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1998 BMW Z3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 BMW Z3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →
30Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
30
199647
199730
199839
199934
200019
2001
Compare all Z3 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seats
8Electrical System
6Power Train
4Suspension
4Air Bags
3
All reported categories
Equipment
3Seat Belts
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Exterior Lighting
2Structure
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
1

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: 9 of 30 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.

  • Seats. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2003
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10042414

53,500 miles · Jul 11, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

THE DRIVER WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED IN THE FRONT AT 45 MPH. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10024010

Mileage unknown · May 19, 1998
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL BUZ HEARD THROUGH THE RADIO. WHEN TURNING THE RADIO OFF AND ON THE LIGHT GOES OFF. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED IN APRIL AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823461

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.