1991 Bmw 318: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 9 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 482102 · 1995-03-06 (March 6, 1995)
GEAR SHIFT BRAKET FAILED, CAUSING LEVER TO FALL DOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482141 · 1995-03-11 (March 11, 1995)
FUSES KEEP BLOWING OUT WHEN WINDOWS ARE PUT DOWN, CAUSING WINDOWS TO BECOME STUCK UNTIL NEW FUSES ARE PUT IN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482464 · 1995-03-24 (March 24, 1995)
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489342 · 1995-04-17 (April 17, 1995)
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN DRIVER BEING TOSSED INTO BACK SEAT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490676 · 1995-12-11 (December 11, 1995)
COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK FROM FRONT SEAL PORT OF VEHICLES WATER PUMP. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506945 · 1996-08-02 (August 2, 1996)
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960102 · 1995-02-15 (February 15, 1995)
INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED BY ITSELF. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 963039 · 1995-04-04 (April 4, 1995)
FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 11:00 POSITION, LOST CONTROL HIT AGAIN ON 1:00 POSITION SPEED 40 MPH, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE, LAP/SHOULDER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963039 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
91V219000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1991-12-17 (December 17, 1991)
THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM, VENTED INTO THE INTAKE TRACT OF THE ENGINE AT THE BELLOWS BOOT AHEAD OF THE THROTTLE HOUSING, ALLOWS WARM WATER VAPOR FROM THE CRANKCASE VENT TO CONDENSE AND FREEZE IN THE COLDER BELLOWS BOOT WHEN THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE IS 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR LESS. THE BUILD UP OF ICE CAN DISLODGE AND MOVE INTO THE THROTTLE HOUSING, PREVENTING THE THROTTLE PLATE FROM FULLY CLOSING WHEN THE DRIVER RELEASES THE GAS PEDAL.
Consequence: IF THE THROTTLE PLATE IS PREVENTED FROM CLOSING, THEREIS AN INCREASE IN IDLE SPEED AS WELL AS SLOWER THAN NORMAL DECELERATION, WHICHOCCURS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE THROTTLE HOUSING WITH A VERSION CONTAINING A MODIFIED HEATING SYSTEM ALONG WITH REROUTING OF THE CVS HOSE. THIS WILL PREVENT ICE BUILD-UP IN THE INTAKE TRACT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V015000 · Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
Reported: 1993-02-01 (February 1, 1993)
THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.
Consequence: VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING SYSTEMPRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEMSUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF THE RADIATOR OREXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE OR A FITTING, AND (4)CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES,BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING INBURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPORFOGGING OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V066000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1994-04-11 (April 11, 1994)
FEED FUEL HOSES CAN HARDEN AND "SET" OVER TIME, ALLOWING A SEEPAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING. THE CLAMP USED TO HOLD THE HOSE TO THE FITTING IS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HARDENING OF THE FEED FUEL HOSE.
Consequence: FUEL SEEPAGE BETWEEN THE FEED FUEL HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING CAN RESULT IN FREE FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: A REDESIGNED FEED FUEL HOSE AND HOSE CLAMP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ALLEVIATE THE FUEL SEEPAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗