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FaultScore report

1998 BMW M3 problems

Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 1998 BMW M3 with NHTSA between 1998 and 2008. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 16 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the BMW M3 All 1998 cars
C

FaultScore 45/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the BMW M3.

How this is worked out

The numbers

18

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

71,500 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

17%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 28 vs 50 Severity 86 vs 50 Early failure 28 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 28
Against the median year of the BMW M3. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 86
16.7% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 28
17% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1998 compares with every other BMW M3

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1998 BMW M3

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Transmission & Drivetrain 3 16.7%

Median failure at 40,100 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 11.1%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

Suspension 2 11.1%

Median failure at 88,295 miles

Airbags 2 11.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Electrical System 2 11.1%
Engine & Cooling 2 11.1%
Tires 1 5.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 82,943 mi

Lights 1 5.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 5.6%
Body & Structure 1 5.6%
Brakes 1 5.6%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 16.7%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 50.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 16.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 16.7%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jul 1998 peak 4 Nov 2008

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 82,943 miles Yucca Valley, CA Crash 1 injured

TIRES

ON OCTOBER 13TH AT APPROXIMATELY 1800HRS THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF MY 1998 BMW M3 "RAPIDLY DEFLATED" RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF THE INNER SIDEWALL WAS LEFT SHREDDED. WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND WARM, WITH NO DEBRIS OR CONTAMINATION ON THE ROAD SURFACE(SR-62). THE TIRE WAS INSTALLED BY A BMW SERVICE CENTER 5/7/08 AT 68,814 MILES, ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 82,943 MILES. THE DUNLOP 8080E P245/40 ZR-17 DOT# DMC903Y1607 WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE GOOD TREAD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THREE DAYS PRIOR.

NHTSA complaint #10248328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington Station, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER RAN INTO A POLE AND SPLIT POLE IN HALF, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AUTOMOBILE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #834786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 82,943 miles Yucca Valley, CA Crash 1 injured

TIRES

ON OCTOBER 13TH AT APPROXIMATELY 1800HRS THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF MY 1998 BMW M3 "RAPIDLY DEFLATED" RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF THE INNER SIDEWALL WAS LEFT SHREDDED. WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND WARM, WITH NO DEBRIS OR CONTAMINATION ON THE ROAD SURFACE(SR-62). THE TIRE WAS INSTALLED BY A BMW SERVICE CENTER 5/7/08 AT 68,814 MILES, ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 82,943 MILES. THE DUNLOP 8080E P245/40 ZR-17 DOT# DMC903Y1607 WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE GOOD TREAD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THREE DAYS PRIOR.

NHTSA complaint #10248328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,590 miles Waukesha, WY

SUSPENSION:REAR

1) NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION 2) LEFT REAR STRUT-TOWER FAILURE RESULTING IN PENETRATION OF STRUT AND SPRING AND FAILURE OF REAR SUSPENSION. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. 3) REPAIRS PENDING. KNOWN ISSUE W/ BMW E-36'S.

NHTSA complaint #10170545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Willow Grove, PA

SUSPENSION:REAR

THE SHOCK WELLS RUSTED AND CRACKED MAKING SHOCKS PROTRUDE OUT OF IT'S MOUNTS.

NHTSA complaint #10120195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,200 miles Sarasota, FL

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

REPEATED FAILURE OF THE SHIFT GATE. TRANNY STICKS IN 5TH GEAR POSITION, CAUSING DANGEROUS SHIFT DELAYS WHILE IN TRAFFIC. SEE: HTTP://WWW.BRAZEAURACING.COM/TECH/TRANSMISSIONS.HTM FOR A PARTIAL LISTING OF THOSE AFFECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10100387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Fort Wayne, IN

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

PROBLEM1: REAR DEFOGGER NOT WORKING. CHECKED THE SYSTEM, FUSES OKAY, VOLTAGE CORRECTLY SUPPLIED TO REAR WINDOW HEATING CONTACTS. HEATING ELEMENTS IN THE WINDOW ITSELF ARE FAILING. AFETY ISSUE: NO VISIBILITY THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW WHEN FOGGED.*AK PROBLEM2: AUTOMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS ARE QUITTING ERRATICALLY LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER, AIR BLOWER, HEATING OR AIR CONDITIONING. CAR HAS NO SAFETY DEFAULT OR MANUAL OVERRIDE OPTION. SAFETY ISSUES: OCCUPANTS CAN GET FROST BITES OR FREEZE TO DEATH IN HARSH WINTER CONDITIONS OR SUFFER FROM HEAT STROKE DURING HOT WEATHER. FOGGING OF THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WITH DISFUNCTIONAL BLOWER.

NHTSA complaint #10100076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles King OF Prussia, PA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE GEAR SHIFT IN MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 1998 BMW M3 (4 DOOR), STICKS UNDER FIFTH GEAR AND OFTEN I AM ALSO UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO FIFTH GEAR. THE ISSUE WITH THIS IS WELL KNOWN BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. THE DANGER HERE IS THAT WHEN I WANT TO SHIFT INTO FIFTH GEAR I CANNOT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 4TH TO 3RD BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFT NATURALLY WANTS TO GO INTO FIFTH. THIS CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN GOING INTO A TURN OR NEEDING TO DOWNSHIFT TO CONTROL ENGINE SPEED RATHER THAN USING BRAKES WHEN CONDITIONS MAY BE TOO SLICK TO SAFELY APPLY THE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #10054719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS WITH BRAKE LIGHT FAILURES. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REMAIN UNRESLOVED. DEALERS CANNOT LOCATE FAULT AND CONTINUES TO REPLACE BULBS OR BEND CONNECTORS ON SOCKETS. ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, OIL PAN GASKETS ALL FAILING WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. INLET LEAKAGE ON FUEL VALVE FAILING FOR SECOND TIME. MAJOR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM FOR SECOND TIME. DESPITE REPEATED REPORTS OF ROUGH SHIFTING, WITH PROBLEMS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING GEARS, NO ANSWER OTHER THAN EVERYTHING IS FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH OTHER M3 VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ALL HAVE STATED AND EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. STEREO, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILING. FRONT BUMBPER ASSEMBLY CONSISTENTLY LOSING PARTS. NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT VARIOUS DEALERS OVER 8 TIMES IN PAST YEAR WITH SIGNIFICANT OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL CAR EXPENSES.

NHTSA complaint #752387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS WITH BRAKE LIGHT FAILURES. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REMAIN UNRESLOVED. DEALERS CANNOT LOCATE FAULT AND CONTINUES TO REPLACE BULBS OR BEND CONNECTORS ON SOCKETS. ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, OIL PAN GASKETS ALL FAILING WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. INLET LEAKAGE ON FUEL VALVE FAILING FOR SECOND TIME. MAJOR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM FOR SECOND TIME. DESPITE REPEATED REPORTS OF ROUGH SHIFTING, WITH PROBLEMS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING GEARS, NO ANSWER OTHER THAN EVERYTHING IS FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH OTHER M3 VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ALL HAVE STATED AND EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. STEREO, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILING. FRONT BUMBPER ASSEMBLY CONSISTENTLY LOSING PARTS. NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT VARIOUS DEALERS OVER 8 TIMES IN PAST YEAR WITH SIGNIFICANT OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL CAR EXPENSES.

NHTSA complaint #752387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS WITH BRAKE LIGHT FAILURES. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REMAIN UNRESLOVED. DEALERS CANNOT LOCATE FAULT AND CONTINUES TO REPLACE BULBS OR BEND CONNECTORS ON SOCKETS. ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, OIL PAN GASKETS ALL FAILING WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. INLET LEAKAGE ON FUEL VALVE FAILING FOR SECOND TIME. MAJOR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM FOR SECOND TIME. DESPITE REPEATED REPORTS OF ROUGH SHIFTING, WITH PROBLEMS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING GEARS, NO ANSWER OTHER THAN EVERYTHING IS FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH OTHER M3 VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ALL HAVE STATED AND EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. STEREO, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILING. FRONT BUMBPER ASSEMBLY CONSISTENTLY LOSING PARTS. NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT VARIOUS DEALERS OVER 8 TIMES IN PAST YEAR WITH SIGNIFICANT OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL CAR EXPENSES.

NHTSA complaint #752387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS WITH BRAKE LIGHT FAILURES. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REMAIN UNRESLOVED. DEALERS CANNOT LOCATE FAULT AND CONTINUES TO REPLACE BULBS OR BEND CONNECTORS ON SOCKETS. ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, OIL PAN GASKETS ALL FAILING WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. INLET LEAKAGE ON FUEL VALVE FAILING FOR SECOND TIME. MAJOR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM FOR SECOND TIME. DESPITE REPEATED REPORTS OF ROUGH SHIFTING, WITH PROBLEMS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING GEARS, NO ANSWER OTHER THAN EVERYTHING IS FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH OTHER M3 VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ALL HAVE STATED AND EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. STEREO, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILING. FRONT BUMBPER ASSEMBLY CONSISTENTLY LOSING PARTS. NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT VARIOUS DEALERS OVER 8 TIMES IN PAST YEAR WITH SIGNIFICANT OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL CAR EXPENSES.

NHTSA complaint #752387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Provo, UT

AIR BAGS

THE DEALER FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN TO RESET THE CODE AND SAY, "OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT." APPARENTLY ITS A SENSOR IN THE SEAT, AND LOTS OF BMW'S ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. SAFETY SYSTEM FAULTS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.

NHTSA complaint #748051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norcross, GA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELLERATE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #871349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN STOPPED WORKING ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMED PROBLEM. BUT, AFTER 3 MONTHS HORN WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. LAST TIME DEALER REPLACED THE CONTACT POINTS. ALSO, HALF OF THE SPOILER CAME OFF, BOLTS HAD FALLEN APART WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING SPOILER TO FALL OFF IMMEDIATELY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #867613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport Beach, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

HORN STOPPED WORKING ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMED PROBLEM. BUT, AFTER 3 MONTHS HORN WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. LAST TIME DEALER REPLACED THE CONTACT POINTS. ALSO, HALF OF THE SPOILER CAME OFF, BOLTS HAD FALLEN APART WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING SPOILER TO FALL OFF IMMEDIATELY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #867613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marina DEL, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

BRAKES DISC FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Poway, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #607713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington Station, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER RAN INTO A POLE AND SPLIT POLE IN HALF, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AUTOMOBILE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #834786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Culver CIT, CA

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR

THE FACTORY INSTALLED REAR VIEW MIRROR BLOCKS A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW AND CREATES A VERY LARGE AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE BLIND ZONE.

NHTSA complaint #537744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.