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1997 BMW 318IC Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1997 BMW 318IC, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
1
owner complaint to NHTSA

1 safety recall for the 1997 BMW 318IC

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. 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.

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 BMW 318IC have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Compare BMW 318IC model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 318IC model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1992 BMW 318IC11
1993 BMW 318IC10
1994 BMW 318IC21
1995 BMW 318IC34
1996 BMW 318IC12
1997 BMW 318IC11
2000 BMW 318IC01
2001 BMW 318IC02
2003 BMW 318IC02

Checking a specific 1997 BMW 318IC

How do I know if my 1997 BMW 318IC 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 1997 BMW 318IC; 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

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.