1991 BMW 318 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 BMW 318, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1542.9%
- Airbags411.4%
- Visibility38.6%
- Electrical38.6%
- Interior & seats25.7%
- Fuel system25.7%
- Brakes25.7%
- Transmission12.9%
- Seat belts12.9%
- Powertrain (other)12.9%
- Steering12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE DUE TO DFECTIVE ENGINE PROFILE GASKET.
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS, RESULTING IN INJURY. *SKD
FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 11:00 POSITION, LOST CONTROL, HIT AGAIN ON 1:00 POSITION, SPEED 40 MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS BLOWN TWO HEAD GASKETS.
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AND HAS BEEN REPLACED (3) TIMES WITH CAUSE UNDETECTED BY KUNI BMW-OR. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS BLOWN TWO HEAD GASKETS.
INTERMITTENT STALLING WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHTS/STOP SIGNS. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS, RESULTING IN INJURY. *SKD
FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 11:00 POSITION, LOST CONTROL, HIT AGAIN ON 1:00 POSITION, SPEED 40 MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS BLOWN TWO HEAD GASKETS.
SEAL FOR LEFT AXLE SHAFT REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED 5 TIMES.
SEAL FOR LEFT AXLE SHAFT REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAL FOR LEFT AXLE SHAFT REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS, RESULTING IN INJURY. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAL FOR LEFT AXLE SHAFT REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAL FOR LEFT AXLE SHAFT REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .