RecallMyCar

BMW 318I Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 90 owner complaints across 12 model years of the BMW 318I (1984–2003). The most-complained-about year is 1994.

4
safety recalls, all years
90
owner complaints, all years
1992
year with most recalls
1994
year with most complaints

Pick your BMW 318I model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2003 BMW 318I03
2001 BMW 318I04
1998 BMW 318I08
1997 BMW 318I15
1996 BMW 318I13
1995 BMW 318I214
1994 BMW 318I214
1993 BMW 318I211
1992 BMW 318I38
1991 BMW 318I18
1985 BMW 318I07
1984 BMW 318I05

What BMW 318I owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA. The 1994 model year has the most, with 14.

All BMW 318I recalls (4)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a BMW 318I, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V178000 Reported 340,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by the driver, it is possible that damage to,…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new design radiator cap to control pressure and provide greater coolant overflow in the event of overheating.

    Model years: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

  2. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 97V131000 Reported 410,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    The cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing. It is possible that the plastic bushing on either cable could break due to environmental influences coupled with vibration. If the bushing breaks, the outer cable housing can separate from the bushing. In this case,…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a spring steel clip on the outer tube of each cable in the area of the adjusting screw and plastic bushing. The clip is designed to prevent the outer tube from dislodging from the bushing.

    Model years: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997

  3. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 96V110000 Reported 75,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    The air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the locking tab with one of a different design.

    Model years: 1992

  4. Knee bolster (air bags)

    NHTSA 91V054000 Reported 13,500 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    During testing, incorrectly installed driver-side knee bolster prevented steering column from moving forward as designed to absorb impact energy from driver dummy.

    Remedy: Repair the knee bolster to allow clearance and avoid impedance of steering column movement during frontal impact.

    Model years: 1991

Other BMW models

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.