RoadVitals

1991 BMW 318IS

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.
6
Latest Mar 19, 2003
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.
1
Latest Apr 10, 1991
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 BMW 318IS, most frequently naming the engine and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine685.7%
  • Visibility114.3%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
91V054000

AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER

Apr 10, 1991
13,500 units potentially affected
The defect: DURING TESTING, INCORRECTLY INSTALLED DRIVER-SIDE KNEE BOLSTER PREVENTED STEERING COLUMN FROM MOVING FORWARD AS DESIGNED TO ABSORB IMPACT ENERGY FROM DRIVER DUMMY.
The risk: CHEST DECELERATION EXCEEDS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE LIMIT WHICHRESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPAIR THE KNEE BOLSTER TO ALLOW CLEARANCE AND AVOID IMPEDANCE OF STEERING COLUMN MOVEMENT DURING FRONTAL IMPACT.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2003

THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED TWICE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10012090
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 2002

THIS HAS BEEN A WIDELY REPORTED FAILURE ON EARLY 1990S 318 MODELS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
759665
Incident
Mar 21, 2002
Engine
Filed Nov 16, 2001

TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE IS VERH HIGH FOR THE MOTOR. UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, WHICH LEAKS SLOWLY OR ALL AT ONCE IS DUE TO GASKETS DESIGN.

NHTSA ID
754605
Incident
Nov 2, 2001
EngineVisibility
Filed Feb 28, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, 65MPH, THE PROFILE GASKET IN MY ENGINE FAILED. LARGE AMOUNTS OF STEAM CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND RESULTED IN A CONDITION OF ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY. MY WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH ANTIFREEZE AND I COULD NOT SEE THROUGHT HE STEAM. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
719415
Incident
Feb 24, 2000
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 1998

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE, CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLANT ON THE ROADWAY UNDER THE DRIVING WHEELS.

NHTSA ID
781204
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Sep 25, 1998

TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE IS VERH HIGH FOR THE MOTOR. UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, WHICH LEAKS SLOWLY OR ALL AT ONCE IS DUE TO GASKETS DESIGN.

NHTSA ID
541694

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

BMW 318IS by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1997210—
1996010—
1995320—
1994520—
1993132047.6
1992330—
1991Viewing610—

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.