BMW 318IS Problems by Year
NHTSA has 5 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file for the BMW 318IS, across 3 model years (1995–1997). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (3). The most reported problem area overall is structure.
BMW 318IS years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No 318IS model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 318IS: 3 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1997 318IS: 2 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 318IS problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 318IS model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 318IS | 2 | 1 | — | Steering | |
| 1996 318IS | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1995 318IS | 3 | 2 | — | Structure |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 318IS years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1995 (3), 1997 (2). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 318IS?
Structure, with 2 complaints across 1 model year.
How many recalls does the BMW 318IS have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.