The 1995 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 air bags. 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
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE
1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
1
Total complaints6
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Passenger window falls off the tracks - results in high bills to get it fixed. Numerous incidents. I am unable to select window or anything related to it in the drop down menus. To proceed I have had to make selections that have no relevance. *tr”
“Passenger window falls off the tracks - results in high bills to get it fixed. Numerous incidents. I am unable to select window or anything related to it in the drop down menus. To proceed I have had to make selections that have no relevance. *tr”
“During frontal collision into rear of leading car at 35mph, my bmw failed to deploy airbags and driver seatbelt did not lock, causing driver to come violently forward to within 1 inch of steering wheel, then thrown hard back into seat causing neck and back injuries and a severe concussion to the…”
“During frontal collision into rear of leading car at 35mph, my bmw failed to deploy airbags and driver seatbelt did not lock, causing driver to come violently forward to within 1 inch of steering wheel, then thrown hard back into seat causing neck and back injuries and a severe concussion to the…”
“The first problem is the clips that hold the interior door panels fail causing the door panels to come lose and fall or crack. The second problem is the heat shield rattles causing a rattling from under the hood at any speed above 5 mph. Thank you”
“The first problem is the clips that hold the interior door panels fail causing the door panels to come lose and fall or crack. The second problem is the heat shield rattles causing a rattling from under the hood at any speed above 5 mph. Thank you”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1995 BMW 318is as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.