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1991 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 →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7.5

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
19918
199211
199314
1994
Compare all 318I years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
4Air Bags
1Electrical System
1Seat Belts
1Unknown Or Other
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: 2 of 8 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 4 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 →
  • Electrical System. 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 reports0 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2000
Air BagsCrash

WHEN STRIKING A WALL HEAD-ON AT 40 MPH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876191

Official recalls

1

91V054000 · Air Bags:knee Bolster

Apr 10, 1991

DURING TESTING, INCORRECTLY INSTALLED DRIVER-SIDE KNEE BOLSTER PREVENTED STEERING COLUMN FROM MOVING FORWARD AS DESIGNED TO ABSORB IMPACT ENERGY FROM DRIVER DUMMY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CHEST DECELERATION EXCEEDS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE LIMIT WHICHRESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPAIR THE KNEE BOLSTER TO ALLOW CLEARANCE AND AVOID IMPEDANCE OF STEERING COLUMN MOVEMENT DURING FRONTAL IMPACT.

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.