1996 BMW 318IC Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 318IC years
- Not enough data 2nd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 BMW 318IC. That ranks 2nd out of 6 318IC model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is seat belts (2 complaints, 100%). There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 BMW 318IC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 2 | 100% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 BMW 318IC recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
Repeated instance of seat belt lock failure as relating to air bag. Drivers side bracket has been replaced 4 times. It seems the wiring or switch keeps failing and the airbag light stays on. Especially true after hard stops. Shop says air bag may fail to deploy if not repaired. *jb
The drivers side seat belt broke. Nlm
Other BMW 318IC years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 318IC | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 318IC | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 318IC | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 318IC | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | 2 | 1 |
| 1995 318IC | 4 | 3 |
See all BMW 318IC 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 318IC?
Owners most often report seat belts, electrical system problems. The top one, seat belts, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 BMW 318IC?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 BMW 318IC a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 318IC model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.