Steering wheel is locked. It won't budge. You can crank the car..No problem, but the wheel is locked. *Tr
Vehicle safety record
1997 BMW 318 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 1997 BMW 318 with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (2) and the brakes (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 1996 has 5 and the 1998 has 3.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical 318 year, for its age
#192 most complained-about 1997 vehicle
- Complaints
- 5
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1997 BMW 318 problems
Share of all 5 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 1997 BMW 318
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 BMW 318. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.
What owners say
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5 complaints about the 1997 BMW 318
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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
Converter failure at <20000 miles seems unusaul. In talking to two dealers, both service departments indicated that the "318's had a problem with the converters that year". Seems to me that if they had a problem, they should fix rather than waiting for it to break, then my having to take time off from work, and rent a car while mine is in for repairs. *Ak
Air bag safety light keeps going off. The manual states the system malfunctioned, could prevent system from responding to a high intensity frontal impact occurring within normal response range. Dealer was contacted three times and cannot duplicate the problem. *Ak
The vehicle's gas and brake pedals are too close together, when thinking of stepping on the brakes driver is actually stepping on the gas pedal. *Ak
BMW 318: every year compared
All 318 years1997 BMW 318 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 BMW 318 | 5 | 0 | C | |
| 1997 BMW 528I | 41 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1997 BMW 328I | 35 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1997 BMW 540I | 27 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1997 BMW 528 | 13 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1997 BMW 540 | 7 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1997 BMW 318I | 5 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 1997 BMW 528IA | 3 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 1997 BMW 318IS | 2 | 1 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1997 BMW 318
Does the 1997 BMW 318 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 BMW 318 right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 BMW 318?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (2), brakes (1), engine & cooling (1).
How many complaints has the 1997 BMW 318 had?
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 5, 1997 and the latest on November 14, 2011. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1997 BMW 318 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 59 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical BMW 318 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which BMW 318 years have the most complaints?
1991 (22), 1994 (22), 1995 (19). See every BMW 318 year compared.
What should I do if my 1997 BMW 318 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data