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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

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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING A FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYED AND NO ODOR OF RAW FUEL WAS APPARENT. POWER TO THE VEHICLE ULTIMATLEY FAILED AS WELL AS THE BRAKES. WIFE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. WITHIN MINUTES THE MOTOR AND ACCOUTERMENTS WERE CHARRED TO A CRI…

Read full complaint

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING A FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYED AND NO ODOR OF RAW FUEL WAS APPARENT. POWER TO THE VEHICLE ULTIMATLEY FAILED AS WELL AS THE BRAKES. WIFE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. WITHIN MINUTES THE MOTOR AND ACCOUTERMENTS WERE CHARRED TO A CRISP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI #9003499

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

BMW Z3 IS A PIECE OF CRAP. DEALER NOW THINKS THAT THERE IS UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. 3 CD PLAYERS, 2 IGNITION SYSTEMS, 1 FUEL SENSOR, 1 ENGINE THAT WOULDN'T START DUE TO SOMETHING STUCK OPEN AND JUST GENERAL POOR QUALITY. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE FOR ANYONE.

NHTSA ODI #714824

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.