1998 BMW 318I 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 1998 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
- Driver assistance330.0%
- Electrical330.0%
- Airbags110.0%
- Engine110.0%
- Transmission110.0%
- Visibility110.0%
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT DECELERATE WHEN EXPECTED. I WOULD LIKE TO REFER TO NHTSA RECALL NO.: 97V131. *NM
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED CONTINUALLY FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR ENGINE/THROTTLE RELATED PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE INTERMITTENTLY AND EXPERIENCE NO START CONDITIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED VEHICLE HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL VEHICLE IS REPAIRED PROPERLY. MJS
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
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE KEY STARTED ROTATING IN IGNITION WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND REMOVED KEY. ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. ONLY WAY TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE WAS TO DISCONNECT BATTERY. EMAIL: [email protected] *LA
CONSUMER WAS INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND WENT TO PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START VEHICLE, SHE TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING, SHE DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT CYLINDER LOCK SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 318I. WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS THE CONTACT WAS CRASHING INTO THE SECOND VEHICLE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE HORN JUST AS THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE LEFT ARM, CAUSING HIS LEFT SHOULDER TO BECOME DISLODGED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE HORN WAS ALSO LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED CONTINUALLY FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR ENGINE/THROTTLE RELATED PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE INTERMITTENTLY AND EXPERIENCE NO START CONDITIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED VEHICLE HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL VEHICLE IS REPAIRED PROPERLY. MJS
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
AUTOMATIC TRANS POPS OUT OF 1ST GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING (LOUD NOISE). *AK
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
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED CONTINUALLY FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR ENGINE/THROTTLE RELATED PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE INTERMITTENTLY AND EXPERIENCE NO START CONDITIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED VEHICLE HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL VEHICLE IS REPAIRED PROPERLY. MJS
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 .