1997 Bmw 318IC: 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: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 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.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 |
Visibility:Windshield: 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. 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
1999: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield 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 607189 · 1999-02-01 (February 1, 1999)
WINDSHIELD CRACKED. *YC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 607189 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.
97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1997-08-19 (August 19, 1997)
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 BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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.
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 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 2000 | 2001 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 748056BMW 3 SERIES +Z3 KNOWM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM/DEALER WOULDN'T FIX NOT UNDER WARRANTY HAD TO FIX IT MYSELF. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10037078 · 103,707 miWASHED BIRD POOP OFF THE HOOD WITH AN OPEN HOSE (NO SPRAYER). CAR WOULD NOT START AFTERWARDS. HAD CAR TOWED TO BMW REPAIR SHOP. THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM OF WATER GETTING INTO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. $2200 LATER (ENGINE HAD TO BE RETUNED BECAUSE OF FUEL INJECTED PROBLEMS) GOT IT BACK. HAD TO HANGLE WITH INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE OF HISTORY OF THESE PROBLEMS. SEEMS LIKE AND OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. DID RESEARCH ON THIS SITE AND FOUND SIMILAR CASE ISSUES IN JUST THE 1994 AND 1995 YEARS. ISSUES WITH THE 3 SERIES. COULD BE WITH OTHE… | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10167733REPEATED INSTANCE OF SEAT BELT LOCK FAILURE AS RELATING TO AIR BAG. DRIVERS SIDE BRACKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. IT SEEMS THE WIRING OR SWITCH KEEPS FAILING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. ESPECIALLY TRUE AFTER HARD STOPS. SHOP SAYS AIR BAG MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IF NOT REPAIRED. *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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10171558I PURCHASED A 318IC FROM A USED CAR LOT AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. I HAVE OBTAINED INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE MADE ME AWARE OF, INCLUDING RECALL INFORMATION. THE RECALL AND THE INFORMATION WAS NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF THE OBTAINED INFORMATION. *NM | 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. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 745445MANUFACTURER IS INSTALLING BAD COOLING FANS THAT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT POSSIBLY CAUSING FIRE. THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE AND COULD PLACE OCCUPANTS IN DANGER DUE TO BOTH THE RESULTS OF THE OVERHEATING AS WELL AS ANY POTENTIAL DANGER FROM HAVING A VEHICLE STOP ON THE ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY, BMWNA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM AND IS EVEN INSTALLING THE SAME FAULTY PART NUMBER FANS, CONFIRMED BY SIEMENS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FANS.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1100.0% | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10091161 · 1 miYOU NEED TO GET THOSE STUPID, DANGEROUS BRIGHT LIGHTS OFF THE ROAD. NOT ALL OF US HAVE PERFECT EYES. EVEN A SMALL CATARACT CAUSEES A LOSS OF SIGHT AND THESE LIGHTS MAKE IT MUCH WORSE. CHECK WITH AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING. MY FRIEND HERE IN POORTLAND OREGON JUST GOT BACK FROM MINN. & WIS. AND HE WAS MAD AS HELL ABOUT THE BRIGHT LIGHTS HE HAD TO CONTEND WITH. SO WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT AFTER THE FACT ON THE ACCIDENTS. WHY DON'T YOU GET THESE UNSAFE THINGS OFF THE ROAD. YOU NEED TO FORCE A SYSTEM ON VEHICLE… |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 893699WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET THE ONLY WAY TO TURN OFF IS TO MANUALLY PULL HANDLE DOWN. BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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. | 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.
2001: 2 complaints · 2003: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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 | Visibility:Windshield |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield | — |
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.