Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2001 BMW Z3 Roadster with NHTSA between 2003 and 2012.
The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.
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.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 27
Against the median year of the BMW Z3 Roadster. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 52
10% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 51
30% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2001 compares with every other BMW Z3 Roadster
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2001 BMW Z3 Roadster
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Transmission & Drivetrain
330.0%
Median failure at 35,009 miles
Airbags
220.0%
Median failure at 43,250 miles
Stability & Traction Control
110.0%
Median failure at 101,000 miles
Suspension
110.0%
Median failure at 78,500 miles
Brakes
110.0%
Median failure at 101,000 miles
Electrical System
110.0%
Median failure at 120,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
Median failure at 63,745 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
110.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
110.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
110.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
220.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
110.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
440.0%
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.
Aug 2003peak 2Jun 2012
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 68,000 milesSeaford, VA1 injured
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I OWN A 2001 BMW Z3 3.0I ROADSTER THAT SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ITS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIRBAG WHEN I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION IN THE DRIVEWAY, RESULTING IN A LARGE BRUISE AND BURN ON MY LEFT ARM. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON A FEW DAYS EARLIER, BUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT INDICATE ANY HAZARD OF SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT, AND I HAD NOT YET GOTTEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY AND IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE CAR REMAINS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN, EXAMINED, DIAGNOSED, OR REPAIRED SINCE THE MALFUNCTION. I HAVE CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS REGARDING THE MATTER. THEY SEEMED RATHER UNCONCERNED. I TOLD THEM IT IS NOT MY INTENTION TO SUE, AND LIKEWISE I WILL NOT LET THEM COVER UP THIS PROBLEM. RATHER, I WANT THEIR ENGINEERS TO TEST-BENCH MY CAR TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE MALFUNCTION AND TO ISSUE A RECALL IF APPROPRIATE. I FURTHER EXPECT THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM, REPLACING ALL SUSPECT PARTS, AT NO COST TO ME. THEY SAID THEY WILL PASS ALONG MY CONCERNS TO THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY AND THAT I WILL RECEIVE A CALL BY NEXT TUESDAY. I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH THEIR LEVEL OF CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10239274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 120,000 milesAurora, IL
POWER 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 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)
NHTSA complaint #10462350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesAurora, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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)
NHTSA complaint #10462350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,500 milesFolsom, CA
SUSPENSION
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS AUTO. I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON DECELERATION. UPON INSPECTING THE CAR, I FOUND THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS ALMOST BROKER IN HALF. THIS IS THE PART THE HOLDS THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION FOR THE CAR. FROM RESEARCH I'M FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH Z-3 BMW'S IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FLAW IN THEIR ENGINEERING. I WAS VERY SHOCKED TO SEE THE DAMAGE AND THAT IF I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, VERY SHORTLY THE PART WOULD HAVE FAILED, WIPING OUT THE WHOLE REAR SUSPENSION. I AM AMAZED THAT THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM OR THAT I WAS NOT EVEN NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS A POTENTIAL ISSUE SO THAT I COULD MONITOR THIS AND CATCH IT BEFORE A MAJOR FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10459349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 101,000 milesSAN Juan Capistrano, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2001 BMW Z3 3.0L. THE ABS/DSC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS THE BRAKES ENGAGE ON THEIR OWN, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TO APPLY AND PULL THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SINCE IT COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. THE ACTIVATION OF THE BRAKES HAPPENS WHILE DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON ACCELERATOR, NO WHERE NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER THIS OCCURS THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS DISAPPEARS WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, HOWEVER, THE CONDITION HAPPENS AGAIN. THERE IS NO ROAD ISSUES THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR ON A CURVE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT TO HAPPEN. IT IS DANGEROUS!
NHTSA complaint #10358612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 101,000 milesSAN Juan Capistrano, CA
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2001 BMW Z3 3.0L. THE ABS/DSC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS THE BRAKES ENGAGE ON THEIR OWN, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TO APPLY AND PULL THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SINCE IT COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. THE ACTIVATION OF THE BRAKES HAPPENS WHILE DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON ACCELERATOR, NO WHERE NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER THIS OCCURS THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS DISAPPEARS WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, HOWEVER, THE CONDITION HAPPENS AGAIN. THERE IS NO ROAD ISSUES THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR ON A CURVE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT TO HAPPEN. IT IS DANGEROUS!
NHTSA complaint #10358612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesSeaford, VA1 injured
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I OWN A 2001 BMW Z3 3.0I ROADSTER THAT SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ITS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIRBAG WHEN I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION IN THE DRIVEWAY, RESULTING IN A LARGE BRUISE AND BURN ON MY LEFT ARM. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON A FEW DAYS EARLIER, BUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT INDICATE ANY HAZARD OF SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT, AND I HAD NOT YET GOTTEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY AND IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE CAR REMAINS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN, EXAMINED, DIAGNOSED, OR REPAIRED SINCE THE MALFUNCTION. I HAVE CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS REGARDING THE MATTER. THEY SEEMED RATHER UNCONCERNED. I TOLD THEM IT IS NOT MY INTENTION TO SUE, AND LIKEWISE I WILL NOT LET THEM COVER UP THIS PROBLEM. RATHER, I WANT THEIR ENGINEERS TO TEST-BENCH MY CAR TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE MALFUNCTION AND TO ISSUE A RECALL IF APPROPRIATE. I FURTHER EXPECT THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM, REPLACING ALL SUSPECT PARTS, AT NO COST TO ME. THEY SAID THEY WILL PASS ALONG MY CONCERNS TO THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY AND THAT I WILL RECEIVE A CALL BY NEXT TUESDAY. I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH THEIR LEVEL OF CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10239274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,745 milesDearborn Heights, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER LEAVING MY VEHICLE OVERNIGHT, I STARTED MY VEHICLE WITH AN AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF 9 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. I PROCEEDED TO LET MY VEHICLE WARM WHILE I CLEANED OFF THE SNOW. I THEN GOT INTO MY VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. WHILE DRIVING I BEGAN TO LOOSE ENGINE POWER, AND MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I PARKED MY CAR. I SHUT MY CAR DOWN AND AFTER TRYING TO RESTART MY CAR IT WOULD NOT START. UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER THE FAILED PART IS A CRANKCASE VENT VALVE. THE PART IS KNOWN TO FAIL IN COLD WEATHER. AND I HAVE TO HAVE OTHER PARTS REPLACED SUCH AS DIPSTICK, SPARK PLUGS, AND SEALS DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS PART.
NHTSA complaint #10182940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,009 milesUnion Mills, NC
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
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 complaint #10128530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,500 milesLittle Rock, AR
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
VEHICLE DROVE OVER A LARGE CHUNK OF CONCRETE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE SIDE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10056139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,050 milesLevittown, NY
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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 complaint #10036629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.