1994 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 1994 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
- Electrical1040.0%
- Airbags312.0%
- Engine312.0%
- Fuel system312.0%
- Body & structure28.0%
- Transmission14.0%
- Visibility14.0%
- Brakes14.0%
- Driver assistance14.0%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WATER DRAINED INTO ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, AND RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING.ALSO, LEAVING FUEL INJECTORS OPEN, COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN THERE IS A HEAVY DOWN POUR OR TAKING CAR TO THE CAR WASH, THE COMPUTER GETS WET WHICH WON'T ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAD THE COMPUTER REPLACED. *AK
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT SPEEDS OF 30MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
PROFILE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. MUCH OF THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED ONTO THE ROADWAY. OTHER GASKETS, ETC. ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED: VALVE COVER GASKETS, THERMOSTAT, INTAKE MANIFOLD GAS, THROTTLE BODY GASKET, EXHAUST PIPE GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, CHAIN TENSIONER, AND MORE. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $950 IN LABOR AND $426.00 IN PARTS. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET AND THE NHTSA WEB SITE, I FOUND MANY OTHER BMW 318 OWNERS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM; MOST OF THEM WITH 1993 MODELS. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.
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
WATER DRAINED INTO ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, AND RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING.ALSO, LEAVING FUEL INJECTORS OPEN, COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM FOR MANY TIMES ( REPEATABLE ). I AM REALLY HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP ME TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW ACCURATE LEVEL OF THE FUEL IN THE TANK. I HAVE TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TO TRY TACKLE THIS PROBLEM AND SOLVE THEM; HOWEVER, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING IT RIGHT NOW. IT'S A QUALITY ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER FOR ME AND OTHER OWNER WHO MAY NOT WANT TO REPORT THIS MATTER TO YOU. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEFECTIVE SPOT WELDS AT THE FIREWALL AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUSING CLUNKING NOISE. PROBLEM WAS SERVICED BUT UNABLE TO BE FIXED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, POWER DOOR FAILURE. TT
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
ACCELERATOR HAS STUCK ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. 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
BUMPER AROUND WINDSHIELD FLAKED OFF IN 3 YEARS. PRESENTLY, THE BUMPER IS GONE, AND WATER IS ENTERING INTO THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH MAY CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ACCELERATOR HAS STUCK ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. TT
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 .