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BMW 318Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 118 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on record for the BMW 318.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints118Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls71984–2001 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

BMW 318 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 318 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'84'85'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2001Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/10019 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/10020 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/10017 complaints · 2 recalls1992Not rated–/10016 complaints · 4 recalls1991Not rated–/10021 complaints · 3 recalls1990Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1984Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common BMW 318 problems

All model years combined: 118 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling534
Air bags2015
Electrical system180
Power train80
Fuel system, gasoline80
Visibility61
Seat belts63
Equipment50
Service brakes, hydraulic41
10 other systems214
7 recalls

BMW 318 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings94V-066 · 1989–1993 · Apr 11, 1994 · 116,300 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system94V-037 · 1992–1994 · Feb 17, 1994 · 23,500 vehicles–Defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core93V-015 · 1984–1992 · Feb 1, 1993 · 375,000 vehicles–Vehicle speed control91V-219 · 1991–1992 · Dec 17, 1991 · 15,200 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar86V-138 · 1985 · Oct 20, 1986 · 120,261 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system85V-058 · 1984 · May 6, 1985 · 11,000 vehicles–Windshield: electrical heating element84V-107 · 1984 · Sep 11, 1984 · 4,748 vehicles
3 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 318

  1. AIR BAG WIRING FAILUREEA95013 · 1991–1993 · closed Jul 15, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-110
  2. HEATER CORE FAILUREEA92017 · 1984–1992 · closed Mar 30, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-015
  3. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHEA89007 · 1985 · closed Jul 26, 1989
    No recall