1994 BMW 318IS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
6
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1994 BMW 318IS
The 1994 BMW 318IS has received a total of 6 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical Systemignition (1 complaint), Electrical Systemignitionmodule (1 complaint), and Engine And Engine Coolingengine (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1994 BMW 318IS
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1994 BMW 318IS, potentially affecting up to 750,000 vehicles.
Recall 98V178000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
| 340,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
View full details →Recall 97V131000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 410,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1994 BMW 318IS
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1994 BMW 318IS. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Systemignition | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionmodule | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
CONSUMER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND IN THE GARAGE, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DETERMINED TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK...THIS GASKET HAS CAUSED PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED IN MIDDLE OF 1994. THIS WAS A FREQUENT FAILURE ON 318 VEHICLES. BMW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO DISCUSS THE PROFILE GASKET PROBLEM. *AK
AFTER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT DME UNIT WAS SOAKED.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOV. 1994 FROM GEARHART BMW IN DENVILLE, NEW JERSEY. FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASED DATE, I DISCOVERED A NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM BEHIND ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID THE NOISE YOU HEARD WAS PROBABLY THE TIRE NOISE. I STOPPED AT ONE OF THE NEAREST TIRE'S DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECKED MY VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. I REQUESTED THE TIRE'S DEALER TO TYPE UP A SUMMARY FOR MY RECORD. I SHOWED IT TO THE GEARHART DEALER THEN THEY DENIED IT. HOWEVER, I STILL HEARD THE NOISE SO I KEPT GOING BACK TO THE DEALER AND TRIED ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. I EVEN TRIED TO CALL THE CUSTOMER SERVICE OF BMW HEADQUARTER, .. NO SOLUTION ! ! !.... FINALLY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY OF MY VEHICLE ALMOST CAME TO BE EXPIRED, THE MORRISTOWN BMW REVEALED THE PROBLEM TO ME AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AT THAT TIME, I WAS SO ANGRY BECAUSE FOR ONLY ONE REASON THAT I AM 100% BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER HAD THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE NOISE, HOWEVER, FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION TO ME AS THE CUSTOMER. AT THIS MOMENT AS I AM WRITING THE LETTER, I ONLY HAVE ONE HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU WANT TO INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY SAFETY HAZARD. IF YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT MY WORK #: (973) 966-2501. I GREATLY APPRECIATE FOR YOUR TIME IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. BEST REGARDS, ELIA IMAN , QUALITY ENGINEER.
THE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL ENGINE...AND WHILE BMW ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS BECAUSE OF BA MATERIALS USED FOR THIS GASKET, NO RECALL NOR OFFER TO REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN MADE.
Safety Rating for the 1994 BMW 318IS
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1994 BMW 318IS in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1994 BMW 318IS
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1994 BMW 318IS
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 318IS
- 1991 BMW 318IS — 7 complaints
- 1992 BMW 318IS — 3 complaints
- 1993 BMW 318IS — 13 complaints
- 1994 BMW 318IS (current)
- 1995 BMW 318IS — 6 complaints
- 1996 BMW 318IS — 0 complaints
- 1997 BMW 318IS — 2 complaints