RoadVitals

1985 BMW 318I Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
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Latest Nov 8, 2017
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 BMW 318I, 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

  • 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.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed May 7, 2002

CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION THE CONUSMER FOUND A SIX INCH PIECE OF RUBBER HOSE LEAKING. NLM

NHTSA ID 558183 · filed Nov 30, 2000

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Dec 27, 1999

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 · filed Dec 14, 1999

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Aug 21, 2004

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1985 BMW 318I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ODOMETER FRAUD. *LD UPDATED 11/8/2017*JS

NHTSA ID 11031228 · filed Nov 8, 2017

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Aug 21, 2004

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SMOKE COMMING FROM DASH INTERIOR AND THEN FLAMES BURST OUT CONSUMED CAR IN 15 MINUTES, CAR TOTALED OUT

NHTSA ID 702005 · filed Jan 8, 1999

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

Data on this page last refreshed .