Bmw 320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
113,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1977 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 16 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 3 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 3; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 2; Visibility:Windshield: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 10; 2002: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 973803 · 1995-10-24 (October 24, 1995)
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A DITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 976947 · 1995-12-26 (December 26, 1995)
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING WHICH WORSENS AS TIME PROGRESSES. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 747004 · 2001-06-18 (June 18, 2001)
THIS IS 2ND FAILED TRANSMISSION IN 58577 MILES. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROX 21000 AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY BMW. CREVIER BMW WAS INFORMED OF PROBLEMS WITH 2ND TRANSMISSION MAY 2000 AND STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THOUGH MADE NOTE OF ISSUE. ON JUNE 17, 2001 TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAR TOWED TO SAVAGE BMW, ONTARIO CA, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED FAILED TRANSMISSION. STATED CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THOUGH WOULD CONTACT BMW CORPORATE. I FIND IT INCONCEIVABLE THAT A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 747004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471685 · 2012-08-21 (August 21, 2012)
WHILE DOING 55 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY MY VEHICLE ENGAGED THE BRAKES ON IT'S OWN BRINGING US TO A SCREACHING, SKIDDING STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY SCARY SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE YAW RATE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE MERCEDES IS NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLES TO BE FIXED WITH SUCH A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING THIS CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471685 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1989: 0; 1995: 0; 1998: 0; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1