1996 BMW 318 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 318 years
- Not enough data 3rd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 BMW 318. That ranks 3rd out of 5 318 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints, 60%), typically at around 75,688 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 5owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 BMW 318 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 60% | 75,688 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 40% | 75,688 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 20% | 75,688 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 20% | 75,688 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 BMW 318 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 BMW 318.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle had a gas leak in the tank. The dealer was notified. *ak the consumer filled the gas tank and 15 minutes later all the gas leaked out. The consumer also experienced problems with the brakes, engine, and the a/c panel which intermittently went out. *scc *jb
Water pump malfunctioned. *ak
The consumer was driving and water pump/fan belt and radiator failed. *ak
Consumer was driving, was hit by another vehicle in the front right corner, head on, seatbelts were worn at the time, air bags did not deploy{driver /passenger}, causing minor injuries and bruises. *ak
Air conditioner inoperative.
Other BMW 318 years
See all BMW 318 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 BMW 318?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, equipment, air bags problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 BMW 318?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 BMW 318 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 318 model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.