By model year
The 1994 model year drew the most complaints, 14
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Model line
BMW 318I
Every BMW 318I model year on file, 1984 to 2005. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.
Owner complaints, all model years9014 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years131984 to 2005
Recall campaigns4Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins47Summed across model years
Components
Engine and cooling leads the BMW 318I complaint record
Owner complaints across all model years, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years
The record for each BMW 318I model year
Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.
| Year | Body | Complaints | Severity index | Peer index | Recalls | Investigations | Bulletins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2003 | Hatchback | 3 | 0.0 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 2001 | Coupe | 4 | 25.0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1998 | Sedan | 8 | 25.0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1997 | Sedan | 5 | 0.0 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 1996 | Convertible | 3 | 66.7 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 1995 | Sedan | 14 | 21.4 | 76 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 1994 | Sedan | 14 | 14.3 | 88 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 1993 | Not decoded | 11 | 0.0 | 1,100 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1992 | Sedan | 8 | 0.0 | 44 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1991 | Sedan | 8 | 12.5 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1985 | Sedan | 7 | 42.9 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 | Sedan | 5 | 0.0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns covering the BMW 318I
- 98V-178 Aug 4, 1998
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles
Engine and cooling · 340k vehicles - 97V-131 Aug 19, 1997
Cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing
Speed control · 410k vehicles - 96V-110 Jul 1, 1996
Air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning
Airbags · 75k vehicles - 91V-054 Apr 10, 1991
During testing, incorrectly installed driver-side knee bolster prevented steering column from moving forward as designed to absorb impact energy…
Airbags · 14k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.