Total Complaints
47 filings
BMW 318 · model year
1991 BMW 318
47 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991BMW318 carries 47 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 318 is engine and engine cooling:engine with 12 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:cooling system:radiator assembly (5) and air bags:frontal (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 1991 318. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
47
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 12 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:BANJO HOUSING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19971106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE HAS BLOWN TWO HEAD GASKETS.
19971106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FOUR CYLINDER-HEAD COVER FAILURES.
19971106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR CONNECTION SEPARATED/FAILED.
19971106ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
19971106FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.
19971106VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
RIGHT WINDOW SWITCH FAILED.
19971106EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
ANTENNA BROKE OFF.
19971106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THERMOSTAT FAILED.
19971106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
BELTS FAILED.
19971031CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE DUE TO DFECTIVE ENGINE PROFILE GASKET.
19971002ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT, VEHICLE WAS DRIPPING COOLIN FLUID. THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND SAW THE COOLING FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
19970923ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE PROFILE GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. *AK
19970702ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK
19970627ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED.
19970627ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR FAILED.
19970130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. *AK
19970129ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DESIGN DEFECT CONCERNING TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET. *AK
19970106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE GASKET FAILED/REPLACED; ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP. *AK
19970106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE GASKET FAILED/REPLACED; ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP. *AK
19970106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE GASKET FAILURE. *AK
Compare 1991BMW318 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 BMW 318 have?▼
The 1991 BMW 318 has 47 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 BMW 318?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 BMW 318 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1991 BMW 318 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.