HORRIFIC FAILURE IN THE REAR END DUE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CRACKING AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS. COUNTLESS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING LARGE CRACKS IN THEIR FRAME NEAR THE DIFFERENTIAL, CAUSE THE CAR TO BECOME LOOSE AND RESULT IN A POTENTIAL CRASH. MANY OWNERS HAVE EVEN SEEN THEIR ENTIRE TRUNK FLOORBOARDS BEGIN TO SEPARATE FROM THE CAR DUE TO WEAK WELDING. BMW HAS FOR THE MOST PART BEEN EXTREMELY UNRECEPTIVE TO OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS, BLAMING THE FAILURES ON DRIVER ERROR. IT IS NOT DRIVER ERROR, AS THERE IS CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT BMW ITSELF ACTUALLY REINFORCED THE PROBLEM AREAS IN 2001-2002 WITHOUT ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. AS OUR CARS GET OLDER, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE NOTICING THIS DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO BECOME UNSTABLE. PLEASE HELP. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10062316
45,000 miles · Jan 20, 2004
Structure
CROSS MEMBER OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BROKE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10055446
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1998 BMW M Roadster Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration