Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
19 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 19 complaints (21.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 21.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
Air Bags: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1
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. 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
1995: 1; 1996: 9; 1997: 2; 1999: 3; 2002: 2; 2003: 2
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002365 at NHTSA ↗
TAIL LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. CAUSE OF FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034135 at NHTSA ↗
STEERING FAILED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508073 at NHTSA ↗
CLUTCH/PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508142 at NHTSA ↗
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 510678 at NHTSA ↗
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE AND SPEED OF FAILURE. MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR WHEN SHIFTED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOWER SPEED. IT WOULD ALSO POP OUT OF GEAR ON THE ROAD. BMW REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON WARRANTY, AND SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. I'VE JUST HEARD FROM ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE 318TI WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON BMW'S PART BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE DANGER OF HAVING YOUR TRANSMISSION GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 707899 at NHTSA ↗
THE VEHICLE BEGAN BLOWING FUSES CAUSING MANY OF THE SYSTEMS TO QUITE FUNCTIONING. WE REPLACE WITH FUSES THE SAME SIZE AS IT ASK FOR AND IT STARTED MELTING FUSES CAUSING FUEL PUMP TO QUIT WORKING ADQUATELY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763662 at NHTSA ↗
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800434 at NHTSA ↗
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
19 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
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.
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. | ||||
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.
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 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 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
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.
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 |
| 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.
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags | Air Bags:Frontal | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Electrical System | Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
2 patterns with matching reports.
2 mentions · 10.5% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, FIRE CAME FROM EXHAUST AND BURNED BUMPER. TT
TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b1 mentions · 5.3% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
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
\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b