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.
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. 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
5 reports
91,001 miles · Jan 4, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND IN THE GARAGE, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DETERMINED TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK...THIS GASKET HAS CAUSED PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED IN MIDDLE OF 1994. THIS WAS A FREQUENT FAILURE ON 318 VEHICLES. BMW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE INDICATE…
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CONSUMER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND IN THE GARAGE, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DETERMINED TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK...THIS GASKET HAS CAUSED PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED IN MIDDLE OF 1994. THIS WAS A FREQUENT FAILURE ON 318 VEHICLES. BMW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DISCUSS THE PROFILE GASKET PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10106771
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Electrical System
AFTER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT DME UNIT WAS SOAKED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #885300
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2001
Electrical System
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #739686
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1999
Power Train
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV. 1994 FROM GEARHART BMW IN DENVILLE, NEW JERSEY. FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASED DATE, I DISCOVERED A NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM BEHIND ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID THE NOISE YOU HEARD WAS PROBABLY THE TIRE NOISE. I S…
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I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV. 1994 FROM GEARHART BMW IN DENVILLE, NEW JERSEY. FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASED DATE, I DISCOVERED A NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM BEHIND ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID THE NOISE YOU HEARD WAS PROBABLY THE TIRE NOISE. I STOPPED AT ONE OF THE NEAREST TIRE'S DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECKED MY VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. I REQUESTED THE TIRE'S DEALER TO TYPE UP A SUMMARY FOR MY RECORD. I SHOWED IT TO THE GEARHART DEALER THEN THEY DENIED IT. HOWEVER, I STILL HEARD THE NOISE SO I KEPT GOING BACK TO THE DEALER AND TRIED ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. I EVEN TRIED TO CALL THE CUSTOMER SERVICE OF BMW HEADQUARTER, .. NO SOLUTION ! ! !.... FINALLY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY OF MY VEHICLE ALMOST CAME TO BE EXPIRED, THE MORRISTOWN BMW REVEALED THE PROBLEM TO ME AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AT THAT TIME, I WAS SO ANGRY BECAUSE FOR ONLY ONE REASON THAT I AM 100% BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER HAD THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE NOISE, HOWEVER, FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION TO ME AS THE CUSTOMER. AT THIS MOMENT AS I AM WRITING THE LETTER, I ONLY HAVE ONE HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU WANT TO INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY SAFETY HAZARD. IF YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT MY WORK #: (973) 966-2501. I GREATLY APPRECIATE FOR YOUR TIME IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. BEST REGARDS, ELIA IMAN , QUALITY ENGINEER.
NHTSA ODI #706073
Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
THE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL ENGINE...AND WHILE BMW ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS BECAUSE OF BA MATERIALS USED FOR THIS GASKET, NO RECALL NOR OFFER TO REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN MADE.
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 318IS Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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