Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 BMW M Roadster problems
Owners filed 19 complaints about the 2000 BMW M Roadster with NHTSA between Aug 2001 and Oct 2018. The most-cited component is structure (15).
Complaints
19
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure15
- Power train3
- Suspension2
- Air bags1
- Fuel system, other1
- Electrical system1
- Visibility1
- Tires1
- Interior lighting1
- Equipment1
- Steering1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
1
2
3
2
2
1
1
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
15 reports1 crash1 fire
“SUB FRAME HAS CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING.DURING REGULAR COMMUTES AND DRIVES ON RESIDENTAL ROADS I BEGAN TO HEAR NOISES FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND I TOOK A LOOK UNDERNEATH CAR, THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK IN THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING EAR. I ALSO CHECKED INSIDE OF THE HATCH AREA AND REMOVED THE SOUND DEADENING REVEALING A SMALL SEPARATION OF THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE.”
Power train
3 reports
“MY ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE IS SPLITTING FROM THE SEEMS!!! I HAVE A 2000 BMW M ROADSTER (Z3) AND RECENTLY I NOTICE A CREAKING IN THE REAR. THEN ONE DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A TEAR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SHEET METAL UNI-BODY CONSTRUCTION. THE CARS DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS PRACTICALLY DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT TO THE CAR WERE THE SHOCKS AND SPRINGS. THE TRUCK FLOOR THAT THE MOUNT WAS SPOT WELDED TO HAS SEPARATED FROM THE CAR. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW! THE CAR AT THIS MOMENT IS NOT DRIVABLE! MY CAR IS NOW AT A DINAN SHOP. DINAN IS A COMPANY THAT MAKES HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS FOR BMW'S. WHEN DINAN PARTS ARE USED AND INSTALLED AT AN AUTHORIZED DINAN DEALER A BMW WOULD STILL BE ENTIRELY WARRANTED BY BMW. DINAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO AND HAVE CREATED A DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT REINFORCEMENT KIT TO ADDRESS THIS. SO OBVIOUSLY BMW IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. IT COSTS $299 HOWEVER REQUIRES 16 HOURS OF WORK BY A HIGHLY SKILLED TECHNICIAN WITH FABRICATION AND WELDING SKILLS. I SEE THIS HAS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SCENARIO IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I…”
Suspension
2 reports1 crash1 fire
“DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FAILURE. SUBFRAME SEPARATES FROM TRUNK FLOOR. COMMON IN THE Z3M ROADSTERS. SUBFRAME IS JUST SPOT WELDED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR AND NEEDS TO BE RE-ENFORCED. THE RE-ENFORCEMENT KITS ARE SOLD BY FURTHER CONFIRMING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. DROPPING YOUR DIFFERENTIAL WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TT”
Air bags
1 report
“THE AIRBAG (SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT ON MY CAR'S DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL KEEPS COMING ON. INFORMATION ON THE Z-3 ROADSTER INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD (HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.ORG/BMW/FORUMS/Z3/) INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A COMMON FAULT ON THE BMW Z-3/M ROADSTER MODELS, DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS UNDER THE SEAT OR FAULTY SENSORS IN THE SEAT BELT LATCHES. SINCE THIS COMMON FAULT AFFECTS THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM, BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS.*AK”
Fuel system, other
1 report1 crash1 fire
“THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: FIRE RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS, DUE TO DESIGN FLAW/ OR MISROUTING OF WIRES DUE TO SERVICE DEALER (BMW)-WHILE DRIVING, ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR (TIRES COMPLETELY BALD ON INSIDE @ 150K MILES) DUE TO ALIGNMENT, RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM BENT, NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS-(BLOWN FUSE/INOPERATIVE GAUGES/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/HEAD LAMP CIRCUIT BURNED/ & AIR FLOW METER CIRCUIT), POWER WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS,, RADIO MALFUNCTION, SENDING UNIT, CLOCK-INTERMITTENT, HEATING/AC-MISSING INSULATION/CAUSED SHORT/CONTROLS INOPERATIVE, FAULTY LIGHTING, BODY EQUIPMENT, POWER CONTROL WIRES FOR AUX COOLING FAN/MISROUTED OVER DRIVER'S FRAME RAIL, AND HORN CIRCUIT BURNED BEHIND DRIVER'S HEADLAMP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE WEAR WAS DUE TO THE DRIVING HABIT OF CONSUMER. ALSO, THE CONSUMER HYDROPLAINED AND SPUN OFF THE ROAD(POOL OFF WATER ON THE INTERSTATE). THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE SERVICE DEALER AND OR MANUFACTURER, SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE VEHICLE AT NO COST DUE TO THE DESIGN FLAW-AT THE TIME/STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SCC *TS”
Electrical system
1 report1 crash1 fire
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.