1978 Bmw 320I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1978 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
2003: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10049897 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
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 BELT LATCH WOULD NOT COME UNDONE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049897 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
78V056000 · Tires
Reported: 1978-03-13 (March 13, 1978)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗78V061000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Reported: 1978-03-24 (March 24, 1978)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗78V074000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Reported: 1978-04-04 (April 4, 1978)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗80V076000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Springs
Reported: 1980-06-19 (June 19, 1980)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗