Filed Feb 17, 199423,500 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke
Defect. THE ADHESIVE MATERIAL OF THE TWO PIECE THROTTLE BODY HEATER MIGRATES INTO THE CIRCULATION CHAMBER CAUSING BUILD UP OF IMPURITIES AND RESTRICTION OF FLOW WITHIN THE CHAMBER. THIS CONDITION AND WATER VAPORS FROM THE CRANK THAT FREEZES AT LOW AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURES PREVENTS THE THROTTLE PLATE FROM CLOSING AS THE DRIVER RELEASES THE GAS PEDAL, CAUSING LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL.
Risk. IF LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL FROM THE FROZEN THROTTLE BODY OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy. BMW DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY HEATER WITH A MODIFIED HEATER.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed May 23, 2001NC
WATER DRAINED INTO ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, AND RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING.ALSO, LEAVING FUEL INJECTORS OPEN, COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Jan 31, 2000NC
WHEN THERE IS A HEAVY DOWN POUR OR TAKING CAR TO THE CAR WASH, THE COMPUTER GETS WET WHICH WON'T ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAD THE COMPUTER REPLACED. *AK
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Nov 17, 1999NJ
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM FOR MANY TIMES ( REPEATABLE ). I AM REALLY HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP ME TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW ACCURATE LEVEL OF THE FUEL IN THE TANK. I HAVE TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TO TRY TACKLE THIS PROBLEM AND SOLVE THEM; HOWEVER, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING IT RIGHT NOW. IT'S A QUALITY ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER FOR ME AND OTHER OWNER WHO MAY NOT WANT TO REPORT THIS MATTER TO YOU. *AK
Visibility › Windshield
Filed May 18, 1999FL
BUMPER AROUND WINDSHIELD FLAKED OFF IN 3 YEARS. PRESENTLY, THE BUMPER IS GONE, AND WATER IS ENTERING INTO THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH MAY CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Dec 31, 1998CA
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 23, 1998CA
PROFILE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. MUCH OF THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKED ONTO THE ROADWAY. OTHER GASKETS, ETC. ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED: VALVE COVER GASKETS, THERMOSTAT, INTAKE MANIFOLD GAS, THROTTLE BODY GASKET, EXHAUST PIPE GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, CHAIN TENSIONER, AND MORE. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $950 IN LABOR AND $426.00 IN PARTS. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET AND THE NHTSA WEB SITE, I FOUND MANY OTHER BMW 318 OWNERS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM; MOST OF THEM WITH 1993 MODELS. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Oct 15, 1998OK
WATER LEAKING INTO THE E-BOX ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. BULLETIN 410393.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 8, 1998CA
PROFILE GASKET FAILED, LEAKING ALL OF THE COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE.
Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Mar 6, 1997DC
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT SPEEDS OF 30MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jan 7, 1997CA
DEFECTIVE SPOT WELDS AT THE FIREWALL AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUSING CLUNKING NOISE. PROBLEM WAS SERVICED BUT UNABLE TO BE FIXED.
Air Bags
Filed Jan 18, 199600
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. *DSH
Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Aug 28, 1995CA
PUT CAR IN REVERSE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, OCCUPANTS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE. TT
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Aug 14, 1995FL
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 12, 1995KS
THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC FOR NO REASON. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed May 4, 1995OR
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *TW
Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed May 3, 1995OR
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *TW
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed May 1, 1995OR
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SKD
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Feb 17, 1994. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.