1997 BMW 318IS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 318IS years
- Not enough data 2nd of 3 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 318IS. That ranks 2nd out of 3 318IS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (1 complaints, 50%), typically at around 35,550 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 BMW 318IS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1 | 50% | 35,550 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 BMW 318IS 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.
While driving at 45 mph, suddenly a popping noise occurred in the front end, the steering wheel shuttered because vehicle was equipped with asc plus t (automatic stability control plus traction) and it was trying to gain back control. This resulted in the driver crashing into a tree head on. Driver…
While driving the vehicle with cruise control on consumer applied the brakes and cruise control won't release. Also, air bag light illuminated on the dash board. *ak
Other BMW 318IS years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 1 |
| 1996 318IS | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 318IS | 3 | 2 |
See all BMW 318IS 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 1997 BMW 318IS?
Owners most often report steering, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1997 BMW 318IS?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 BMW 318IS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 318IS model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.