2018 BMW 3 Series Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 6 NHTSA recalls and 60 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

45/100

High Reported Activity — 2018 BMW 3 Series

The 2018 BMW 3 Series shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

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NHTSA Recalls

6 recalls on record

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

4 fire reports

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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 BMW 3 Series (6)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized BMW dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Fuel System, Diesel

A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled…

NHTSA #21V907000

🔧 Fuel System, Diesel: Delivery: Fuel Pump

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA #21V586000

🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Exhaust System: Emission Control: Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve)

The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These…

NHTSA #18V755000

🔧 Fuel System, Diesel

Smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler, inspect and replace the intake manifold, if necessary, and clean the EGR pipe connecting the cooler to the manifold, free of charge. Owner notification…

NHTSA #25V700000

🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine

A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA #18V465000

🔧 Equipment: Electrical

An electrical shock or a fire can increase the risk of injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the charging cable, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer…

NHTSA #18V652000

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Most Common Problems — 2018 BMW 3 Series

Based on 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine

Electrical System

Fuel System

Fuel/propulsion System

Power Train

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags

Vehicle Speed Control

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BMW 3 Series — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.

→ Decode a BMW VIN — free BMW VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2013, 2014 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2018, 2019, 2021 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 BMW 3 Series

Is the 2018 BMW 3 Series reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 BMW 3 Series has 6 recall campaigns and 60 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2018 BMW 3 Series have?

The 2018 BMW 3 Series has 6 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW 3 Series?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 BMW 3 Series are: Engine, Electrical System, Fuel System, Fuel/propulsion System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2018 BMW 3 Series safe to buy?

The 2018 BMW 3 Series has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 6 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year BMW 3 Series should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the BMW 3 Series are: 2018, 2019, 2021. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2013, 2014.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.