1993 BMW 318I
2 recalls, 15 complaints - 4 TSBs
98V178000 Aug 4, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Defect Description
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 T... Read more
Consequence
IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
97V131000 Aug 19, 1997
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Defect Description
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 SEP... Read more
Consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Complaint Statistics
15 total complaints
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Feb 12, 2002
Incident date: Jan 20, 2002
THIS COMMON DEFECT HAS STRUCK MY VEHICLE. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED, BMW ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM, BUT WON'T RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Dec 28, 1999
Incident date: Nov 29, 1998
VEHICLE HAD BLOWN AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET AT 46,000 MILES.ALSO, IGNITION WAS NOT WORKING. HAD NO WARNING PRIOR TO SEEING STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHUT VEHICLE DOWN & THEN RESTARTED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL CAME BACK ON. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Dec 28, 1999
Incident date: Nov 29, 1998
VEHICLE HAD BLOWN AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET AT 46,000 MILES.ALSO, IGNITION WAS NOT WORKING. HAD NO WARNING PRIOR TO SEEING STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHUT VEHICLE DOWN & THEN RESTARTED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL CAME BACK ON. *AK
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Dec 28, 1999
Incident date: Nov 29, 1998
VEHICLE HAD BLOWN AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET AT 46,000 MILES.ALSO, IGNITION WAS NOT WORKING. HAD NO WARNING PRIOR TO SEEING STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHUT VEHICLE DOWN & THEN RESTARTED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL CAME BACK ON. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Dec 9, 1999
Incident date: Feb 17, 1998
HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. YH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Oct 29, 1999
Incident date: Oct 20, 1999
ALL COOLANT LOST, SUDDENLY & W/O WARNING; COOLANT LOST INTO THE ENVIRONMENT; SUDDEN ENGINE TEMPERATURE RISE REQUIRED DANGEROUS EMERGENCY MANOUVER TO REACH SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE ENGINE DAMAGE; FOLLOWING VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED & DRIVERS BLINDED BY LOST COOLANT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Aug 27, 1999
Incident date: Aug 27, 1999
WELL KNOWN M42 ENGINE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE ALLOWS COOLANT TO SPILL AND RENDERS VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE WITHOUT WARNING.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Mar 17, 1999
Incident date: Jun 1, 1998
ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH REGULATOR. POWER WINDOWS AND SUNROOF STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTER THAT. IS THERE SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO SHORT OUT.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Mar 17, 1999
Incident date: Jun 1, 1998
ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH REGULATOR. POWER WINDOWS AND SUNROOF STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTER THAT. IS THERE SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO SHORT OUT.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Mar 17, 1999
Incident date: Jun 1, 1998
ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH REGULATOR. POWER WINDOWS AND SUNROOF STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTER THAT. IS THERE SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO SHORT OUT.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Nov 22, 1998
Incident date: Oct 11, 1998
TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET HAD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. ALL COOLANT WAS LOST. COMPLETE DAMAGE (WARPED HEAD, ETC) UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. DEALER ESTIMATES $1000 TO REPAIR GASKET. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE (AS I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED). BMW HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL. SINCE THESE U... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Jan 28, 1998
Incident date: Jan 20, 1998
WATER LEAKS OUT OF THE ENGINE GASKET RIGHT ABOVE THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. IT LEAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND WILL DRAIN THE RADIATOR DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE GASKET.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Jan 28, 1998
Incident date: Jan 20, 1998
WATER LEAKS OUT OF THE ENGINE GASKET RIGHT ABOVE THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. IT LEAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND WILL DRAIN THE RADIATOR DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE GASKET.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Jan 28, 1998
Incident date: Jan 20, 1998
HEAD GASKET LEAKS RIGHT ABOVE THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. IT LEAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND DRAINS THE RADIATOR.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Jan 27, 1998
Incident date: Jan 20, 1998
ENGINE GASKET LEAKS WATER WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF AND WILL DRAIN DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE GASKET.
Technical Service Bulletins, 1993 BMW 318I
4 manufacturer communications from 3 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.
Most Affected Components
| Component | Bulletins |
|---|---|
| 161000 STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| 116200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| 133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
B510819
Jan 16, 2024
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B510819
Jan 16, 2024
133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
12 14 97
Aug 1, 1997
116200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
M42 FAULT CODE 200/333. DME CONTROL UNIT MEMORY CHIP IS FAULTY. *AK
41/03/96
Nov 1, 1996
161000 STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WIND NOISE DIAGNOSTICS. *TW
NHTSA Safety Investigations, BMW 318I
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
EA09019
Opened: Dec 18, 2009 , Closed: Sep 28, 2011
Rear Lamp Illumination
In a letter submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) dated August25, 2011, BMWindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.The issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.Through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps grou... Read more
PE09036
Opened: Aug 7, 2009 , Closed: Dec 22, 2009
REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.T... Read more
DP09002
Opened: Apr 8, 2009 , Closed: Aug 6, 2009
REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
IN MARCH 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. MARK PETERS REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF REAR LAMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES.AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER WAS SENT TO BMW IN APRIL 2009, AND ODI RECEIVED BMW'S RESPONSE IN JUNE 2009.T... Read more
BMW 318I - All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the BMW 318I across all model years (1991, 1997).
12
Total Recalls
113
Total Complaints
3
Investigations
11
Reported Crashes
4
Reported Fires
0
Reported Deaths
BMW 318I - Year by Year
Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.