RoadVitals

1999 BMW M Roadster

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Sep 16, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 BMW M Roadster, most frequently naming the body & structure, powertrain (other) and suspension categories. 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure939.1%
  • Powertrain (other)521.7%
  • Suspension521.7%
  • Airbags28.7%
  • Interior & seats14.3%
  • Visibility14.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 18
Suspension
Filed Sep 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.

NHTSA ID
10764225
Incident
Jan 13, 2010
Mileage
90,019 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jul 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.

NHTSA ID
10744495
Incident
Jul 24, 2015
Mileage
145,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Mar 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

NHTSA ID
10451824
Incident
Mar 20, 2008
Mileage
67,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 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.

NHTSA ID
10417535
Incident
May 1, 2011
Mileage
1,350,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 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

NHTSA ID
10416542
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
135,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 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

NHTSA ID
10290785
Incident
Nov 2, 2009
Mileage
98,010 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 8, 2009

NOISE DEVELOPING UNDER REAR UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10257952
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Mileage
100,555 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jan 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

NHTSA ID
10257030
Incident
Dec 1, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B340714

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop. CAUSE Material-

SIB-34-04-14

SERVICE BRAKES

BMW: RUNNING NOISES HEARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, WITH HIGH BRAKE LOADS; THROUGH WHEEL OPENING, VISIBLE CRACKS CAN BE SEEN IN BRAKE DISCS AND STEERING WHEEL TORSIONAL VIBRATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *PE

710199

EQUIPMENT

PROCEDURES ON REPLACING M-MOBILITY SYSTEM. *TT

120299

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH ON COLD START. *TT

34 08 98

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PROCEDURES TO INSTALL ASC SWITCH AND INDICATOR BULB. *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW M Roadster by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008100—
2007000—
2006000—
2002500—
2001400—
2000190033.9
1999Viewing180027.8
1998190035.5

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.