U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Bmw 318: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	1	100.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

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. 1 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.

1996

1996: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. 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 979914 · 1996-02-29 (February 29, 1996)

THE FUMES OF GASOLINE SEEM TO BE DEGRADING THE PLASTIC MEMBRANE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK (FUEL TANK IS BUBLING)*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979914 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

94V066000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Reported: 1994-04-11 (April 11, 1994)

FEED FUEL HOSES CAN HARDEN AND "SET" OVER TIME, ALLOWING A SEEPAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING. THE CLAMP USED TO HOLD THE HOSE TO THE FITTING IS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HARDENING OF THE FEED FUEL HOSE.

Consequence: FUEL SEEPAGE BETWEEN THE FEED FUEL HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING CAN RESULT IN FREE FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: A REDESIGNED FEED FUEL HOSE AND HOSE CLAMP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ALLEVIATE THE FUEL SEEPAGE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 1 records

100.0%Valid incident date1 / 1 records

100.0%Valid filing date1 / 1 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 1 records

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.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	2001
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1257.1% ODI 506945 ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK. *AK Look up ODI 506945 at NHTSA ↗	531.3% ODI 510498 ENGINE PROFILE GASKET FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF HOT COOLANT, RESULTING IN A FOG OF WHITE STEAM WHICH COULD IMPAIR VISIBILITY. *AK Look up ODI 510498 at NHTSA ↗	1164.7% ODI 513580 TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILED, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONTO ROADWAY. Look up ODI 513580 at NHTSA ↗	210.0% ODI 533802 PROFILE GASKET FAILED, LEAKING ALL OF THE COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. Look up ODI 533802 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 10026300 · 75,688 mi THE 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 Look up ODI 10026300 at NHTSA ↗	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	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	419.0% ODI 482464 NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *SKD Look up ODI 482464 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	211.8% ODI 968210 UPON FRONTAL IMPACT ESTIMATED SPEED 25-30 MPH, AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT Look up ODI 968210 at NHTSA ↗	15.0% ODI 808376 DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT SPEEDS OF 30MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK Look up ODI 808376 at NHTSA ↗	315.8% ODI 10002365 CONSUMER 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 Look up ODI 10002365 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 819053 CONSUMER 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 Look up ODI 819053 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 891400 CONSUMER 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 Look up ODI 891400 at NHTSA ↗	133.3% ODI 849082 CONSUMER 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 Look up ODI 849082 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	29.5% ODI 490676 COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK FROM FRONT SEAL PORT OF VEHICLES WATER PUMP. *DSH Look up ODI 490676 at NHTSA ↗	212.5% ODI 700360 THE 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. Look up ODI 700360 at NHTSA ↗	15.9% ODI 715827 ENGINE LOST COOLANT, ENGINE MELTED, REPLACED ENGINE. *AK Look up ODI 715827 at NHTSA ↗	15.0% ODI 701752 NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER Look up ODI 701752 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	240.0% ODI 843807 WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. *AK Look up ODI 843807 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	233.3% ODI 745437 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 745437 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	419.0% ODI 482102 GEAR SHIFT BRAKET FAILED, CAUSING LEVER TO FALL DOWN. Look up ODI 482102 at NHTSA ↗	16.3% ODI 514334 TIMING CASE PROFILE GASKET FAILED, ALLOWING A SUDDEN AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF MOST OR ALL OF THE COOLANT (RADIATOR) WHILE TRAVELING. Look up ODI 514334 at NHTSA ↗	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 843813 THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WATER PUMP/FAN BELT AND RADIATOR FAILED. *AK Look up ODI 843813 at NHTSA ↗	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	0Unavailable 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.	210.0% ODI 489890 AIRBAGS FAILED IN ABOVE ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURIES. Look up ODI 489890 at NHTSA ↗	421.1% ODI 804393 WHEN 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 Look up ODI 804393 at NHTSA ↗	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	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.8% ODI 482141 FUSES KEEP BLOWING OUT WHEN WINDOWS ARE PUT DOWN, CAUSING WINDOWS TO BECOME STUCK UNTIL NEW FUSES ARE PUT IN. Look up ODI 482141 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	420.0% ODI 483014 INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK Look up ODI 483014 at NHTSA ↗	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	0Unavailable 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.	15.0% ODI 959772 VEHICLE EXPERIENCES TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TT Look up ODI 959772 at NHTSA ↗	315.8% ODI 508073 STEERING FAILED. Look up ODI 508073 at NHTSA ↗	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	0Unavailable 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.	15.0% ODI 959739 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, POWER DOOR FAILURE. TT Look up ODI 959739 at NHTSA ↗	210.5% ODI 510678 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK Look up ODI 510678 at NHTSA ↗	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 failure mileage distribution
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.

ComponentPeriod

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

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1998: 3 complaints · 2001: 6 complaints

Equal observation windows
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

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
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 co-occurrence matrix
Component	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	—

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.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.