RoadVitals

1994 BMW 318IS 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.
5
Latest Jan 4, 2005
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
4
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 1994 BMW 318IS, 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

  • Electrical233.3%
  • Engine233.3%
  • Fuel system116.7%
  • Powertrain (other)116.7%

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

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AFTER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT DME UNIT WAS SOAKED.*AK

NHTSA ID 885300 · filed Apr 6, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 739686 · filed Jan 20, 2001

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND IN THE GARAGE, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DETERMINED TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK...THIS GASKET HAS CAUSED PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED IN MIDDLE OF 1994. THIS WAS A FREQUENT FAILURE ON 318 VEHICLES. BMW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DISCUSS THE PROFILE GASKET PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID 10106771 · filed Jan 4, 2005

THE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL ENGINE...AND WHILE BMW ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS BECAUSE OF BA MATERIALS USED FOR THIS GASKET, NO RECALL NOR OFFER TO REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ID 701777 · filed Jan 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

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

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL ENGINE...AND WHILE BMW ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS BECAUSE OF BA MATERIALS USED FOR THIS GASKET, NO RECALL NOR OFFER TO REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ID 701777 · filed Jan 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV. 1994 FROM GEARHART BMW IN DENVILLE, NEW JERSEY. FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASED DATE, I DISCOVERED A NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM BEHIND ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID THE NOISE YOU HEARD WAS PROBABLY THE TIRE NOISE. I STOPPED AT ONE OF THE NEAREST TIRE'S DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECKED MY VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. I REQUESTED THE TIRE'S DEALER TO TYPE UP A SUMMARY FOR MY RECORD. I SHOWED IT TO THE GEARHART DEALER THEN THEY DENIED IT. HOWEVER, I STILL HEARD THE NOISE SO I KEPT GOING BACK TO THE DEALER AND TRIED ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. I EVEN TRIED TO CALL THE CUSTOMER SERVICE OF BMW HEADQUARTER, .. NO SOLUTION ! ! !.... FINALLY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY OF MY VEHICLE ALMOST CAME TO BE EXPIRED, THE MORRISTOWN BMW REVEALED THE PROBLEM TO ME AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AT THAT TIME, I WAS SO ANGRY BECAUSE FOR ONLY ONE REASON THAT I AM 100% BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER HAD THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE NOISE, HOWEVER, FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION TO ME AS THE CUSTOMER. AT THIS MOMENT AS I AM WRITING THE LETTER, I ONLY HAVE ONE HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU WANT TO INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY SAFETY HAZARD. IF YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT MY WORK #: (973) 966-2501. I GREATLY APPRECIATE FOR YOUR TIME IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. BEST REGARDS, ELIA IMAN , QUALITY ENGINEER.

NHTSA ID 706073 · filed Apr 28, 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 .