1991 BMW 318 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1991 BMW 318, and owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1991 BMW 318
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Feed fuel hoses can harden and "set" over time, allowing a seepage of fuel at the connection between the hose and the engine fitting. The clamp used to hold the hose to the fitting is unable to compensate for the hardening of the feed fuel hose.
Remedy: A redesigned feed fuel hose and hose clamp will be installed to alleviate the fuel seepage.
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Heater core (visibility)
The malfunction or failure of a coolant system component results in significantly increased coolant temperature and a resulting increase in system pressure.
Remedy: Dealers will install a thermostatic bypass valve in the engine compartment to control coolant temperature in the heater core. Also, a new design radiator cap will be installed, to control pressure and provide greater…
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Vehicle speed control
The crankcase ventilation system, vented into the intake tract of the engine at the bellows boot ahead of the throttle housing, allows warm water vapor from the crankcase vent to condense and freeze in the colder bellows boot when the ambient air temperature is 15 degrees fahrenheit or less. The build up of ice can dislodge and move…
Remedy: Replace the throttle housing with a version containing a modified heating system along with rerouting of the cvs hose. This will prevent ice build-up in the intake tract.
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1991 BMW 318 have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 10 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Vehicle was involved in a collision. Immediately after impact, vehicle began to leak anti-freeze due to dfective engine profile gasket.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 31, 1997 · Engine and engine cooling
“While driving vehicle the consumer found out, vehicle was dripping coolin fluid. The consumer stopped and saw the cooling fluid was coming out of the radiator. Dealer was contacted. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 2, 1997 · Engine and engine cooling
Compare BMW 318 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 318 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 BMW 318 | 3 | 3 |
| 1985 BMW 318 | 2 | 2 |
| 1989 BMW 318 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 BMW 318 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 BMW 318 | 3 | 21 |
| 1992 BMW 318 | 4 | 16 |
| 1993 BMW 318 | 2 | 17 |
| 1994 BMW 318 | 1 | 20 |
| 1995 BMW 318 | 0 | 19 |
| 1996 BMW 318 | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 BMW 318 | 0 | 5 |
| 1998 BMW 318 | 0 | 3 |
| 2001 BMW 318 | 0 | 6 |
Checking a specific 1991 BMW 318
How do I know if my 1991 BMW 318 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1991 BMW 318; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 91V219000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.