https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the BMW 318ti. en-us Sun, 18 Oct 2026 04:33:07 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-779706 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT 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. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-722755 Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-668363 Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT FOR A 1999 BMW 318TI. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DAMAGES DONE TO HER VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS REPOSSESSED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BANK PERFORMED ILLEGAL ACTS TO GAIN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE.*JB https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-651359 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT 1. WINDOW MOVEMENT STOPPED 2. WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR AND THE TINT GOT SCRATCHED 3. THE DEALER QUOTED 300 TO FIX IT, REPLACED REGULATOR AND BRUSHING. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-617908 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT BMW318TI - BOTH DRIVER-SIDE AND PASSENGER-SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS . REPLACED THE PASSENGER-SIDE REGULATOR TWICE ALREADY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. FORTUNATELY ONCE WAS WITHIN THE ONE-YEAR WARRANTY OF WHEN IT BROKE THE FIRST TIME SO THE EXPENSE WAS JUST THE LABOR, STILL EXPENSIVE. JUST THIS WEEK THE DRIVER'S SIDE REGULATOR FAILED. NOT A CHEAP FIX, AND QUITE A SCARE WHEN IT ACTUAL https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-590333 Fri, 28 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT 3 SERIES MODELS (E36) AND NOTABLY THE 318TI BMW AUTOMOBILES HAVE AN EXTREMELY HIGH FAILURE RATE FOR THE WINDOW REGULATORS. ITS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE TO REPAIR THEM ANNUALLY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY 300 DOLLARS PER DOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE WINDOW TO JAM, OR FALL INSIDE THE DOOR. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONG THE OWNER COMMUNITY AND REACTIONS AT DEALERS I https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-587926 Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT 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. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-583808 Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT 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 S https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-579973 Sun, 23 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT MY 1997 BMW 318TI SUFFERED FROM UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HERE'S HOW IT HAPPENED: I PULLED OUT ONTO THE STREET AFTER GETTING MY CAR WASHED. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR DOWN HARD AS I PULLED OUT. THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND THE WET TIRES SPUN ON THE PAVEMENT. I LET OFF ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR RACED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. I APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKES. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT ITS M https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-571897 Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT PIRELLI P205 60R 15 TIRE BLOW OUT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO CLIENT. *JB https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-427682 Fri, 29 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT WHEN TAKING THE KEY OUT OFIGNITION VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-390665 Fri, 24 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-385533 Wed, 11 Dec 2002 00:00:00 GMT 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 APP https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-303340 Mon, 16 Jul 2001 00:00:00 GMT CAR HAS A SAFETY DESIGN FLAW. SPARE TIRE MOUNT DESIGN ALLOWS THE SIDEWALL OF THE SPARE TIRE (MOUNTED UNDER THE TRUNK) TO RUB AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK DURING NORMAL DRIVING. UPON TAKING OUT THE SPARE, THE TIRE WAS FOUND TO HAVE PRONOUNCED MARKS AND GROOVES ON THE TIRE SIDEWALLS FROM THE RUBBING. THE MARKS WERE DEEP ENOUGH THAT THE BELTS IN THE TIRES COULD BE SEEN AND FELT ON THE SIDEWALLS https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-277384 Thu, 01 Mar 2001 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-271189 Wed, 31 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-203861 Wed, 22 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT GASKET WEAR CAUSED GASOLINE LEAKING. YH https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-203862 Wed, 22 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT SMOG DEVICE FAILED. YH https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-172513 Tue, 21 Sep 1999 00:00:00 GMT MICHELIN TIRE (P205/R15 MXV) BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY. YH https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-147726 Tue, 20 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT VEHICLE LACKS TIRE ROAD GRIP ON SOME TURNS AND THE REAR OF THE CAR SLIDES OUT. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-147727 Tue, 20 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT THE SUSPENSION DOES NOT SOAK UP BUMPS WITHOUT HOPPING. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-147728 Tue, 20 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-147729 Tue, 20 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT LOW HEAM HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH ILLUMINATION. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-134273 Wed, 03 Feb 1999 00:00:00 GMT UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION: I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I EASED THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO LET THE CAR ROLL FORWARD SLIGHTLY, THEN INCREASED THE BRAKE PPRESSURE AGAIN, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO REV FAST, CAUSING THE REAR WHEELS TO SPIN AND PROPELLING THE CAR FORWARD APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET, EVEN THOUGH I HAD FULL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. I NARROW https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-129827 Wed, 06 Jan 1999 00:00:00 GMT STRIP ON DOOR PEELING MAKING IT HARD FOR DRIVER TO CLOSE THE DOOR. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-128438 Fri, 18 Dec 1998 00:00:00 GMT TIRES AND SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE ARE INADEQUATE RESULTING IN REAR OF VEHICLE SLIDING DURING TURNS AND BUMPY RIDE. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-128439 Fri, 18 Dec 1998 00:00:00 GMT TIRES AND SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE ARE INADEQUATE RESULTING IN REAR OF VEHICLE SLIDING DURING TURNS AND BUMPY RIDE. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-128440 Fri, 18 Dec 1998 00:00:00 GMT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-128441 Fri, 18 Dec 1998 00:00:00 GMT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ROAD PROPERLY. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-318ti#complaint-120582 Tue, 20 Oct 1998 00:00:00 GMT DRIVER'S WINDOW GLASS PLATE CAME OUT OF THE DOOR CHANNEL.