NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 BMW 318 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2001 BMW 318 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 6 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 BMW 318.

2001 BMW 318 owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 318, describing incidents dated February 23, 2001 to August 4, 2001.

Most-cited components

Engine 5 complaints
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #750648 · Filed August 17, 2001
NEW BMW COMBUSTED -- ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO DEFECT IN FAN ASSEMBLY ALREADY KNOWN TO BMW. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME, IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY.
ODI #746872 · Filed June 15, 2001
MY CAR WAS SIMPLY IDLING IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE A/C ON FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN I RETURNED TO FIND MY CAR WITH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY RAN TO THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. I NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE RED ZONE. I THEN NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID SPILLING…
ODI #746574 · Filed June 7, 2001
MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF OVERHEATING FOR SAME MODEL DUE TO FAILURE OF AUXILIARY COOLING FAN AS NOTED ON INTERNET BULLETIN BOARD WWW.BIMMER.ORG IN RECENT WEEKS/MONTHS

Read all 6 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2001 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 2001 BMW 318. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 BMW 318.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #750648

Fire

Incident: August 4, 2001 · Filed: August 17, 2001

NEW BMW COMBUSTED -- ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO DEFECT IN FAN ASSEMBLY ALREADY KNOWN TO BMW. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME, IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #746872

Incident: May 31, 2001 · Filed: June 15, 2001

MY CAR WAS SIMPLY IDLING IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE A/C ON FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN I RETURNED TO FIND MY CAR WITH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY RAN TO THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. I NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE RED ZONE. I THEN NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID SPILLING TO THE GROUND. I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE FLUID WAS RELEASING FROM THE RADIATOR CAP. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE COOLING FAN. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS INCIDENTS ON THE INTERNET OF PEOPLE'S COOLING FANS FAILING AND THEIR BMW'S OVERHEATING. I'M SURPRISED BMW HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL. THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE. MY CAR WAS NOT SOME CAR WAITING AT A DEALERSHIP TO BE BOUGHT. I ORDERED IT AND IT WAS ASSEMBLED IN A PLANT IN GERMANY. THEY ARE INSTALLING FAULTY FANS INTO NEW CARS. THEIR PROBLEM IS THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHICH FANS ARE THE BAD/FAILING FANS. THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL 3 SERIES BMW 2001 FANS AND REPLACE THEM. THIS UPSETS ME. MY CAR IS RUNNING FINE, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT IF ANY, UNKNOWN LONG TERM DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED IN MY ENGINE FROM OVERHEATING!!!!!. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #746574

Incident: June 5, 2001 · Filed: June 7, 2001

MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF OVERHEATING FOR SAME MODEL DUE TO FAILURE OF AUXILIARY COOLING FAN AS NOTED ON INTERNET BULLETIN BOARD WWW.BIMMER.ORG IN RECENT WEEKS/MONTHS

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #745437

Filed: May 17, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #745425

Incident: April 30, 2001 · Filed: May 16, 2001

COOLING FAN FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT - VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. *AK

Suspension

ODI #744294

Incident: February 23, 2001 · Filed: April 20, 2001

AFTER HEARING UNUSUAL NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONTROL ARMS. SIMILAR NOISES ARE NOW COMING FROM THE BACK BUT THE SOURCE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. I AM CONCERNED WITH SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THIS PRODUCT.*AK

Check your 2001 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