1978 BMW 320I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1978 BMW 320I, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1978 BMW 320I
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Springs (vehicle speed control)
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.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the throttle return damper sleeves with new sleeves of high temperature-resistant plastic material.
-
Electrical system: front underhood
The hex head bolt that connects the main wiring harness to terminal #30 may not have been tightened to the proper torque.
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.
-
Fuel injection system (fuel system)
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.
Remedy: The dealer will install an additional fuel pump in the right side of the fuel tank at no charge to owner.
-
Tires
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.
Remedy: The dealer will replace defective metal tire valve stems and rubber seals with new ones, at no cost to the customer.
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1978 BMW 320I have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 60,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 bel”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 2, 2003 · Visibility
“The heater core ruptured causing servere injury to driving which resulted in property damage. *yc”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 7, 1999 · Visibility
Compare BMW 320I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 320I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 BMW 320I | 4 | 0 |
| 1978 BMW 320I | 4 | 2 |
| 1979 BMW 320I | 1 | 1 |
| 1980 BMW 320I | 0 | 3 |
| 1982 BMW 320I | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 BMW 320I | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 BMW 320I | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 BMW 320I | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 BMW 320I | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 BMW 320I | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 BMW 320I | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 BMW 320I | 3 | 3 |
| 2013 BMW 320I | 3 | 9 |
| 2014 BMW 320I | 7 | 53 |
| 2015 BMW 320I | 3 | 33 |
| 2016 BMW 320I | 0 | 25 |
| 2017 BMW 320I | 0 | 9 |
| 2018 BMW 320I | 0 | 21 |
Checking a specific 1978 BMW 320I
How do I know if my 1978 BMW 320I has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1978 BMW 320I; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 78V056000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.