BMW · 3 Series · 2018
2018 BMW 3 Series
1
Recall
58
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2018 BMW 3 Series has 1 recall and 58 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (11 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2018 BMW 3 Series page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine with 11 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2018 BMW 3 Series currently shows 1 NHTSA recall listed on this page and 58 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are engine (11), fuel system, diesel (6), electrical system (6).
- Vehicle
- 2018 BMW 3 Series
- Recalls
- 1
- Complaints
- 58
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
9.5% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: OptionalLane Departure Warning: Optional
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 18V465000July 12, 2018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.
Remedy Status
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.
Owner Complaints
58 totalELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIREJun 17, 2025
While driving on the highway, my vehicle unexpectedly caught fire due to no fault of my own. Upon investigation, it appears the fire originated from a short in the rear window defroster wiring, which led to significant damage in the right rear C-pillar area, headliner, rear windo...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRE1 injuryJun 12, 2025
I smelt and saw smoke coming from the back of my vehicle. I pulled over on to the left side of [XXX] bound. Then, I jumped out of the car to check the truck. I didn't see anything, then i popped the hood and still did not see anything visible. I then went back to the trunk to ch...
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ENGINE
May 5, 2025
Was simply driving my vehicle to work. It started overheating parked it right away before it got worse as the car alerted had it towed to a shop. The shop informed me that the motor was blown in the pistons went through the motor something with the oil the mechanic and I were loo...
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UNKNOWN OR OTHER,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 c...
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POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Mar 20, 2025
Car just shut off when driving at 65mph and never started back up, took it in and repair was a bad fuel pump and fuel rail line causing metal shards to go through fuel tank and injectors.
ENGINE
Mar 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 330E. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal squealing sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or...
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ENGINE
Feb 28, 2025
Oil Filter Housing failed and coolant gushes all out which makes the car undrivable and risk of engine overheating and failure.
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
Jan 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 330I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine overheating message was displayed on the instrument panel with the temperature gauge rising to hot(H). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the coolant reservoi...
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FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
Jan 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 328D. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering significantly. The contact was able to pull over and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's workplace. The vehicle was not diagnos...
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ENGINE
Jan 9, 2025
The vehicle gave a warning that the engine coolant was low and to power down before it overheated. Upon taking it to the dealer, it was discovered that the oil housing unit was defective. After doing online research, this is a very common issue with this part. I had a previous ve...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 58 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2018 BMW models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More BMW 3 Series Years
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2018 BMW 3 Series have?
The 2018 BMW 3 Series has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2018 BMW 3 Series?
NHTSA has received 58 owner-reported complaints for the 2018 BMW 3 Series.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2018 BMW 3 Series?
The 2018 BMW 3 Series received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW 3 Series?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2018 BMW 3 Series are engine (11 reports), fuel system, diesel (6 reports), electrical system (6 reports).
Does the 2018 BMW 3 Series have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2018 BMW 3 Series. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.