Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 BMW M Roadster, most frequently naming the body & structure, powertrain (other) and suspension categories. 7 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 6 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 7 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 8 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 9 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 10 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 11 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 12 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 13 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 14 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 15 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 16 |
| Feb 2012 | 1 | 17 |
| Jul 2012 | 1 | 18 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 19 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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.
THE SUB-FRAME HAS SEVERAL FAILED WELDS THAT HAVE CAUSED A SAGGING OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE BROKEN WELDS HAVE CAUSED SEVERAL, SEVERE CRACKS AND SEPARATIONS IN THE SUB-FRAME AS WELL AS ALMOST COMPLETE FAILURE AND SEPARATION IN THE TRUNK FLOOR. THIS HAS CAUSED THE CV AXLE TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE AND HAS CAUSED HOLES AND RIPS IN THE RUBBER BOOT, LEADING TO THE IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF THAT COMPONENT AS WELL. THIS RENDERS THE CAR IMMOBILE AND WILL REQUIRE AT THE LEAST 3,500$ IN REPAIRS. THIS IS IN NO WAY AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE COMPONENTS OF A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND FELL ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE; AS A RESULT OF THE BUSHINGS AND TRUNK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A LOCAL MECHANIC. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACING THE SUB-FRAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,800.
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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
SEPARATION OF REAR SUBFRAME MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND RESULTING IN $12,000 OF REPAIRS. ALTHOUGH EVIDENTLY A WELL KNOWN AND UDERSTOOD FAILURE, IT NEVER RESULTED IN A RECALL, AND I WAS NEVER ADVISED OF THE ISSUE BY BMW, UNTIL TH SUBFRAME WAS ALREADY SEPARATING, MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
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 THOUGHT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR I WAS BUYING A RELIABLE WELL ENGINEERED BMW VEHICLE! I HOPE THIS IS ADDRESSED BEFORE A FATALITY ACTUALLY OCCURS. *TR
I BOUGHT A YEAR 2000 M ROADSTER (BMW), AND TWO MONTHS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE BOTTOM REAR UNDERFRAME HAD CRACKED TO THE POINT WHERE THE TAIL PIPE AND DIFFERENTIAL AREA WERE READY TO DROP TO THE GROUND. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP (WHO HAD SOLD ME THE CAR WITH ONLY A 30 DAY LIMITED WARRANTY), AND THEY HAVE OFFERED TO EITHER REPAIR FOR FREE OR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK, MY CHOICE. *TR
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop. CAUSE Material-
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
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL VISCOSITY CHANGE. *JG
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SUBJECT REGARDING 2000 Z3 ETM SUPPLEMENT. *TT
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.