1996 BMW 318TI Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 318TI years
- Not enough data 2nd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 BMW 318TI. That ranks 2nd out of 5 318TI model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (3 complaints, 38%), typically at around 110,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 8owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 BMW 318TI 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 3 | 38% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 25% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 13% | 110,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 BMW 318TI 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.
This is the 8th time passenger side window of my 1996 bmw318ti is in need of repair. Motor replaced once, than regulator, followed by numerous repairs for slides or clips to be fixed. When putting up window there is a loud crack and the window goes off track, so it can neither go up or down. This…
My 1996 bmw 318ti - driver side front window has 3 times in last 5 years fallen into the door interior while driving. I have had this repaired now 3 times in 5 years at a total cost to be of $1300. This is a systemic design and safety problem that occurs not most of the 3 series bmw from 1995 to…
The windows fall off track on my 1996 bmw e36 318ti. This has been happening to both windows on my car regularly for the past 2.5 years i have owned the car and has ruined the tint on both windows. I have spoken with other 318ti owners about this problem and have found that this a highly common…
I am an engineer who performs failure analysis - my observations are based on significant experience in this field. The car is a 1996 bmw 318ti with a 5 spd manual transmission. The engine is stock. I was driving my 318ti on the interstate highway and noticed that the speed was increasing without…
When taking the key out ofignition vehicle continued to run. *ak
Other BMW 318TI years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 318TI | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 318TI | 11 | 0 |
| 1997 318TI | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | 8 | 1 |
| 1995 318TI | 3 | 1 |
See all BMW 318TI 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 318TI?
Owners most often report visibility, electrical system, air bags problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 BMW 318TI?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 BMW 318TI a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 318TI model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.