The 1994 BMW 318is has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 750,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V1780001998-08-04340,000 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…
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.
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…
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
1
Total complaints6
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak”
“After vehicle went through a car wash vehicle would not start. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated that dme unit was soaked.*ak”
“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.”
“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.”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 BMW 318is as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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