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 1 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.
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.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reports
103,707 miles · Sep 2, 2003
Electrical System
WASHED BIRD POOP OFF THE HOOD WITH AN OPEN HOSE (NO SPRAYER). CAR WOULD NOT START AFTERWARDS. HAD CAR TOWED TO BMW REPAIR SHOP. THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM OF WATER GETTING INTO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. $2200 LATER (ENGINE HAD TO BE RETUNED BECAUSE OF FUEL INJECTED PROBLEMS) GOT IT BACK. HAD TO HANGLE WITH INSURANCE …
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WASHED BIRD POOP OFF THE HOOD WITH AN OPEN HOSE (NO SPRAYER). CAR WOULD NOT START AFTERWARDS. HAD CAR TOWED TO BMW REPAIR SHOP. THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM OF WATER GETTING INTO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. $2200 LATER (ENGINE HAD TO BE RETUNED BECAUSE OF FUEL INJECTED PROBLEMS) GOT IT BACK. HAD TO HANGLE WITH INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE OF HISTORY OF THESE PROBLEMS. SEEMS LIKE AND OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. DID RESEARCH ON THIS SITE AND FOUND SIMILAR CASE ISSUES IN JUST THE 1994 AND 1995 YEARS. ISSUES WITH THE 3 SERIES. COULD BE WITH OTHERS. SEE THESE OTHER COMPLAINT NUMBERS. 888956 855790 855789 8006006 NUMBER WRONG? 710164 893434 POSSIBLE RELATED 701777 480715 *AK
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.
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.
1994 BMW 318IC Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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