NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 BMW M Roadster Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 BMW M Roadster right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 18 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 BMW M Roadster.

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1999 BMW M Roadster owner complaints

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW M Roadster, describing incidents dated March 12, 2004 to July 24, 2015.

Most-cited components

Structure 9 complaints
Power Train 5 complaints
Suspension 5 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Seats 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10764225 · Filed September 16, 2015
OVER SEVERAL MONTHS I HEARD INCREASING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS THE DIFFERENTIAL TO THE SUBFRAME HAD PULLED LOOSE FROM THE TRUNK. THE CAR COULD NOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN, MY BODYSHOP SUGGESTED I SEND IT TO THE BMW DEALER…
ODI #10744495 · Filed July 28, 2015
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ENGINE MAINTENANCE AND ASKED THEM TO ADDRESS SQUEAKS AND RATTLES. ON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR CROSSMEMBER HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE UNIBODY AND THE MOUNT HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL IN HAD ONLY 1/4 IN OF 4 INCHES HOLDING THE AFT END OF THE DIFFERENTIAL…
ODI #10451824 · Filed March 15, 2012
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE REAR END FAIL AND BEGAN TO DRAG. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP, IT WAS NOTED THE REAR END SUBFRAME WELDS CAME LOSE. AFTER CONTACTING THE INSURANCE COMPANY THEY TOTALED THE CAR OUT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK AND MADE REPAIRS TO THE CAR THAT COST ME $4000.00. *TR

Read all 18 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 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 1999 BMW M Roadster. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

18 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW M Roadster.

Suspension

ODI #10764225

Incident: January 13, 2010 · Filed: September 16, 2015

OVER SEVERAL MONTHS I HEARD INCREASING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS THE DIFFERENTIAL TO THE SUBFRAME HAD PULLED LOOSE FROM THE TRUNK. THE CAR COULD NOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN, MY BODYSHOP SUGGESTED I SEND IT TO THE BMW DEALER IN CHARLOTTE NC. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND FIXED IT. NOW 5 YEARS AND 10K MILES HAVE PASSED AND THE SUB-FRAME MOUNT IS PULLING LOOSE AGAIN, THE WELDS POP OUT AND THE NOISE HAS STARTED. IT MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL.

Suspension; Power Train

ODI #10744495

Incident: July 24, 2015 · Filed: July 28, 2015

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ENGINE MAINTENANCE AND ASKED THEM TO ADDRESS SQUEAKS AND RATTLES. ON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR CROSSMEMBER HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE UNIBODY AND THE MOUNT HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL IN HAD ONLY 1/4 IN OF 4 INCHES HOLDING THE AFT END OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. COMPLETE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC CHAIN OF EVENTS CAUSING A CRASH AND POSSIBLE FATALITIES. LOOKING ON LINE I FOUND NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THE SAME KIND RESULTING FROM METAL FATIGUE BROUGHT ON BY FAULTY DESIGN. AT LEAST THIS WAS THE OPINION OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME FAILURE. ONE PERSON HAD A PHDS IN METALLURGY.

Suspension; Structure

ODI #10451824

Incident: March 20, 2008 · Filed: March 15, 2012

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE REAR END FAIL AND BEGAN TO DRAG. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP, IT WAS NOTED THE REAR END SUBFRAME WELDS CAME LOSE. AFTER CONTACTING THE INSURANCE COMPANY THEY TOTALED THE CAR OUT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK AND MADE REPAIRS TO THE CAR THAT COST ME $4000.00. *TR

Suspension; Unknown or Other

ODI #10417535

Incident: May 1, 2011 · Filed: August 4, 2011

CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IT NOW HAS A BROKEN SUBFRAME. IT BEGAN AS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT NEEDED STRUTS. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER I SAW A TEAR IN THE FRAME. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP FIRST AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. SO I CONTACTED BMW AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A LOCAL DEALER. AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE $10,000 PLUS TO FIX IT. THE REAR END IS BASICALLY SITTING ON THE EXHAUST WHICH IS THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT TO THE CAR. SEVERAL SPOT WELD HAVE FAILED THIS IS COMMON AMONG ALL BMW Z-3 CARS. MUCH LIKE THE 3 SERIES IN THE SAME YEARS ( 1999 - 2006 CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT) THEY ALL NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT. BMW IS NOT INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM AND BASICALLY OFFERED ME $2000 TO HAVE IT FIXED IN THEIR SHOP. IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK. LOOKING ON LINE THIS IS A CHRONIC ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED.

Structure

ODI #10416542

Incident: August 1, 2011 · Filed: August 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO FATIGUE. THE SHEET METAL WAS TOO THIN AND THE BOX BEAM WAS TOO SMALL. UPDATED 11/04/11

Power Train; Structure

ODI #10290785

Incident: November 2, 2009 · Filed: November 3, 2009

THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FOR THE CAR HAS TORN LOOSE FROM THE TRUNK FLOOR IT IS WELDED TO. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I FOUND THIS DEFECT BEFORE ONE OCCURRED. HAD I NOT FOUND THIS DEFECT, THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE COULD HAVE COME LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR

Structure

ODI #10257952

Incident: November 1, 2008 · Filed: February 8, 2009

NOISE DEVELOPING UNDER REAR UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR

Suspension; Power Train; Structure

ODI #10257030

Incident: December 1, 2008 · Filed: January 31, 2009

DIFFERENTIAL SUBFRAME CAUSES WELD FAILURES APPEARING IN TRUNK AND OTHER BODY LOCATIONS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECT THAT GENERATES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THIS DEFECT IS BEING REPORTED BY AN INCREASING NUMBER OF Z3 OWNERS OVER TIME. *TR

Structure

ODI #10206576

Incident: October 1, 2007 · Filed: October 22, 2007

REAR SUBFRAME SEPARATION ON 1999 M ROADSTER (Z3). *TR

Power Train

ODI #10187026

Incident: March 17, 2007 · Filed: April 4, 2007

FAILURE OF THE TRUNK FLOOR SUPPORTING THE DIFFERENTIAL, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *JB

Check your 1999 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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