1985 BMW 318I Problems
- Complaints
- 7filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 145,000miles, 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 1985 BMW 318I (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 1985 BMW 318I. The part named most often is electrical system, with 2 complaints (29% of the total), followed by fuel system (2) and visibility (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 145,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.
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.
- Electrical system2 29%
- Fuel system2 29%
- Brakes1 14%
- Engine cooling1 14%
Example complaints
Fuel system: “I was told a few years back by c.s.a.a. About a TSB on the bmw318i with automatic transmission. This had to do with the high speed idle test when doing the smog test. I question this problem because of the problem that I just noticed about the coolent system failure TSB. My car has quit running twice on me and resulted me having to replace the fuel pump relay and fule pump. Can this be a result of the fuel pump overheating?”
NHTSA complaint #761632, filed 2002-05Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “While driving heard a loud noise and the inside of the car filled up with steam. This caused the driver not to be able to see. Consumer was forced to pull car over. Car was towed to consumer's home. Consumer says that the heater core blew up. Service instrument panel was affected.”
NHTSA complaint #854435, filed 1999-12Brakes: “1/12/04 brake replacement. 3/16/04 -engine smoking. 3/17/04 radiator hose,clamps antifreeze,new radiator $368.17 - 7/28/04 vehicle caught on fire and exploded. My daughter was seconds from being burned alive.”
NHTSA complaint #10088308, filed 2004-08, 145,000 milesMileage 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 145,000 and 145,000 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 1985 BMW 318I 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
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Electrical system. The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Other model years of the BMW 318I
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 8 | 84,750 | 0 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 5 | 89,002 | 1 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 14 | 129,500 | 2 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 14 | 120,000 | 2 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 1993 | 11 | — | 2 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 1992 | 8 | 57,484 | 3 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 8 | 69,999 | 1 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 7 | 145,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1985 BMW 318I have?
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 1985 BMW 318I as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1985 BMW 318I is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 2 complaints (29% of the total), followed by fuel system with 2.
Has the 1985 BMW 318I 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 1985 BMW 318I reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 145,000 miles and the middle half falls between 145,000 and 145,000 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 28, 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.