2018 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 59 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 5 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 21, 2025
My 330i 2018 bmw has a cracked in the oil housing unit. This is due to bmw putting plastic parts instead of aluminum. After researching this I found thousand of people complaining about the sane thing. The car overheats and sometimes the oil gets mixed into the coolsnt system b causes more damage. This seems to happen on cars with mileage between 60-70 on engines B46, B48 n B58z
Other or unspecified, Aug 15, 2024
Car coolant is leaking due to a bad plastic coolant vent line. I had this issue in January 2023 where it was covered under a recall. I tried contacting the bmw dealership who fixed this recall and they stated there was no current recall. Although is the same issue again.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 2, 2024
Multiple codes came on right after I had gotten my thermostat and my water pump fixed. However it ended up being that there was more leaks throughout the rest of the car. The car has currently cost me $3400 to fix and it’s still not fixed because nobody can figure out where the actual leak is coming from. The coolant is leaking and nobody can figure out where, it’s been having jerking issues since it started leaking and I read on other Bmw’s that the coolant leaks into the head gasket, causing the engine to blow
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 13, 2023, crash
Rattling noise when accelerating
Other or unspecified, Aug 9, 2022
Cylinder Head Hose Expansion Tank Replacement - Coolant leaks out completely - This repair has been done twice on this vehicle with only 26K miles. BMW USA states no recall but the dealership informed me they have issued a bulletin but just put back on the defective hose since no other replacement hose is available...I'm paying out of pocket for the repair.
Other or unspecified, Sep 3, 2020
WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN, THERE IS A LOUD REVERBERATING ROARING SOUND THAT THAT INCREASES W SPEED AND IS VERY DISTRACTING TO DRIVER. IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON 330I EVEN ONES BEFORE 2018. BMW SERVICE MANAGER SAY IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT.
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 11, 2020
CAR MAKING A EXPLOSIVE, CRANKING MECHANICAL NOISE UPON UNLOCKING THE CAR BEFORE YOU EVEN OPEN THE DOOR. THERE SEEMS TO BE A FUEL PUMP MAKING NOISE FROM INSIDE A GAS TANK. BMW AUTHORIZED DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A "HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP" AND REFER TO THIS AS "NORMAL" I BELIEVE THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM IN THIS CAR AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS ARE THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE COMPONENT(S) AND/OR A RESULT OF A FLAWED ENGINEERING. THIS NOISE HOWEVER CONTINUES ON WITH A HUMMING/BUZZING SOUNDS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WHICH ALSO EFFECTS THE CAR'S OVERALL PERFORMANCE WHICH SEEMS TO BE CAUSING THE CAR TO PERFORM AT A DIMINISHED LEVEL OVERALL WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT AFFECT VEHICLE'S OVERALL SAFETY COMPONENTS SUCH AS BRAKES AND OTHER CONTROL APPARATUS. AT TIMES, UPON UNLOCKING THE CAR, IT FEELS AND VERY WELL SOUNDS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE?! AND THIS BY ITSELF CAUSING A GRAVE CONCERN AND I FEEL THAT IT MUST BE INVESTIGATED, ESPECIALLY THAT BMW HAS BEEN RELUCTANT/UNABLE TO REPAIR DESPITE REPEATED 8 ATTEMPTS WITH CAR BEING IN SERVICE FOR OVER 30 DAYS. THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. ALL REPAIR ORDERS HAVE BEEN DONE AT BMW AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. ALL REPAIR ORDER DOCUMENTS AS WELL AS A SHORT 15 SECONDS VIDEO CLIP ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 18, 2019
THIS CAR DOESN'T HAVE A WAY FOR DRIVERS TO PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL IF THE ELECTRICAL PANEL AND THE ENGINE IS DEAD. I WAS IN THE FLOODED AREA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND FELT SCARED WHEN BIG TRUCKS PASSED ME SIDE BY SIDE. EVEN THE SHERIFF WHO HELPED ME COULDN'T FIND IT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I HAVE A 12 MONTHS OLD GRANDSON AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.