1997 BMW 318 Problems
- Complaints
- 5filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 218,800miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 BMW 318 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1997 BMW 318. The part named most often is air bags, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and engine cooling (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 218,800 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags2 40%
- Brakes1 20%
- Engine cooling1 20%
- Steering1 20%
Example complaints
Air bags: “Air bag safety light keeps going off. The manual states the system malfunctioned, could prevent system from responding to a high intensity frontal impact occurring within normal response range. Dealer was contacted three times and cannot duplicate the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #826132, filed 1998-07Engine cooling: “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 1999-06Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 218,800 and 218,800 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 BMW 318 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1997 BMW 318.
Other model years of the BMW 318
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 5 | 218,800 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 5 | 75,688 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 19 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1994 | 20 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1993 | 17 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1992 | 16 | — | 4 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 21 | — | 3 | — | — | — | Stable |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 BMW 318 have?
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1997 BMW 318 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 BMW 318 is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.
Has the 1997 BMW 318 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 BMW 318 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 218,800 miles and the middle half falls between 218,800 and 218,800 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.