The 1995 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 air bags. 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
AIR BAGS
5
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1
SEAT BELTS
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
STEERING:COLUMN
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints19
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The gas pedal is stuck and cannot stop and rpm are red lining. Car is unsafe to drive. Luckily I was pulling into work to park and that's when the gas pedal got stuck and the engine started revving up high to 500 rpm. *tr”
“The gas pedal is stuck and cannot stop and rpm are red lining. Car is unsafe to drive. Luckily I was pulling into work to park and that's when the gas pedal got stuck and the engine started revving up high to 500 rpm. *tr”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1995 bmw 318i. The contact stated that the vehicle had the same failure as noted in recall # 98v178000 concerning engine and engine cooling:cooling system. He stated that the water pump failed and would cost $800.00 to repair. However, the repair was performed free of charge…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1995 bmw 318i. The contact stated that the vehicle had the same failure as noted in recall # 98v178000 concerning engine and engine cooling:cooling system. He stated that the water pump failed and would cost $800.00 to repair. However, the repair was performed free of charge…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1995 bmw 318i. The contact stated that the vehicle had the same failure as noted in recall # 98v178000 concerning engine and engine cooling:cooling system. He stated that the water pump failed and would cost $800.00 to repair. However, the repair was performed free of charge…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1995 bmw 318i. The contact stated that the vehicle had the same failure as noted in recall # 98v178000 concerning engine and engine cooling:cooling system. He stated that the water pump failed and would cost $800.00 to repair. However, the repair was performed free of charge…”
“Air bag light comes on when the car is started. The car, however, can be driven without an issue. The abs light then disappears after about three minutes. The dealer has twice turned-off the light by resetting the vehicle computer. Both times after the the dealer "fixed" the problem and a person…”
“I heard noises coming from and grinding associated with the rolling down of front driver's side window on my 1995 bmw 318i. It finally failed to properly up and I had to take it to the dealership. The dealer told me it was the window regulator and replaced it at a cost of $500. After checking…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1995 BMW 318i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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