BMW 318 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 109 consumer complaints across the 8 model years of the BMW 318 (1991–2001) that have at least 5 complaints. 1991 has the most, with 21. Across all years, the part named most often is engine cooling (50 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All 318 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 | — | 0 | 3 | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 5 | 218,800 | 0 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 5 | 75,688 | 0 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 19 | — | 0 | 0 | — | Stable |
| 1994 | 20 | — | 1 | 0 | — | Stable |
| 1993 | 17 | — | 2 | 0 | — | Stable |
| 1992 | 16 | — | 4 | 0 | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 21 | — | 3 | 0 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine cooling50 43%
- Air bags19 16%
- Electrical system18 15%
- Transmission and drivetrain7 6.0%
- Fuel system7 6.0%
- Brakes6 5.1%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)5 4.3%
- Seat belts5 4.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1996: “The vehicle had a gas leak in the tank. The dealer was notified. The consumer filled the gas tank and 15 minutes later all the gas leaked out. The consumer also experienced problems with the brakes, engine, and the A/C panel which intermittently went out.”
NHTSA complaint #10026300, filed 2003-08, 75,688 miles1997: “Converter failure at <20000 miles seems unusaul. In talking to two dealers, both service departments indicated that the 318's had a problem with the converters that year . Seems to me that if they had a problem, they should fix rather than waiting for it to break, then my having to take time off from work, and rent a car while mine is in for repairs.”
NHTSA complaint #707542, filed 1999-061995: “I don't have the exact date and speed of failure. My car would not go into gear when shifted while driving at a lower speed. It would also pop out of gear on the road. Bmw replaced the transmission on warranty, and said it was a common problem. I've just heard from another person with the 318ti with similar problem. I am concerned that there is no recall on Bmw's part because of the possible danger of having your transmission going out while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #707899, filed 1999-06Other BMW models
3,165 complaintsBMW 328I
2,576 complaintsBMW X3
2,016 complaintsBMW 325I
1,377 complaintsBMW Z4
1,271 complaintsBMW 3 Series
832 complaintsBMW 528I
830 complaintsBMW 330I
813 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology