1996 BMW 318I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 BMW 318I, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1996 BMW 318I
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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Vehicle speed control
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.
3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 BMW 318I have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 26,653 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle pulled to the left and lost control. Hit an embankment. Upon impact, driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant in this crash”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 3, 1999 · Air bags
Compare BMW 318I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 318I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 BMW 318I | 0 | 5 |
| 1985 BMW 318I | 0 | 7 |
| 1991 BMW 318I | 1 | 8 |
| 1992 BMW 318I | 3 | 8 |
| 1993 BMW 318I | 2 | 11 |
| 1994 BMW 318I | 2 | 14 |
| 1995 BMW 318I | 2 | 14 |
| 1996 BMW 318I | 1 | 3 |
| 1997 BMW 318I | 1 | 5 |
| 1998 BMW 318I | 0 | 8 |
| 2001 BMW 318I | 0 | 4 |
| 2003 BMW 318I | 0 | 3 |
Checking a specific 1996 BMW 318I
How do I know if my 1996 BMW 318I 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 BMW 318I; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 97V131000).
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
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- 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.