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1995 BMW 318I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
14Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
199211
199314
199414
19953
19965
19978
1998
Compare all 318I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
5Electrical System
3Vehicle Speed Control
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1
All reported categories
Power Train
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

1 reports
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36,000 miles · Mar 31, 2003
Power Train

I HAVE A 1995 BMW 318I AND HAS 37,000 MILES. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH M/T AND FIRST GEAR POPS OUT OF GEAR WHICH CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU TO HIT YOUR CAR. I HAVE HAD MECHANICS DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED BMW THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS DESIGN PROBLEM TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEI…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 1995 BMW 318I AND HAS 37,000 MILES. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH M/T AND FIRST GEAR POPS OUT OF GEAR WHICH CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU TO HIT YOUR CAR. I HAVE HAD MECHANICS DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED BMW THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS DESIGN PROBLEM TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEIR WAS A SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED IN 1999 AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT.(PERFECT TIMING). I THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL CONSIDERING THE DANGER OF THIS ON THE OPEN ROAD. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10013736

Official recalls

2

98V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Aug 4, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 19, 1997

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.