2018 BMW 3 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 25 of 72 complaints (35%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Electrical include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 77 in 2017 to 72 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,500–3,350 | 2,500–3,350 | 2,500–3,350 | 2,600–3,350 | 2,600–2,750 | |
| Combined MPG | 23–35 | 23–36 | 23–36 | 23–30 | 28–30 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–31 / 28–42 | 19–31 / 29–43 | 19–31 / 29–43 | 20–26 / 29–36 | 25–26 / 34–36 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 284–387 | 285–395 | 285–390 | 299–383 | 299–313 | |
| Complaints filed | 105 | 77 | 72 | 41 | 52 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 11 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 13 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 BMW 3 Series have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 BMW 3 Series?
Engine: 25 of 72 NHTSA complaints (35%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 BMW 3 Series get?
EPA rates it 23–36 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 BMW 3 Series?
EPA estimates $2,500–$3,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (17)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 34 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 324 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 333 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 35 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 323 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 35 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 326 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 34 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 332 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 32 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 352 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 389 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 31 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 357 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 390 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 23 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 333 g/mi |
| Configuration 11 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 382 g/mi |
| Configuration 15 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Compact Cars | 31 mpg (high) | 43 mpg (high) | 36 mpg (high) | $2,500 (low) | 285 g/mi (low) |
Show 5 more configurations
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 12 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 23 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 333 g/mi |
| Configuration 13 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 32 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 360 g/mi |
| Configuration 14 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium and Electricity | Compact Cars | 28 mpg | 34 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 189 g/mi |
| Configuration 16 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Compact Cars | 30 mpg | 40 mpg | 34 mpg | $2,650 | 303 g/mi |
| Configuration 17 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Small Station Wagons | 30 mpg | 40 mpg | 34 mpg | $2,650 | 303 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 25 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 14 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL · Campaign 25V700000 · Oct 16, 2025
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 328D SportsWagon, 328D xDrive SportsWagon, 328D xDrive, and 328D diesel vehicles equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.
Consequence: 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 letters are expected to be mailed December 5, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 5, 2025. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V907.
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL · Campaign 21V907000 · Nov 19, 2021
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.
Consequence: 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 under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 21V586000 · Jul 30, 2021
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
Consequence: 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) · Campaign 18V755000 · Oct 30, 2018
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.
Consequence: 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 repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL · Campaign 18V652000 · Sep 26, 2018
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
Consequence: 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 service at 1-800-525-7417.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · Campaign 18V465000 · Jul 17, 2018
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.