"How reliable is the 1998 Bmw M Roadster?"

"Based on 22 NHTSA complaints, the 1998 Bmw M Roadster has a median complaint mileage of 75775 miles. The most common issue is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS."

"What are common problems with the 1998 Bmw M Roadster?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Bmw M Roadster is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, accounting for a significant portion of the 22 total complaints filed."

1998 Bmw M Roadster: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 22 complaints

Total Complaints

75,775mi

Median Mileage

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

47,500 25th Percentile

75,775 Median Mileage

98,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

STRUCTURE:BODY

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

STRUCTURE

AIR BAGS

POWER TRAIN

SUSPENSION

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CROSS MEMBER OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BROKE. *AK"

"IN REGARD TO ALL MODEL YEAR Z3 BMW AUTOMOBILES. LATELY, INCLUDING WITH MY CAR, BMW Z3'S AS WELL AS ///M ROADSTERS AND COUPES (LIKE MY CAR), HAVE BEGUN EXPERIENCING HORRIFIC FAILURE IN THE REAR END DUE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CRACKING AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS. COUNTLESS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING LARGE ..."

"WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. IT ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28