FaultScore

FaultScore report

1991 BMW 318 problems

Owners have filed 47 complaints about the 1991 BMW 318 with NHTSA between 1995 and 1997. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

47

Complaints

6

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

6

Injuries reported

How 1991 compares with every other BMW 318

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1991 BMW 318

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 22 46.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 4 8.5%
Airbags 4 8.5%

3 crashes, 0 fires

Electrical System 4 8.5%
Seats 3 6.4%

2 crashes, 0 fires

Fuel & Propulsion 3 6.4%
Steering 2 4.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 2 4.3%
Equipment & Accessories 1 2.1%
Seat Belts 1 2.1%
Lights 1 2.1%

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Engine 12 41.4%
Radiator Assembly 5 17.2%
Frontal 4 13.8%
Cooling System 2 6.9%
Gasoline 2 6.9%
12V/24V/48V Battery 2 6.9%
Banjo Housing 1 3.4%
Floor Shift 1 3.4%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 1995 peak 14 Nov 1997

NHTSA investigations into the 1991 BMW 318

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA95013 Opened 31 Mar 1995 Closed 15 Jul 1996 AIR BAGS

AIR BAG WIRING FAILURE

EA92017 Opened 2 Jun 1992 Closed 30 Mar 1993 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

HEATER CORE FAILURE

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Wrightsvil, NC Crash 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE DUE TO DFECTIVE ENGINE PROFILE GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #526567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Worth, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *SKD

NHTSA complaint #482464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenwell, LA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS, RESULTING IN INJURY. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #489342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenwell SP, LA Crash 1 injured

SEATS

FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 11:00 P0SITION, DRIVRER,S SIDE SEAT BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #963039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenwell SP, LA Crash 1 injured

SEATS

FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 11:00 POSITION, LOST CONTROL HIT AGAIN ON 1:00 POSITION SPEED 40 MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE, LAP/SHOULDER.

NHTSA complaint #963039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenwell SP, LA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 11:00 POSITION, LOST CONTROL, HIT AGAIN ON 1:00 POSITION, SPEED 40 MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

NHTSA complaint #963039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

West Palm, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

RADIATOR CONNECTION SEPARATED/FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

THERMOSTAT FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm, FL

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

RIGHT WINDOW SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE HAS BLOWN TWO HEAD GASKETS.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm, FL

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

ANTENNA BROKE OFF.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

BELTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

FOUR CYLINDER-HEAD COVER FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #521199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wrightsvil, NC Crash 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE DUE TO DFECTIVE ENGINE PROFILE GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #526567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT, VEHICLE WAS DRIPPING COOLIN FLUID. THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND SAW THE COOLING FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #816844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Louis, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE PROFILE GASKET MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #521332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palo Alto, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #517927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort LEE, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

RADIATOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort LEE, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oxford Mills, 00

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #602457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlottsville, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DESIGN DEFECT CONCERNING TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #513939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE GASKET FAILED/REPLACED; ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #513374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Paul, MN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #513378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE GASKET FAILED/REPLACED; ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #513374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harvest, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE GASKET FAILED, RESULTING IN A COOLANT LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #510860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Prestonsburg, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE GASKE TFAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT.

NHTSA complaint #510508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunnyvale, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #506945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK FROM FRONT SEAL PORT OF VEHICLES WATER PUMP. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #490676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Astoria, OR

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AND HAS BEEN REPLACED (3) TIMES WITH CAUSE UNDETECTED BY KUNI BMW-OR. TT

NHTSA complaint #971281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.