CarRecallWatchThe 1996 BMW 318TI has 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, including 1 crash.
The most-reported problem area is Visibility (3 reports).
1Recalls
8Owner complaints
1Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your 318TI?
1996 BMW 318TI recalls
Most common 1996 BMW 318TI problems
Problem areas named in the 8 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Visibility | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
What owners report
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 IS A COSTLY COMPLAINT FROM MANY OWNERS OF THIS CAR SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF PROBLEM OR DEFECT. *TR
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 2002. BMW UTILIZES A VERY POOR CHANNEL DESIGN TO RETAIN THE WINDOW SAFELY AND SECURELY WITH 3 CHEAP INADEQUATE PLASTIC / METAL CLIPS THAT FAIL CONSISTENTLY AND REPEATEDLY AFTER REPAIR OVER A SHORT TIME IT IS A HUGE DESIGN PROBLEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND NEW DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION TO CORRECT THIS SYSTEMIC DESIGN SAFETY FAILURE. IN MY LAST FAILURE LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING 60 MILES A
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 FAILURE AND NORMALLY COSTS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR, ONLY TO BREAK AGAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE WINDOWS COULD SHATTER WHEN THEY FALL INTO THE DOOR OR POSSIBLY HARM PASSENGERS BY FALLING INTO THE CAR WHILE IN THE OFF-TRACK POSITION. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *NM
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 THROTTLE INPUT. I TURNED THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF THINKING THAT IT SOMEHOW HAD MALFUNCTIONED - THE SPEED CONTINUED TO INCREASE. WHEN THE SPEED PASSED 80 MPH, I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH, WHICH OF COURSE ALLOWED THE CAR TO SLOW, BUT THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO REDLINE - AS THE TACH GOT CLOSE TO THE RED LINE, I SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, AND STEERED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL,
WHEN TAKING THE KEY OUT OFIGNITION VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. *AK
1996 BMW 318TI questions
Does the 1996 BMW 318TI have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for the 1996 BMW 318TI: Vehicle Speed Control. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 BMW 318TI?
Based on 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Visibility (3), Electrical System (2), Air Bags (1).
How do I check if a recall on my 1996 BMW 318TI has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.