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2001 BMW Z3 Roadster

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 8 of 8 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.

  • 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 →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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120,000 miles · Jun 19, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

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 DAY…

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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 HIGHWAY OR IN CITY TRAFFIC IF THE CAR STALLS OR LOCKS UP BMW 2001 Z3 2.5I (STEPTRONIC SHIFTING) *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462350

35,009 miles · Jul 12, 2005
Power Train

ON JUNE 3,2005, I HAD NEW BRAKES & TIRES PUT ON MY 2001 Z-3 BMW ROADSTER BY HENDRICKS BMW OF HICKORY,NC. ON JULY 8,2005 WHILE DECENDING MOUNTAIN RD IN CHEROKEE,NC, MY CLUTCH LOCKED-UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HENDRICK'S WHERE THEY CLAIM I NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH FOR $875.00. THERE IS ONLY 35,000 MIL…

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ON JUNE 3,2005, I HAD NEW BRAKES & TIRES PUT ON MY 2001 Z-3 BMW ROADSTER BY HENDRICKS BMW OF HICKORY,NC. ON JULY 8,2005 WHILE DECENDING MOUNTAIN RD IN CHEROKEE,NC, MY CLUTCH LOCKED-UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HENDRICK'S WHERE THEY CLAIM I NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH FOR $875.00. THERE IS ONLY 35,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I FEEL THE BMW CENTER DIDN'T CHECK THE BRAKE FLUID WHEN MY BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THAT CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO LOCK-UP. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INVESTIGATE IF ANY OTHER Z3 OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR CLUTCH BEFORE 36,000 MILES AS I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE GOING DOWN HILL LAST FRIDAY.

NHTSA ODI #10128530

1,050 miles · Aug 26, 2003
Power Train

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 …

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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 SERVICE BULLETINS. I KNOW OF AT LEAST FIVE OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL FROM A WEBSITE ROADFLY.ORG. PLEASE CHECK THIS SIT FOR MORE INFO UNDER SMG PROBLEMS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10036629

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.