The 1994 BMW 318i has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 750,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V1780001998-08-04340,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS…
Consequence
IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
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…
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
1
Total complaints19
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My vehicle was parked on a slight hill and the hand brake was pulled up to its full capacity. My brother sat in the car and smoked a cigarette before going to his appointment. After he returned from his appointment, the vehicle could not be found. After looking around, he realized that the vehicle…”
“My vehicle was parked on a slight hill and the hand brake was pulled up to its full capacity. My brother sat in the car and smoked a cigarette before going to his appointment. After he returned from his appointment, the vehicle could not be found. After looking around, he realized that the vehicle…”
“Dt: the contact stated vehicle overheated randomly. The engine head was replaced twice and needed to be replaced again. The repairs were costly. However, the dealership reimbursed the consumer for one repair, but will not do it again. Consumer state while driving on the highway vehicle overheated.…”
“Fuel leakages from the upper return lines. Dealer making repairs. *ak dealer claims it was next to the starter. Also claims it was fixed, however it is not. *jg”
“Would be driving and vehicle failed to shift from first into 2nd gear. Would get hung up in first. Then, it would suddenly jerk and shift into 2nd. Taken to dealership, mechanic indicated problem of shifting was repairable.*ak”
“Interior door panel assemblies on 3 (three) sections of the vehicle have detached - in the event of accident, passengers may not be able to escape! Also, flawed door panel assemblies make entery/egress from vehicle difficult/dangerous.”
“Initial throttle recall (nhtse #97v131000) performed 5-13-98. Problems relating to cruise control/brake lights continue. (please note: there are irregularities in several fields of the questionaire that show up incorrectly on the final chart.)”
“Temperature guage rises and a large amount of coolant spill engine overheats engine stalls I really don't expect this on a bmw why don't help us with the problem I'm really disapointed they just ignore the problem.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 BMW 318i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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