RoadVitals

1993 BMW 318IS Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Aug 16, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
69%
of 13 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 BMW 318IS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Aug 16, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING COOLING SYSTEM CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016503
Incident
Jul 23, 2002
Engine
Filed Oct 5, 2001

THERE IS A COOLANT LEAK IN ENGINE BECAUSE AN INFERIOR FORM OF RUBBER SEALANT IS USED ON ENGINE. COOLANT GOES BACK INTO ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THEY KNEW ABOUT LEAK AND ITS A FREQUENT PROBLEM, BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK THE HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM IS A RUBBERIZED GASKET, KNOWN AS THE TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET. *JB

NHTSA ID
897407
Incident
Sep 17, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 8, 2000

ENGINE GASKET FAILED. BMW DENIES DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
736025
Incident
Oct 17, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 1999

WHILE DRIVING CAR OVERHEATED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
849246
Incident
Sep 16, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 1999

PROFILE GASKET MATERIAL WEAK CAUSING IT TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE RESULTING IN SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
545159
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 1998

TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT ON THE ROADWAY AND VEHICLE OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID
780588
Incident
Sep 29, 1998
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 1998

ENGINE GASKET FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK OUT ANDTHE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.

NHTSA ID
540590
Incident
Mar 6, 1998
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 1998

WHEN THE GASKET GOES ALL OF THE COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR LEAKS OUT OF THE CAR, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. BECAUSE WATER IN THE COOLANT IS OUT OF THE CAR, IT IS NOTHING THAT THE CONSUMER CAN DO. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
824247
Incident
Jun 10, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 1997

ENGINE TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILS AND CAUSES COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT.

NHTSA ID
522952
Incident
Aug 18, 1997

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 .