Complaints over time
Complaints about the 1978 BMW 320 peaked in 1999, with 1 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
1978 BMW 320
Body and fuel not decoded. Owner complaints on file from no date to no date.
Recall campaigns covering this model year04,681 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints0Not enough peers on file
Severity indexNoneCrash, fire, injury or death per 100
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Components
0% of complaints about the 1978 BMW 320 name visibility and wipers
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
No recall campaign lists the 1978 BMW 320
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 1978 BMW 320
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
1 complaint on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Jun 30, 1999Failure Jul 28, 1998Memphis, TNHeater core1 injured
HEATER CORE RUPTURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING., CAUSING COOLANT TO B E EXPELLED. RESULTED IN SEVERE SCALDING TO MY RIGHT FOOT AND LEG , ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO THIS AUTO. ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 98V178000, "A MALFUNCTION OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT...CAN RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANTLY INCRESED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE...IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT...OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER, 1998..." THE HEATER CORE RUPTURE WHICH SCALDED ME OCCURRED IN JULY, 1998, WHICH WAS MONTHS BEFORE NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER WAS TO BEGIN. THUS, I WAS NOT FOREWARNED AND TO THIS DATE I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE RELIEF FROM BMW. PLEASE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS CONCERNING THIS, THE INVALID VIN ON THE CAR (ONLY 7 DIGITS), EXPLANATION OF THE BREAKDOWN OF THE PRICE SUBMITTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT, THE HEATER CORE MANUFACTURER'S LIABILITY, ETC. PLEASE GIVE A REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME AND ADDRESS THAT I MAY ALSO SEND A LETTER TO FURTHER CLARIFY THIS HORRIFIC SITUATION. YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE IS REQUESTED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, MR. BEN WATSON. *AK
NHTSA complaint 708088
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
1 manufacturer communication cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- B510819 Jan 16, 2024 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.