NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 BMW M Roadster Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 BMW M Roadster right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 19 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 BMW M Roadster.

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1998 BMW M Roadster owner complaints

Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 BMW M Roadster, describing incidents dated May 5, 2002 to February 1, 2011.

Most-cited components

Structure 16 complaints
Power Train 3 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 19 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10385548 · Filed February 26, 2011
I DID A QUICK SEARCH OF THE NHTSA DATABASE AND HAVE FOUND APPROX. 60 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAFETY ISSUE. I'M QUITE SURPRISED THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT SANCTIONED BMW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AFTER BEING INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND BEING ADVISED TO CHECK FOR IT, I…
ODI #10296871 · Filed December 24, 2009
RATTLING NOISE FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. LOCAL SHOP REPLACED WORN EXHAUST BRACKET; DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. SHOP LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AT CAR AND SAW CRACKS IN DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET AND CRACKS IN REAR SUBFRAME. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL FRAME SHOP AND THEY ALSO SAW POPPED TACK WELDS. QUOTED $1800 TO FIX. ADVISED CAR…
ODI #10233822 · Filed July 10, 2008
MY 1998 BMW M ROADSTER, WITH UNDER 71,000 MILES, IS SHOWING SIGNS OF REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE. I AM AWARE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OF THEM THAT WERE DRIVEN HARD ON TRACKS, BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO/FROM WORK AND BETWEEN CHATTANOOGA AND ATLANTA…

Read all 19 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 BMW M Roadster right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 BMW M Roadster. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

19 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 BMW M Roadster.

Suspension; Power Train

ODI #10385548

Incident: February 1, 2011 · Filed: February 26, 2011

I DID A QUICK SEARCH OF THE NHTSA DATABASE AND HAVE FOUND APPROX. 60 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAFETY ISSUE. I'M QUITE SURPRISED THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT SANCTIONED BMW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AFTER BEING INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND BEING ADVISED TO CHECK FOR IT, I FOUND THAT THE SPOT WELDS HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT TO THE SUB-FRAME HAD TORN LOOSE, AND THE SUB-FRAME AND MOUNT WERE BOTH BEGINNING TO TEAR. HAD I NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM IN TIME, THE DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE CAR (AS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS).

Structure

ODI #10296871

Incident: December 23, 2009 · Filed: December 24, 2009

RATTLING NOISE FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. LOCAL SHOP REPLACED WORN EXHAUST BRACKET; DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. SHOP LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AT CAR AND SAW CRACKS IN DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET AND CRACKS IN REAR SUBFRAME. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL FRAME SHOP AND THEY ALSO SAW POPPED TACK WELDS. QUOTED $1800 TO FIX. ADVISED CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. I SAW THE CRACKS AND I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE THEM. CAR CREAKS, GROANS, AND RATTLES A LOT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. *TR

Structure

ODI #10233822

Incident: July 10, 2008 · Filed: July 10, 2008

MY 1998 BMW M ROADSTER, WITH UNDER 71,000 MILES, IS SHOWING SIGNS OF REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE. I AM AWARE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OF THEM THAT WERE DRIVEN HARD ON TRACKS, BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO/FROM WORK AND BETWEEN CHATTANOOGA AND ATLANTA. AFTER RECENTLY HEARING SOME MORE RATTLING FROM THE REAR, I'VE LIFTED THE TRUNK MAT AND FOUND THE TELL-TALE SIGN: POPPING SPOT-WELDS. I'M NOT SURE HOW SEVERE IT IS AT THIS POINT, AND AS A STUDENT, I CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP OR OTHER SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED YET, BUT IT WILL BECOME A SEVERE PROBLEM, AND I HAVE HEARD THAT BMW IS UNLIKELY TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. I WOULD LIKE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER. *TR

Structure

ODI #10217438

Incident: January 28, 2008 · Filed: February 8, 2008

MY BMW M ROADSTER HAS SUSTAINED A MASSIVE CHASSIS AND SUBFRAME FAILURE MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND INOPERABLE. *TR

Structure

ODI #10211084

Incident: December 5, 2007 · Filed: December 6, 2007

2 MONTHS AGO MY EXHAUST SYSTEM DROPPED ON MY CAR, AND WAS RUBBING ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I TOOK IT INTO A SHOP, AND THE EXHAUST BRACKET WAS MODIFIED TO CLEAR THE DIFFERENTIAL. I WENT IN TO HAVE MY BELTS REPLACED YESTERDAY, AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE REAR SUBFRAME OF MY CAR HAD TORN AWAY FROM THE BODY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

Structure

ODI #10181515

Incident: February 3, 2007 · Filed: February 4, 2007

I HAVE A 1998 BMW M ROADSTER. THE SUBFRAME IS STARTING TO RUPTURE (TEAR) AND WELDS IN THE TRUNK ARE BREAKING. IF THIS CONTINUES THE RESULT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WAS JUST DIAGNOSED SO NO REPAIR ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. *NM

Power Train; Structure

ODI #10177032

Incident: December 25, 2006 · Filed: December 27, 2006

I READ ABOUT THE REAR SUBFRAME TEARING OFF OF BMW Z3S AND M ROADSTERS AND DECIDED TO HAVE A LOOK AT MINE. FOUND THE WELDS HOLDING THE SUBFRAME ON WERE FAILING BADLY AND THE BRACKET HOLD MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS SPLITTING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM I GUESS. *NM

Power Train; Structure

ODI #10165581

Incident: August 1, 2004 · Filed: August 15, 2006

1) DRIVING, SUB-FRAME WELD SEPARATION (SEAM AND SPOT WELDS) AND DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT CRACK. 3) ONE FAILED ATTEMPT AT RE-WELD BY BODY SHOP. *JB

Structure

ODI #10155903

Incident: April 23, 2006 · Filed: April 23, 2006

I HAVE A 1998 BMW M ROADSTER WITH 101,000 MILES ON IT. THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS MANY CRACKS IN THE REAR SUBFRAME AND TRUNK AREA, INCLUDING THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT. THE CAR WAS NEVER RACED OR AUTOCROSSED, BUT IS MY DAILY TRANSPORT TO WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE TRANSAXLES COULD EASILY FALL OUT OF THE CAR AT SPEED. FORTUNATELY, I SPOTTED IT WHILE REPLACING THE EXHAUST AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I AM A PHD MATERIALS SCIENTIST AND SPOT THIS AS METAL FATIGUE. *NM

Air Bags

ODI #10144279

Filed: November 29, 2005

CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE AIR BAG IN THE PASSENGER SIDE IN HIS 1998 BMW M ROADSTER BE DISCONNECTED FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS YOUNG CHILDREN. *TS *NM *** TRANSFER TO TIS***

Check your 1998 BMW M Roadster VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW M Roadster at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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