NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 BMW 318 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 BMW 318 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 5 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 BMW 318.

1997 BMW 318 owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 318, describing incidents dated September 3, 1997 to November 12, 2011.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint

Of the 5 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10435546 · Filed November 14, 2011
STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. IT WON'T BUDGE. YOU CAN CRANK THE CAR..NO PROBLEM, BUT THE WHEEL IS LOCKED. *TR
ODI #891400 · Filed June 27, 2001
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY THERE WAS A FLYING TIRE ON THE ROAD, AND TIRE HIT VEHICLE. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
ODI #826132 · Filed July 31, 1998
AIR BAG SAFETY LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. THE MANUAL STATES THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, COULD PREVENT SYSTEM FROM RESPONDING TO A HIGH INTENSITY FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRING WITHIN NORMAL RESPONSE RANGE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED THREE TIMES AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Read all 5 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 BMW 318 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 BMW 318. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 BMW 318.

Steering

ODI #10435546

Incident: November 12, 2011 · Filed: November 14, 2011

STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. IT WON'T BUDGE. YOU CAN CRANK THE CAR..NO PROBLEM, BUT THE WHEEL IS LOCKED. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #891400

Crash

Incident: April 22, 2001 · Filed: June 27, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY THERE WAS A FLYING TIRE ON THE ROAD, AND TIRE HIT VEHICLE. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Air Bags

ODI #826132

Incident: January 31, 1998 · Filed: July 31, 1998

AIR BAG SAFETY LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. THE MANUAL STATES THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, COULD PREVENT SYSTEM FROM RESPONDING TO A HIGH INTENSITY FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRING WITHIN NORMAL RESPONSE RANGE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED THREE TIMES AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #816061

Incident: September 3, 1997 · Filed: September 5, 1997

THE VEHICLE'S GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHEN THINKING OF STEPPING ON THE BRAKES DRIVER IS ACTUALLY STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #707542

Incident: June 4, 1999 · Filed: June 14, 1999

CATALYIC FAILURE AT <20000 MILES SEEMS UNUSAUL. IN TALKING TO TWO DEALERS, BOTH SERVICE DEPARTMENTS INDICATED THAT THE "318'S HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CONVERTERS THAT YEAR". SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THEY HAD A PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD FIX RATHER THAN WAITING FOR IT TO BREAK, THEN MY HAVING TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK, AND RENT A CAR WHILE MINE IS IN FOR REPAIRS. *AK

Check your 1997 BMW 318 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 318 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a BMW VIN