1995 BMW 318I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 318I years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 BMW 318I. That is the most of any 318I model year in the database (6 years). The most reported problem area is air bags (5 complaints, 36%), typically at around 124,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 14owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1995 BMW 318I 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 | 36% | 124,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 21% | 358,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 14% | 358,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 7% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 7% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 7% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 7% | 124,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 7% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 7% | 135,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1995 BMW 318I recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Problem: 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 possible that damage to, or failure of, a coolant system component could occur.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will install a new design radiator cap to control pressure and provide greater coolant overflow in the event of overheating.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: 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 bushing. In this case, during application of the throttle pedal without cruise control being engaged, the outer tube could catch on the edge of the broken bushing.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
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 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…
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…
While pulling up to the curb to let a passenger out driver's front floor mat pushed up against the gas pedal and caused car to accelerate. The driver stepped on the brake to stop the car, but with the floor mat pressed against the gas pedal, the car continued to accelerate, hitting the vehicle…
Other BMW 318I years
See all BMW 318I 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 1995 BMW 318I?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1995 BMW 318I?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1995 BMW 318I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 318I model years, the 1995 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.