RoadVitals

1991 BMW 318 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Oct 31, 1997
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
71%
of 21 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 BMW 318 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Oct 31, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE DUE TO DFECTIVE ENGINE PROFILE GASKET.

NHTSA ID
526567
Incident
Aug 28, 1997
Engine
Filed Oct 2, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT, VEHICLE WAS DRIPPING COOLIN FLUID. THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND SAW THE COOLING FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
816844
Incident
Sep 25, 1997
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 1997

ENGINE PROFILE GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
521332
Incident
Jun 20, 1997
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Aug 28, 1997

VEHICLE HAS BLOWN TWO HEAD GASKETS.

NHTSA ID
521199
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 1997

TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
517927
Incident
May 9, 1997
Engine
Filed Feb 28, 1997

RADIATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
515225
Incident
Dec 30, 1996
Engine
Filed Jan 30, 1997

TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID
602457
Incident
Jan 13, 1997
BrakesEngine
Filed Jan 14, 1997

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED 5 TIMES.

NHTSA ID
513939
Incident
Jan 8, 1997
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 1997

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
513378
Incident
Sep 1, 1995
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 1997

ENGINE GASKET FAILED/REPLACED; ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP. *AK

NHTSA ID
513374
Incident
Aug 1, 1995
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 1996

ENGINE GASKET FAILED, RESULTING IN A COOLANT LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID
510860
Incident
Aug 10, 1996
Engine
Filed Oct 23, 1996

ENGINE GASKE TFAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. *AK

NHTSA ID
510508
Incident
Sep 30, 1996
Engine
Filed Aug 2, 1996

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID
506945
Incident
May 7, 1996
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 1995

COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK FROM FRONT SEAL PORT OF VEHICLES WATER PUMP. *DSH

NHTSA ID
490676
Incident
Oct 20, 1995
BrakesElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Mar 6, 1995

SEAL FOR LEFT AXLE SHAFT REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
482102
Incident
Mar 6, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .