RoadVitals

1980 BMW 320I Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
3
Latest Feb 9, 2006
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1980 BMW 320I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine233.3%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%
  • Transmission116.7%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

1980 BMW 320I FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE TUNED AND REPLACED, NEEDS AUX AIR VALVE, IGNITION HAS MISFIRE, BATTERY BOX NEEDS TO BE WELDED. *TS THE STARTER AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STALLED.*JB UPDATED 05/22/06

NHTSA ID 10150847 · filed Feb 9, 2006

ORDER FACTORY RECALL IMMEDIATELY AND NOTIFY ALL OWNERS,THEY HAVE MAKERS OF THESE NEW PUMPS,CURRENT OIL PUMP AT IDLE IS 10 PSI, INSUFFICENT TO SHUT OFF OIL LIGHT, MAKE BMW PUT IN LEGAL OIL PUMP, ONE THAT PROVIDES SUFFICENT LUBRICATION AT IDLE AND HARDEN THE THREADS OF THE OIL SWITCH HOUSING. *AK

NHTSA ID 767561 · filed Sep 22, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1980 BMW 320I FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE TUNED AND REPLACED, NEEDS AUX AIR VALVE, IGNITION HAS MISFIRE, BATTERY BOX NEEDS TO BE WELDED. *TS THE STARTER AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STALLED.*JB UPDATED 05/22/06

NHTSA ID 10150847 · filed Feb 9, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1980 BMW 320I FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE TUNED AND REPLACED, NEEDS AUX AIR VALVE, IGNITION HAS MISFIRE, BATTERY BOX NEEDS TO BE WELDED. *TS THE STARTER AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STALLED.*JB UPDATED 05/22/06

NHTSA ID 10150847 · filed Feb 9, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FIRESTONE, AFFINITY,DOT VDE8AIA265 ON A BMW 320I 1980. REPLACEMENTS TIRES. WHEN DRIVING COULD HEAR A NOISE LIKE A FLAT TIRE MAKES. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE TIRE WAS INPROPERLY INFLATED. 3 MONTHS LATER, RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART. WIRES WERE STICKING OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE TIRE DEALER SOLD HIM 1 YEAR OLD TIRES. *YH

NHTSA ID 8003605 · filed Feb 5, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1980 BMW 320I FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE TUNED AND REPLACED, NEEDS AUX AIR VALVE, IGNITION HAS MISFIRE, BATTERY BOX NEEDS TO BE WELDED. *TS THE STARTER AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STALLED.*JB UPDATED 05/22/06

NHTSA ID 10150847 · filed Feb 9, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .