Electrical
Filed Nov 8, 2017
1985 BMW 318I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ODOMETER FRAUD. *LD UPDATED 11/8/2017*JS
- NHTSA ID
- 11031228
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2017
1985 BMW 318I
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
7
Latest Nov 8, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 BMW 318I, most frequently naming the fuel system, visibility and brakes categories. 1 manufacturer communication is on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 1 |
| Dec 1999 | 2 | 3 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 4 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 5 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 6 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 7 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Fuel system225.0%
- Visibility225.0%
- Brakes112.5%
- Electrical112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Interior & seats112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
BrakesEngine
Filed Aug 21, 2004
Fire reported1 injury reported
1/12/04 BRAKE REPLACEMENT. 3/16/04 -ENGINE SMOKING. 3/17/04 RADIATOR HOSE,CLAMPS ANTIFREEZE,NEW RADIATOR $368.17 - 7/28/04 VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. MY DAUGHTER WAS SECONDS FROM BEING BURNED ALIVE. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10088308
- Incident
- Jul 28, 2004
- Mileage
- 145,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 7, 2002
I WAS TOLD A FEW YEARS BACK BY C.S.A.A. ABOUT A TSB ON THE BMW318I WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS HAD TO DO WITH THE HIGH SPEED IDLE TEST WHEN DOING THE SMOG TEST. I QUESTION THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THAT I JUST NOTICED ABOUT THE COOLENT SYSTEM FAILURE TSB. MY CAR HAS QUIT RUNNING TWICE ON ME AND RESULTED ME HAVING TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND FULE PUMP. CAN THIS BE A RESULT OF THE FUEL PUMP OVERHEATING?*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 761632
- Incident
- May 3, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Nov 30, 2000
CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION THE CONUSMER FOUND A SIX INCH PIECE OF RUBBER HOSE LEAKING. NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 558183
Visibility
Filed Dec 27, 1999
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE INSIDE OF THE CAR FILLED UP WITH STEAM. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER NOT TO BE ABLE TO SEE. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL CAR OVER. CAR WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE HEATER CORE BLEW UP. SERVICE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS AFFECTED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 854435
- Incident
- Dec 4, 1999
Visibility
Filed Dec 14, 1999
1 injury reported
HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING HOT WATER TO HIT CONSUMER'S LEGS AND FOGGED WINDOWS RESULTING IN NO VISIBILITY AND INJURY TO CONSUMER (2ND DEGREE BURNS). *MJS
- NHTSA ID
- 549958
- Incident
- Apr 10, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 8, 1999
Fire reported
SMOKE COMMING FROM DASH INTERIOR AND THEN FLAMES BURST OUT CONSUMED CAR IN 15 MINUTES, CAR TOTALED OUT
- NHTSA ID
- 702005
- Incident
- Jan 7, 1999
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
B510819
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.