NHTSA Data Explorer

BMW 318ti

Data refreshed October 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the BMW 318ti.

Complaints

125

Active records

Recalls

11

Active records

TSBs

117

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

11

Crashes

19

Fires

4

Top reported issues — BMW 318ti

Click a category to expand its values.

Operating state

37

Safety restraint issue

32

Condition issue

20

Reporting mechanism

14

Safety restraint behavior

13

Access/entry issue

12

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

12

Engine behavior

10

Lighting behavior

7

Noise

6

Performance issue

6

Driver assistance issue

5

HVAC behavior

5

Electrical issue

4

Fluid issue

4

Ride/handling behavior

4

Steering behavior

3

Thermal issue

3

Braking behavior

2

Powering on/off behavior

2

Smell

2

Starting behavior

2

Vibration/harshness

1

Wiper/washer behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

1998 BMW 3 SERIES

Filed Dec 31, 2017


THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PARTS TO SERVICE THE RECALL ANY TIME I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS OR HAVE CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL.

1995 BMW 318I

Filed Dec 19, 2016


THE GAS PEDAL IS STUCK AND CANNOT STOP AND RPM ARE RED LINING. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LUCKILY I WAS PULLING INTO WORK TO PARK AND THAT'S WHEN THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK AND THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP HIGH TO 500 RPM. *TR

1998 BMW 3 SERIES

Filed Oct 4, 2016


AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 P.M. CT ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE HOME FROM WORK. I WAS ON STATE HIGHWAY 75 IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, HEADING SOUTH. I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC RECOLLECTION OF MY SPEED AT THAT EXACT MOMENT, BUT WOULD ESTIMATE IT TO BE IN THE AREA OF 55-60 MILES AN HOUR, AS THERE WAS SOME TRAFFIC, BUT IT WAS NOT HEAVY. I WAS IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE ON A PART OF THE HIGHWAY WHERE THERE IS NO CURB. I DID NOT SWERVE OFF THE SHOULDER. TULSA ROADS ARE…

1997 BMW 3 SERIES

Filed Nov 26, 2015


IT SHOWS SEATBELT SIGN AND AIRBAG SIGN

1997 BMW 3 SERIES

Filed Aug 14, 2015


WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REVVE HIGHER. IT DID NOT TAMPER DOWN UNTIL I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REVVE WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN UNTIL I CAME TO MY DESTINATION AND PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. IT DROVE FINE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT THAT DAY. BEFORE THE INCIDENT I HAD TURNED ON THE A/C. ON TUESDAY (2 DAYS LATER) IT UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED…

1999 BMW 3 SERIES

Filed Apr 18, 2014


I WAS DRIVING HOME AT 10:15 PM AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MOUNTED AND PASSENGER SIDE HEAD PROTECTION AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I CALLED BMW THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO REPORT IT AND SEE WHAT I SHOULD DO. I WAS TOLD I WOULD GET A RETURN CALL WITHIN 1-3 BUSINESS DAYS. I HAVE LEFT 2 MESSAGES AND BMW STILL HAS NOT CALLED ME BACK. *TR

1999 BMW 3 SERIES

Filed Dec 24, 2013


THE BMW 323I ( BMW E46 ) FUEL TANK STRAP, WHICH HOLDS THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE, DETACHED FROM THE CAR BODY. THIS IS A STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. THE 4 SPOT WELDS THAT HOLD THE STRAP TO THE CAR BODY FAILED. NOTE, THE FUEL TANK IS HELD IN PLACE BY THIS STRAP. *TR

1999 BMW 3 SERIES

Filed Aug 7, 2013


I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO BRECHT DEALERSHIP IN ESCONDIDO TO ADDRESS SEATBELT SAFETY/AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR A TOTAL OF EIGHT (8) TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. TODAY THE SEATBELT AIRBAG WARNING DEVISE CAME ON WITH THE LOANER PROVIDED BYDEALER WITH A SCREEN STATEMENT: WARNING DANGER KEEP YOUR SEATBELT ON AND RETURN TO SHOP FOR REPAIR. THIS IS A 20014 VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS ENTIRE ISSUE OF SEATBELT AIRBAG SAFETY IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WARRANTS FULL…

1998 BMW 318I

Filed Sep 19, 2012


1 injured
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 318I. WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS THE CONTACT WAS CRASHING INTO THE SECOND VEHICLE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE HORN JUST AS THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE LEFT ARM, CAUSING HIS LEFT SHOULDER TO BECOME DISLODGED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE HORN WAS ALSO LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER…

1999 BMW 3 SERIES

Filed Jul 11, 2012


ALL DOORS LOCK ON THEIR OWN AND THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF CLOSE LEAVING YOU LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated October 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.