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1996 BMW 318

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
17
199320
199419
19955
19965
19973
1998
Compare all 318 years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
3Equipment
2Air Bags
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seat Belts
1
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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: 1 of 5 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

5 reports
75,688 miles · Aug 7, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE HAD A GAS LEAK IN THE TANK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FILLED THE GAS TANK AND 15 MINUTES LATER ALL THE GAS LEAKED OUT. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, ENGINE, AND THE A/C PANEL WHICH INTERMITTENTLY WENT OUT. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026300

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WATER PUMP/FAN BELT AND RADIATOR FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843813

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843807

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1997
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER, HEAD ON, SEATBELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY{DRIVER /PASSENGER}, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES AND BRUISES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819053

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1997
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ODI #603262

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.