2001 BMW Z3 Roadster Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 38%of 8 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 35,009miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2001 BMW Z3 Roadster, 38% of the 8 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 35,009 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I am driving as normal and then the car begins to have problems shifting and the transmission indicator light comes on. The owners manual tell you to pull over and shift the car into park and then apply the parking brake and turn the car off and then back on. It seems to temporarily correct the problem but it still occurs on days when the air temp. Is high. I have had the car on the diagnostic a number of times with no cure. As far as I know there are no recalls on the transmission or ecu. …”
NHTSA complaint #10462350, filed 2012-06, 120,000 miles“On june 3,2005, I had new brakes & tires put on my 2001 z-3 Bmw roadster by hendricks Bmw of hickory,nc. On july 8,2005 while decending mountain rd in cherokee,nc, my clutch locked-up and I was unable to drive the car. I had the car towed to hendrick's where they claim I needed a new clutch for $875.00. There is only 35,000 miles on my car and I feel the Bmw center didn't check the brake fluid when my brakes were replaced and that caused the clutch to lock-up. …”
NHTSA complaint #10128530, filed 2005-07, 35,009 miles“I have a 2003 Bmw z4 with sequential manual gearbox. The car automatically shifts into neutral without any warning. This is very dangerous when you are trying to merge into traffic. I was almost in an accident because I stepped on the gas and the car didn't move. The car is supposed to shift into 1st gear automatically when stopping but then it shifts to neutral without touching the shift knob and it does so whenever it decides to do it. This is a situation that needs to be addressed immediately and Bmw states there is no recalls on it or service bulletins. …”
NHTSA complaint #10036629, filed 2003-08, 1,050 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2001 BMW Z3 Roadster
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 BMW Z3 Roadster
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology