RecallMyCar

BMW 318IS Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 32 owner complaints across 7 model years of the BMW 318IS (1991–1997). The most-complained-about year is 1993.

4
safety recalls, all years
32
owner complaints, all years
1992
year with most recalls
1993
year with most complaints

Pick your BMW 318IS model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1997 BMW 318IS12
1996 BMW 318IS10
1995 BMW 318IS23
1994 BMW 318IS25
1993 BMW 318IS213
1992 BMW 318IS33
1991 BMW 318IS16

What BMW 318IS owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. The 1993 model year has the most, with 13.

All BMW 318IS recalls (4)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a BMW 318IS, 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.