2001 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 2001 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 assistance125.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Exterior lighting125.0%
- Tires & wheels125.0%
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
2001 BMW 3 SERIES ENGINES HAVE AN ELECTRONIC DRIVE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE MECHANISHM. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS AN ELECTRONIC SENSOR, WITHOUT A DIRECT MECHANICAL LINKAGE TO THE ENGINE. THIS PEDAL HAS A STICKY, JERKY MECHANISM THAT IS MUCH WORSE IN HOT WEATHER. THIS RESULTS IN SURGES OF ACCELERATION AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO FINELY CONTROL THE CAR'S SPEED. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT STATES THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IN ORDER TO DEFLECT ANY CRITICISM OR URGENCY. THEY WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IF THE OWNER INSISTS, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. BMW MUST BE FORCED, THROUGH EXTERNAL PRESSURE, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE AND IMPLEMENT A RAPID REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.
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
COOLING FAN FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STRAND PASSENGERS AT SIDE OF ROAD IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM BLINDED BY THESE NEW HEADLAMPS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THEY ARE VERY IRRITATING EVEN DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING. IT'S LIKE LOOKING AT AN ELECTRIC WELDING ARC. THEY CONTAIN TOO MUCH UV LIGHT. UV LIGHT IS VERY HARMFULL. HOW CAN THESE POSSIBLY BE LEGAL? I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN ONE NIGHT WHEN I WAS BLINDED BY A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THESE LIGHTS. I'M AFFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT NOW. HOW CAN I FIND THE VEHICLE THAT BLINDED ME IF I HIT SOMEONE? THIS SITUATION NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IF SOMEONE BLINDS ME LIKE THAT AND A PEDESTRIAN IS STRUCK I HAVE NO WAY TO IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS. THEY CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT. THESE LIGHTS SHOULD BE OUTLAWED. I CAN GET A SUMMONS FOR RIDING WITH MY BRIGHTS ON. THE BRIGHT BLUE HEADLAMPS ARE BRIGHTER THAN MY HIGHBEAMS. ON SOME SUV'S THEY SHINE RIGHT INTO MY BACK WINDOW AND ILLUMINATE THE INSIDE OF MY CAR SO BRIGHTLY THAT I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE. WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER THEY HAD LITTLE VIOLET LENSES THAT WENT INTO THE TAIL LAMPS. THEY WERE AND PROBABLY STILL ARE ILLEGAL BECAUSE THEY ARE IRRITATING TO THE EYES. I DON'T SEE HOW THE ULTRA BRIGHT HEADLAMPS CAN POSSIBLY BE LEGAL BECAUSE THEY EMIT SO MUCH UV LIGHT. SOMEONE MUST HAVE RECEIVED A REAL BIG PAYOFF TO LEGALIZE THESE. TRY WATCHING SOMEONE ARC WELD FOR A WHILE AND TELL ME THAT UV ISN'T HARMFULL! YOURS, BLINDED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAD 2 TIRES GO SUDDENLY FLAT ON THE SAME DAY. CAR HAD ONLY 4500 MILES AT THE TIME. NO OBVIOUS PUNTURE OR DAMAGE. REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AT LOCAL TIRE DEALER BECAUSE BMW DEALER DID NOT HAVE IN STOCK. 1 WEEK LATER, I READ ABOUT NHTSA RECALL #00V383 AND CONTACTED BOTH DEALER AND BMW USA AFTER DEALER REPLIED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL. AFTER HAVING HIM RESEARCH FURTHER, I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT MY BMW 330XI, MANUFACTURED DURING THE QUESTIONED TIMEFRAME WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I GOT THE SAME FROM BMW USA. I QUESTION HOW 2 VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW TIRES WOULD BOTH GO FLAT ON THE SAME DAY AT THE SAME TIME? I CONTACTED CONTINENTAL TIRES WHO WERE ALSO UNAWARE OF THE RECALL AND AFTER EXPLAINING THEM THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY READILY AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME $100 AS A GOOD FAITH GESTURE. I PAID OVER $400 FOR THE TIRES, PLUS BALANCING, PLUS HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK SINCE BMW AND LOCAL TIRE CENTER DID NOT HAVE IN STOCK. I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT BMW HAS FAITHFULLY RESOLVED THIS ISSUE WITH ME, SINCE THEY DID NOT EVEN INSPECT THE WHEELS AFTER MY NEW TIRES WERE MOUNTED. I DON'T THINK THEY COULD TELL WHETHER OF NOT THE FIRST SET WERE MOUNTED PROPERLY OR NOT AND HAVE SIMPLY DISMISSED ME WITHOUT ANY ASSURANCE OR VERIFICATION THAT MY BMW WASN'T POSSIBLY AFFECTED BY THIS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT 630-620-7348 IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN PROVIDE OR FOLLOW UP ON TO TRULY SEE WHETHER I AM OWED NEW WHEELS, REIMBURSEMENT, ETC. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, BARRY GLUSTOFF. *AK (TIRESIZE: 17)
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 .