1984 Bmw 318: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1996: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10020347 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
THE ENGINE IDLED HIGH. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089328 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND LIFT UP THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 806929 · 1996-12-31 (December 31, 1996)
AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE ON THE HEATER CORE, THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE COOLING SYSTEM, CAUSING INCREASED PRESSURE THAT RESULTED IN COOLANT LEAKING ON CONSUMER'S FEET. RECALL#93V015000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 806929 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
84V107000 · Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element
Reported: 1984-09-11 (September 11, 1984)
WATER CONTROL VALVE IN THE HEATING SYSTEM MAY NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. EXCESSIVE CURRENT MAY BEGIN TO FLOW THROUGH THE WIRING TO THE CONTROL VALVE RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE WIRING.
Remedy: WIRING TO THE VALVE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A WIRE CONNECTOR THAT HAS A FUSE. THE FUSE WILL PREVENT THE OCCURENCE OF AN ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD.
NHTSA campaign record ↗85V058000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System
Reported: 1985-05-06 (May 6, 1985)
THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE WHICH CONTROLS IDLE SPEED BY VARYING THE AMOUNT OF INTAKE AIR THAT BYPASSES THE THROTTLE PLATE IS SUBJECT TO BACKFIRE INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. SUCH BACKFIRE CAN DAMAGE THE VALVE AND CAUSE THE IDLE VALVE PLATE TO REMAIN OPEN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS WILL RESULT IN ABNORMALLY HIGH IDLE SPEED.
Remedy: INSTALL A REDESIGNED IDLE CONTROL VALVE WHICH CAN NOT STICK OPEN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V015000 · Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
Reported: 1993-02-01 (February 1, 1993)
THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.
Consequence: VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING SYSTEMPRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEMSUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF THE RADIATOR OREXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE OR A FITTING, AND (4)CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES,BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING INBURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPORFOGGING OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1257.1% | 531.3%ODI 510498ENGINE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF HOT COOLANT, RESULTING IN A FOG OF WHITE STEAM WHICH COULD IMPAIR VISIBILITY. *AK | 1164.7%ODI 513580TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILED, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONTO ROADWAY. | 210.0%ODI 533802PROFILE GASKET FAILED, LEAKING ALL OF THE COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 10026300 · 75,688 miTHE VEHICLE HAD A GAS LEAK IN THE TANK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FILLED THE GAS TANK AND 15 MINUTES LATER ALL THE GAS LEAKED OUT. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, ENGINE, AND THE A/C PANEL WHICH INTERMITTENTLY WENT OUT. *SCC *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 419.0%ODI 482464NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *SKD | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 211.8%ODI 968210UPON FRONTAL IMPACT ESTIMATED SPEED 25-30 MPH, AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT | 15.0%ODI 808376DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT SPEEDS OF 30MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK | 315.8%ODI 10002365CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS IN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON TIME.THE CONSUMER STATES HER HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL THEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AT 30MPH DURING IMPACT. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS | 120.0%ODI 819053CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER, HEAD ON, SEATBELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY{DRIVER /PASSENGER}, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES AND BRUISES. *AK | 120.0%ODI 891400CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY THERE WAS A FLYING TIRE ON THE ROAD, AND TIRE HIT VEHICLE. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK | 133.3%ODI 849082CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 10 MPH. WHILE PULLING FROM A STOP LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 29.5%ODI 490676COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK FROM FRONT SEAL PORT OF VEHICLES WATER PUMP. *DSH | 212.5%ODI 700360THE AFFECTED GASKET IS KNOWN TO BE OF A DEFECTIVE NATURE AND IS PRONE TO FAILURE AT SOME POINT IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLANT. THE ORIGINAL PART AND REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE REFERENCED IN A BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 11 10 93 (3885). THUS FAR, BMW HAS CHOSEN ONLY TO EVALUATE EACH CASE INDIVIDUALLY AND SELECTIVELY REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS FOR VEHICLES WHICH ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. | 15.9% | 15.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 240.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 233.3% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 419.0% | 16.3%ODI 514334TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILED, ALLOWING A SUDDEN AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF MOST OR ALL OF THE COOLANT (RADIATOR) WHILE TRAVELING. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 843813THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WATER PUMP/FAN BELT AND RADIATOR FAILED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 210.0% | 421.1%ODI 804393WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH. *AK THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 14.8%ODI 482141FUSES KEEP BLOWING OUT WHEN WINDOWS ARE PUT DOWN, CAUSING WINDOWS TO BECOME STUCK UNTIL NEW FUSES ARE PUT IN. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 420.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.0%ODI 959772VEHICLE EXPERIENCES TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TT | 315.8% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.0% | 210.5% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 3 complaints · 2001: 6 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 806929AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE ON THE HEATER CORE, THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE COOLING SYSTEM, CAUSING INCREASED PRESSURE THAT RESULTED IN COOLANT LEAKING ON CONSUMER'S FEET. RECALL#93V015000. *AK |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 1ODI 806929AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE ON THE HEATER CORE, THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE COOLING SYSTEM, CAUSING INCREASED PRESSURE THAT RESULTED IN COOLANT LEAKING ON CONSUMER'S FEET. RECALL#93V015000. *AK | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.