RoadVitals

1979 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.
1
Latest Dec 4, 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.
1
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.
0
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1979 BMW 320I, most frequently naming the visibility category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Visibility1100.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

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

Recent owner complaints

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

Visibility
Filed Dec 4, 2003
1 injury reported

WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A NOISE. WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE HEATER CORE EXPLODED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED 3RD DEGREE BURNS ON THE FEET. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

NHTSA ID
10050069

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—
1979Viewing110—
1978241—
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.