SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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

What owners actually said

30 reports
47,000 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY $400 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER BELIEVES BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE T…

Read full complaint

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY $400 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER BELIEVES BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO FAIL ON IMPACT. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10043982

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 · Jan 25, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

I AM EXPERIENCING A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT UNLOCKING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, USING THE POWER-LOCK REMOTE (FOB), OR REACHING OUTSIDE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY. IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION, …

Read full complaint

I AM EXPERIENCING A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT UNLOCKING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, USING THE POWER-LOCK REMOTE (FOB), OR REACHING OUTSIDE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY. IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION, THE DRIVER COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10003371

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2002
Seats

VEHICLE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WILL LAUNCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023166

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION POPS OR JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR UPON TAKEOFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755193

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED 4 TIMES ... THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I LOSE ALL HEAD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHEN THIS HAPPENS .. INCLUDING MY TURN SIGNALS..

NHTSA ODI #749966

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 · Aug 1, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYED AND NO ODOR OF RAW FUEL WAS APPARENT POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE, CONSUMER IS SEEKING MONETARY COMPENSATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER.*YH

NHTSA ODI #562337

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
SteeringCrash

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. MANUFACTURER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854517

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.