Worst years for a BMW 318I
Owners have filed 113 complaints about the BMW 318I with NHTSA across model years 1984 to 2003. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.
Every BMW 318I year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 2001 | — | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1998 | D | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 1997 | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 1996 | — | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | Airbags |
| 1995 | C | 19 | 2 | 1 | 124,000 | Airbags |
| 1994 | D | 19 | 3 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1993 | B | 15 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1992 | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1991 | — | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1985 | — | 9 | 0 | 3 | — | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 1984 | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
What breaks on a BMW 318I
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Worst in 1995
Worst in 1995
Worst in 1998
Worst in 1994
Worst in 1993
Worst in 1985
Worst in 1995
Worst in 1991
Worst in 1997
Worst in 1994
Worst in 2001
Worst in 1991
Worst in 1995
Exactly what failed on a BMW 318I
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every BMW 318I, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Compare the BMW 318I
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.