1998 Bmw Z3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 45 complaints
45
Total Complaints
53,500mi
Median Mileage
SEATS
Top Issue
3
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

43,250 25th Percentile
53,500 Median Mileage
96,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SEATS
6
SUSPENSION
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
3
POWER TRAIN
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
2
AIR BAGS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1

Severity Assessment

3
Crashes
3
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL BUZ HEARD THROUGH THE RADIO. WHEN TURNING THE RADIO OFF AND ON THE LIGHT GOES OFF. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED IN APRIL AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. *AK"
"OWNERS MANUAL STATES WARNING TRIANGLE AND FIRST AID KIT ARE LOCATED ON VEHICLE, THIS IS NOT SO, ONLY OFFERED TO EUROPEAN VEHICLES."
"THE PLASTIC REAR WINDOW IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LOWERED AND THEN RAISED AGAIN (THE INTENDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP), IT CAUSES SEVERE CREASING OF THE REAR WINDOW. THIS RESULTS IN THE REAR VIEW OUT THE WINDOW BEING SIGNIFICANTLY DISTORTED..."

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