RoadVitals

1978 BMW 320I

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Dec 2, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Jun 19, 1980
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1978 BMW 320I, most frequently naming the visibility and seat belts categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Visibility266.7%
  • Seat belts133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
80V076000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS

Jun 19, 1980
66,600 units potentially affected
The defect: WHEN SUBJECTED TO THE EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT CAN OCCUR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE DAMPER SLEEVES WHICH COVER THE RETURN SPRINGS OF THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM CAN DEFORM AND PREVENT THEIR RETURNING THE THROTTLE TO IDLE POSITION AFTER RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE RETURN DAMPER SLEEVES WITH NEW SLEEVES OF HIGH TEMPERATURE-RESISTANT PLASTIC MATERIAL.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
78V074000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

Apr 4, 1978
28,819 units potentially affected
The defect: THE HEX HEAD BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO TERMINAL #30 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE FUSE PANEL AND RETIGHTEN THE 5-MM HEX HEAD BOLT IN THE MAIN POWER TERMINAL UNDERNEATH THE FUSE PANEL, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
78V061000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

Mar 24, 1978
32,500 units potentially affected
The defect: DUE TO THE HIGH FUEL FLOW RATE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, CONDITIONS OF EXTREME ALTITUDE, TEMPERATURES, OR FUEL CONTAMINATION, MAY LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF FUEL VAPOR BUBBLES.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL PUMP IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP78034ClosedDefect Petition

SPARK PLUG FOULING

Opened May 2, 1978
Closed Jul 24, 1978

SPARK PLUG FOULING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Seat beltsVisibility
Filed Dec 2, 2003
1 injury reported

AFTER DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND SITTING AT A STOP SIGN HEATER CORE EXPLODED. SCALDING HOT WATER GUSHED FROM BENEATH THE DASH BOARD. CONSUMER SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON THE LEGS AND FEET. THE SEAT BELT LATCH WOULD NOT COME UNDONE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10049897
Incident
Apr 18, 2002
Mileage
60,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 7, 1999
1 injury reported

THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED CAUSING SERVERE INJURY TO DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. *YC

NHTSA ID
546506
Incident
Jul 28, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 320I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018210159.9
2017901—
2016250155.7
2015333156.5
2014517261.9
2013932—
2012331—
2005010—
2004110—
2003010—
2002110—
2001010—
2000010—
1999000—
1998000—
1982100—
1980300—
1979110—
1978Viewing241—
1977041—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.