Most common 2018 BMW 320i problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 320i complaints by model year
Best 320i years: 2012, 2013, 2017. Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2018 BMW 320i:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2018 BMW 320i owners say
Electrical system
The electrical call system malfunctions. I've done extensive research and actually confirmed with Garret today at A&L BMW that there is a problem in the manufacturing of the shark fin. The gasket that BMW uses does not hole up and the sealant does not keep water from leaking into the fin. Every time it rains/snows or the vehicle is wet the system malfunctions. Currently it only has the ability to affect me if I were in a wreck and won't notify emergency services. This has the ability to shut down all electrical functions in my car and has been a common issue in BMW dating back as far as 2015. I called them in April to have it looked at, but I didn't understand the problem and it had ceased. But since the weather has now began to be more frequently wet, this problem has become more persistent. Now they won't cover because the final warranty expired in December of 2023. …
Ince December of 2019 I have had continuous problems with my car and my iphone. I have responsibly gone to dealership far too many times to have this repaired. Calls have dropped while I'm on the phone with clients who are emotionally fragile. (I am a therapist ). The calls continually dropped and after looking at the issue the service dept dealership told me it was my phone. I went to Apple and got a brand new telephone and the issue happened again. So clearly it wasn't my phone. They replaced some parts but I haven't driven my car due to covid. I got in the car to find my music from my telephone no longer plays through the stereo as it did prior. BMW has admitted to me they have an electrical issues with the 2018 BMW and comparability of the iphone. …
Engine & cooling
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 looking further into this and it looks like my make and model in year had some recalls about the motor overheating in the past so I would really like this looked into as this might be a recall I'm not sure what else this could be or why this would happen with such low miles
I was stopped at a stop light with my foot on the brake for about a minute when the car suddenly accelerated and lunged forward.I applied more pressure to the brake,all the way to the floor , but the car would not stop. The car in front of me is the only thing that stopped the car ,as he was stopped too. The car then bounced backward and turned off by itself. I was on a main street at a light. It was fortunate that another car was stopped in front of me because it stopped the car and prevented my car from hitting pedestrians.
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The message Engine coolant system, coolant pump outside of speed tolerance" and code 20A701 was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate, and the contact drove 8 MPH back to the residence. A fuel-burning odor was on the interior and exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while her husband was driving, the failure reoccurred. The contact's husband arrived at the residence and became aware that the water pump had failed and was no longer functioning as intended. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). …
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked for a while, upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor detected. The contact stated that the fuel tank ventilation warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure was due to the fuel tank ventilation and power management system. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with a fuel system malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
2018 BMW 320i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 24 / 35 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 23 / 35 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 BMW 320i a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 320i rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the 320i at the same age. It is one of the 320i years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 BMW 320i?
The electrical system — 7 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and fuel & propulsion system (5).
How many recalls does the 2018 BMW 320i have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2018 BMW 320i. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 320i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. See the full BMW 320i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 BMW 320i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 14,000 miles; 80% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.