https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the BMW 318is. en-us Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:37:05 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-680731 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT PASSENGER WINDOW FALLS OFF THE TRACKS - RESULTS IN HIGH BILLS TO GET IT FIXED. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS. I AM UNABLE TO SELECT WINDOW OR ANYTHING RELATED TO IT IN THE DROP DOWN MENUS. TO PROCEED I HAVE HAD TO MAKE SELECTIONS THAT HAVE NO RELEVANCE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-680732 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT PASSENGER WINDOW FALLS OFF THE TRACKS - RESULTS IN HIGH BILLS TO GET IT FIXED. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS. I AM UNABLE TO SELECT WINDOW OR ANYTHING RELATED TO IT IN THE DROP DOWN MENUS. TO PROCEED I HAVE HAD TO MAKE SELECTIONS THAT HAVE NO RELEVANCE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-528185 Mon, 28 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, SUDDENLY A POPPING NOISE OCCURRED IN THE FRONT END, THE STEERING WHEEL SHUTTERED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH ASC PLUS T (AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL PLUS TRACTION) AND IT WAS TRYING TO GAIN BACK CONTROL. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER CRASHING INTO A TREE HEAD ON. DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE WHICH CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG D https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-515217 Tue, 04 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-494137 Thu, 02 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND CRUISE CONTROL WON'T RELEASE. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-474239 Thu, 06 May 2004 00:00:00 GMT MAY 5, 2004 INCIDENT: DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH FAILS TO WORK ... SO THAT THE DOOR FLIES OPEN WHILE DRIVING ... AND CAN NOT BE COMPLETELY CLOSED AND/OR LOCKED WHEN PARKED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1992 BMW 318IS 2-DOOR SEDAN WITH ONLY 34,319 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN OCCASIONALLY OVER THE YEARS (ONLY BY MYSELF) AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM: I UNLOCKED AND DRO https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-441704 Wed, 19 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. MADE SURE CARPET WASN'T ON PEDAL. HAPPENED FEW TIMES DURING WINTER. RPM'S GOING VERY HIGH. VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR. VERY UNSAFE. BMW TOLD ME THERE IS RECALL BUT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED. DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT CAR. TOLD ME TO CALL BACK WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN*AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-398691 Wed, 19 Mar 2003 00:00:00 GMT THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED TWICE. *JB https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-368820 Fri, 16 Aug 2002 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING COOLING SYSTEM CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-340295 Mon, 25 Mar 2002 00:00:00 GMT THIS HAS BEEN A WIDELY REPORTED FAILURE ON EARLY 1990S 318 MODELS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-323661 Tue, 20 Nov 2001 00:00:00 GMT TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE IS VERH HIGH FOR THE MOTOR. UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, WHICH LEAKS SLOWLY OR ALL AT ONCE IS DUE TO GASKETS DESIGN. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-316896 Fri, 05 Oct 2001 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-285500 Fri, 06 Apr 2001 00:00:00 GMT AFTER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT DME UNIT WAS SOAKED.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-279129 Mon, 12 Mar 2001 00:00:00 GMT BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. EHICLE ALSO SLIDES AND FISHTAILS ON OTHER THAN DRY ROAD. CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 ACCIDENTS. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-269771 Thu, 25 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-256366 Wed, 15 Nov 2000 00:00:00 GMT ENGINE GASKET FAILED. BMW DENIES DEFECT.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-255573 Thu, 09 Nov 2000 00:00:00 GMT DRIVER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE WHICH CAUSED DOOR NOT TO OPEN FROM INSIDE. IN EVENT OF A EMERGENCY DRIVER CANNOT GO OUT FROM DRIVER'S DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-200094 Thu, 02 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT AFTER CAR PASSED THROUGH CAR WASH, WOULD NOT START; TOWED CAR TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IS 3-SERIES MODELS AND WAS QUOTED $1500 TO REPAIR. DEALER DID COMPLETE SERVICE 8 WEEKS EARLIER AND DID NOT INFORM ME OF WATER INTRUSION PROBLEMS DUE TO WEATHERING TRIM.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-199542 Mon, 28 Feb 2000 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, 65MPH, THE PROFILE GASKET IN MY ENGINE FAILED. LARGE AMOUNTS OF STEAM CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND RESULTED IN A CONDITION OF ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY. MY WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH ANTIFREEZE AND I COULD NOT SEE THROUGHT HE STEAM. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-199543 Mon, 28 Feb 2000 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, 65MPH, THE PROFILE GASKET IN MY ENGINE FAILED. LARGE AMOUNTS OF STEAM CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND RESULTED IN A CONDITION OF ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY. MY WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH ANTIFREEZE AND I COULD NOT SEE THROUGHT HE STEAM. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-174904 Wed, 29 Sep 1999 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING CAR OVERHEATED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-148829 Wed, 28 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT PROFILE GASKET MATERIAL WEAK CAUSING IT TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE RESULTING IN SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-148788 Wed, 28 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT 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 VEH https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-147301 Fri, 16 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT DURING FRONTAL COLLISION INTO REAR OF LEADING CAR AT 35MPH, MY BMW FAILED TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS AND DRIVER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING DRIVER TO COME VIOLENTLY FORWARD TO WITHIN 1 INCH OF STEERING WHEEL, THEN THROWN HARD BACK INTO SEAT CAUSING NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND A SEVERE CONCUSSION TO THE REAR OF BRAIN, CAUSED BY IMPACT OF REAR OF SKULL INTO HEAD REST https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-147302 Fri, 16 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT DURING FRONTAL COLLISION INTO REAR OF LEADING CAR AT 35MPH, MY BMW FAILED TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS AND DRIVER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING DRIVER TO COME VIOLENTLY FORWARD TO WITHIN 1 INCH OF STEERING WHEEL, THEN THROWN HARD BACK INTO SEAT CAUSING NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND A SEVERE CONCUSSION TO THE REAR OF BRAIN, CAUSED BY IMPACT OF REAR OF SKULL INTO HEAD REST https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-143579 Thu, 25 Mar 1999 00:00:00 GMT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THROUGH A CARWASH THE COMPUTER FOR THE VEHICLE SHORT CIRCUITED AND SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN. DEALER HAS TO REPLACE TOTAL COMPUTER. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-143769 Thu, 25 Mar 1999 00:00:00 GMT THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC COMMAND CONTROL BOX WAS FLOODED DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE BOX. DEALER CONTACTED AND AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD REPAIR WORK DONE AT OWNER'S EXSPENSE. TSB 410393 (3914). *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-144164 Thu, 25 Mar 1999 00:00:00 GMT ENGINE GASKET FAILURE, CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLANT ON THE ROADWAY UNDER THE DRIVING WHEELS. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-140089 Tue, 02 Mar 1999 00:00:00 GMT THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS FAIL CAUSING THE DOOR PANELS TO COME LOSE AND FALL OR CRACK. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE HEAT SHIELD RATTLES CAUSING A RATTLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 5 MPH. THANK YOU https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318is#complaint-140090 Tue, 02 Mar 1999 00:00:00 GMT THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS FAIL CAUSING THE DOOR PANELS TO COME LOSE AND FALL OR CRACK. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE HEAT SHIELD RATTLES CAUSING A RATTLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 5 MPH. THANK YOU