RoadVitals

1996 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.
8
Latest Apr 8, 2010
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 BMW 318TI, most frequently naming the visibility, electrical and airbags categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are 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

  • Visibility337.5%
  • Electrical225.0%
  • Airbags112.5%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Driver assistance112.5%

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

Visibility
Filed Apr 8, 2010

THIS IS THE 8TH TIME PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW OF MY 1996 BMW318TI IS IN NEED OF REPAIR. MOTOR REPLACED ONCE, THAN REGULATOR, FOLLOWED BY NUMEROUS REPAIRS FOR SLIDES OR CLIPS TO BE FIXED. WHEN PUTTING UP WINDOW THERE IS A LOUD CRACK AND THE WINDOW GOES OFF TRACK, SO IT CAN NEITHER GO UP OR DOWN. THIS IS A COSTLY COMPLAINT FROM MANY OWNERS OF THIS CAR SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF PROBLEM OR DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10324431
Incident
Apr 1, 2010
Mileage
150,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 7, 2009

MY 1996 BMW 318TI - DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW HAS 3 TIMES IN LAST 5 YEARS FALLEN INTO THE DOOR INTERIOR WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIRED NOW 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS AT A TOTAL COST TO BE OF $1300. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC DESIGN AND SAFETY PROBLEM THAT OCCURS NOT MOST OF THE 3 SERIES BMW FROM 1995 TO 2002. BMW UTILIZES A VERY POOR CHANNEL DESIGN TO RETAIN THE WINDOW SAFELY AND SECURELY WITH 3 CHEAP INADEQUATE PLASTIC / METAL CLIPS THAT FAIL CONSISTENTLY AND REPEATEDLY AFTER REPAIR OVER A SHORT TIME IT IS A HUGE DESIGN PROBLEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND NEW DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION TO CORRECT THIS SYSTEMIC DESIGN SAFETY FAILURE. IN MY LAST FAILURE LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING 60 MILES AND HOUR ON A FREEWAY AND WINDOW DROPS INTO DOOR ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273026
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
110,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 10, 2006

THE WINDOWS FALL OFF TRACK ON MY 1996 BMW E36 318TI. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO BOTH WINDOWS ON MY CAR REGULARLY FOR THE PAST 2.5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND HAS RUINED THE TINT ON BOTH WINDOWS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER 318TI OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS A HIGHLY COMMON FAILURE AND NORMALLY COSTS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR, ONLY TO BREAK AGAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE WINDOWS COULD SHATTER WHEN THEY FALL INTO THE DOOR OR POSSIBLY HARM PASSENGERS BY FALLING INTO THE CAR WHILE IN THE OFF-TRACK POSITION. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10162024
Incident
Jul 8, 2006
Mileage
85,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 2, 2006

I AM AN ENGINEER WHO PERFORMS FAILURE ANALYSIS - MY OBSERVATIONS ARE BASED ON SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD. THE CAR IS A 1996 BMW 318TI WITH A 5 SPD MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE IS STOCK. I WAS DRIVING MY 318TI ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEED WAS INCREASING WITHOUT THROTTLE INPUT. I TURNED THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF THINKING THAT IT SOMEHOW HAD MALFUNCTIONED - THE SPEED CONTINUED TO INCREASE. WHEN THE SPEED PASSED 80 MPH, I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH, WHICH OF COURSE ALLOWED THE CAR TO SLOW, BUT THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO REDLINE - AS THE TACH GOT CLOSE TO THE RED LINE, I SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, AND STEERED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, I TRY TO START IT AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED VERY RAPIDLY TO REDLINE. I TRIED THIS 3-4 TIMES OVER 5 MINUTES WITH THE SAME RESULT EACH TIME. I FINALLY OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON THE LEVER HOUSING. THIS PROBLEM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A 1997 RECALL, AND MY CAR HAD THE REPAIRS MADE (METAL RINGS) THAT WERE SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL. THEY SEEM TO BE FAILING NOW. THERE IS A NEWS ARTICLE FROM ENGLAND THAT SEEMS TO SHOW AN IDENTICAL FAILURE IN A 318. THE DRIVERS NAME IS KEVIN NICOLLE, AND THE STORY APPEARED ON THIS WEB PAGE ( HTTP://WWW.TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/NEWS/MAIN.JHTML?XML=/NEWS/2006/03/11/NTRAPPED11.XML ). THE RECALL EFFECTED 410,000 CARS - THIS RECALL SHOULD BE REVISITED AS THE REPAIR SEEMS TO HAVE CREATED ANOTHER FAILURE MODE THAT LEADS TO UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE THROTTLE CABLE / CABLE BUSHING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE - I CAN FORWARD IT TO ANY INTERESTED PARTIES. *NM

NHTSA ID
10158878
Incident
May 26, 2006
Mileage
110,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 29, 2003

WHEN TAKING THE KEY OUT OFIGNITION VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037953
Incident
Aug 28, 2003
Electrical
Filed Dec 6, 2002

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF CAR, KEY MOVED TO OFF POSITION WITHOUT RESISTANCE BUT DID NOT TURN OFF CAR. SWITCH LOCKED IN OFF POSITION BUT KEY WOULD MOVE AND CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. KEY COULD BE REMOVED AND REINSERTED BUT COULD NOT TURN OFF CAR. HAD TO PULL FUSE ON THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM TO STALL ENGINE AND DISCONNECT BATTERY TO TURN OFF POWER TO CAR. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON IN A LARGE NUMBER OF BMWS. INABILITY TO TURN OFF ENGINE COULD POSE HAZARD IF SITUATION REQUIRED DRIVER TO CUT POWER TO ENGINE. ALSO, BECAUSE ENGINE RUNS QUIETLY, POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE COULD THINK HE/SHE TURNED OFF HIS/HER CAR IN HIS/HER GARAGE BUT DID NOT, LEADING TO POSSIBLE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. DT

NHTSA ID
770538
Incident
Dec 1, 2002
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 1997
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID
817622
Incident
Oct 26, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Oct 27, 1997

STRIP ON DOOR PEELING MAKING IT HARD FOR DRIVER TO CLOSE THE DOOR.

NHTSA ID
604943
Incident
Aug 1, 1997

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.

12 15 96

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

ROUGH IDLE

12 15 96

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

M44 MISFIRE FAULTS 50, 51, 52 OR 53. *TW

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—
1996Viewing810—
1995310—

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.