The 1996 BMW 318ti has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 410,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
1
Total complaints8
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“Ignition switch failure. When attempting to turn off car, key moved to off position without resistance but did not turn off car. Switch locked in off position but key would move and car continued to run. Key could be removed and reinserted but could not turn off car. Had to pull fuse on the fuel…”
“While driving 30 mph vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and the airbags did not deploy. Owner will contact the manufacturer. *ak”
“Strip on door peeling making it hard for driver to close the door.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 BMW 318ti as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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