RoadVitals

1995 BMW 318TI

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.
3
Latest Jan 24, 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 Aug 19, 1997
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 BMW 318TI, most frequently naming the brakes, fuel system and seat belts 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

  • Brakes133.3%
  • Fuel system133.3%
  • Seat belts133.3%

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
97V131000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 19, 1997
410,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Seat belts
Filed Jan 24, 2003

CONSUMER STATED HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT LATCHES REPLACED, BECAUSE OF LOOSENESS. WHEN EVALUATED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SEAT BELT LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS

NHTSA ID
10004595
Incident
Nov 23, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Mar 1, 2001

CONSUMER PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED CAR. CONSUMER CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE GAS FUMES LEAK OUT; BUT, ARE SO STRONG ON INSIDE THAT IYT MAKES PASSENGERS SICK. DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, IT WAS SUPPOSE TO DO THAT. THEY KEPT VEHICLE 5DAYS & FOUND NOTHING. A MECHANIC SAID THE MEMBRANE IS DEFECTIVE, AND WON'T WORK ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID
881868
Incident
Oct 10, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jan 26, 2001

DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO PAY FOR OTHER PARTS RUINED BY BROKEN CALIPER. PROBLEMS STARTED BACK IN LATE AUG./SEPT., BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES AND WERE UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
739987
Incident
Jan 23, 2001

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 318TI by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999100—
1998110034.2
1997110—
1996810—
1995Viewing310—

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.