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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–1999

BMW 318ti recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 24 owner complaints for the BMW 318ti, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The 1998 model year drew the most complaints (11), and Visibility is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW 318ti VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 24 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 5 model years with data (1995–1999)
  • most complaints: 1998 (11 for that model year)
  • top component: Visibility (7 complaints)
  • latest recall 97V131000 (reported Aug 19, 1997)
  • 2 complaints reporting a crash (8.3%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 1 complaint reporting an injury (4.2%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW 318ti complaints by model year

5 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1998 model year has the most complaints: 11 of 24, or 45.8%. Next come 1996 (8) and 1995 (3). The fewest are for 1999, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
BMW 318ti owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1995–1999Column chart of 24 complaints across 5 model years. The highest is 1998 with 11. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1995: 3 complaints319951996: 8 complaints819961997: 1 complaint119971998: 11 complaints1119981999: 1 complaint11999
BMW 318ti complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
BMW 318ti complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
199530000
199681000
199710000
1998111010
199910000
All model years242010

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW 318ti components

top 14 · NHTSA categories

Visibility is the component named most often, in 7 complaints (29.2% of all 24), followed by Tires (4) and Vehicle Speed Control (3).

Components named most often in BMW 318ti complaints (top 14)
Components named most often in BMW 318ti complaints (top 14)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Visibility729.2%
Tires416.7%
Vehicle Speed Control312.5%
Electrical System28.3%
Exterior Lighting28.3%
Power Train28.3%
Suspension28.3%
Air Bags14.2%
Engine and Engine Cooling14.2%
Fuel System, Gasoline14.2%
Seat Belts14.2%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic14.2%
Structure14.2%
Unknown or Other14.2%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW 318ti recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name 318ti, newest first. The only campaign, 97V131000, covers model years 1995, 1996 and 1997.

  • 1 recall campaign
BMW 318ti recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 1 campaign1996: 1 campaign1997: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 97V131000

    Reported

    Vehicle Speed Control

    Model years 1995–1997

    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:
    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.

    Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW 318ti questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW 318ti have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the BMW 318ti, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The campaign, 97V131000, was reported on August 19, 1997 and is filed under “Vehicle speed control”. The 1995, 1996 and 1997 model years are covered by the most campaigns (1 each).

Which BMW 318ti model year has the most complaints?

The 1998 model year, with 11 of the 24 complaints in NHTSA’s file (45.8%). The next are 1996 (8) and 1995 (3). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common BMW 318ti complaint?

Visibility is the component named most often: 7 complaints, or 29.2% of all 24. Tires (4) and Vehicle Speed Control (3) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW 318ti?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW 318ti complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 24 complaints, 2 report a crash, 0 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other BMW models

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
  • BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
  • BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
  • BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
  • BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
  • BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
  • BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
  • BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.