2001 BMW 318 Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 83%of 6 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2001 BMW 318, 83% of the 6 complaints for this model year. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“My car was simply idling in a parking lot with the A/C on for a few minutes when I returned to find my car with smoke billowing from under the hood. I immediately ran to the car and turned it off. I noticed the temperature gauge was all the way to the red zone. I then noticed radiator fluid spilling to the ground. I opened the hood of the car and noticed the fluid was releasing from the radiator cap. My car was towed to the dealer and they replaced the cooling fan. This is not an isolated incident. …”
NHTSA complaint #746872, filed 2001-06“New Bmw combusted -- electrical fire due to defect in fan assembly already known to Bmw. Had I been driving the car at the time, it would have resulted in a fatality.”
NHTSA complaint #750648, filed 2001-08Engine cooling: other model years
Other parts of the 2001 BMW 318
← All problems reported for the 2001 BMW 318
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology