Model year record

1978 BMW 320I

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 3 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 80V076000

Vehicle speed control: springs

Component
Vehicle speed control: springs
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
66,600
Reported to NHTSA
1980-06-19
Owners notified
1980-11-04

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALER WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE RETURN DAMPER SLEEVES WITH NEW SLEEVES OF HIGH TEMPERATURE-RESISTANT PLASTIC MATERIAL.

Recall campaignNHTSA 78V074000

Electrical system: wiring: front underhood

Component
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
28,819
Reported to NHTSA
1978-04-04
Owners notified
1978-05-02

Defect description

THE HEX HEAD BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO TERMINAL #30 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 78V061000

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
32,500
Reported to NHTSA
1978-03-24
Owners notified
1979-01-16

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL PUMP IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Recall campaignNHTSA 78V056000

Tires

Component
Tires
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
4,681
Reported to NHTSA
1978-03-13
Owners notified
1978-05-01

Defect description

DUE TO A MATERIAL STUCTURAL DEFECT, THE RUBBER SEAL BETWEEN THE METAL VALVE STEM AND RIM ALLOWS SLOW SEEPAGE OF AIR AROUND THE VALVE BASE.

Manufacturer remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE METAL TIRE VALVE STEMS AND RUBBER SEALS WITH NEW ONES, AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core260,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly160,000 mi

The 1979 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.