Model line

BMW 320I

Every BMW 320I model year on file, 1977 to 2018. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years15925 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years201977 to 2018
Recall campaigns9Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins2,222Summed across model years
By model year

The 2014 model year drew the most complaints, 53, 33% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

0204060197719791982199920012003200520135320152018
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Engine and cooling leads the BMW 320I complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Engine and cooling
49
Fuel system
29
Electrical system
27
Airbags
22
Powertrain
19
Brakes
16
Lighting
14
Structure
13
Steering
7
Wheels
4
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each BMW 320I model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

BMW 320I by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2018Sedan2128.61750194
2017Sedan922.25301276
2016Sedan2524.017901353
2015Sedan333.020631421
2014Sedan5315.126572486
2013Sedan911.12732530
2012Not decoded30.03003142
2005Not decoded0NoneNone106
2004Not decoded1100.0100103
2003Not decoded0NoneNone101
2002Convertible10.017101
2001Not decoded0NoneNone101
2000Not decoded0NoneNone101
1999Not decoded0NoneNone001
1998Not decoded0NoneNone001
1982Sedan10.0100001
1980Not decoded30.0300001
1979Not decoded0NoneNone101
1978Not decoded0NoneNone411
1977Not decoded0NoneNone411
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the BMW 320I

  • 25V-871 Dec 17, 2025
    Head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture
    Airbags · 851 vehicles
  • 24V-527 Jul 11, 2024
    Driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect
    Airbags · 1,145 vehicles
  • 24V-288 Apr 24, 2024
    Head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture
    Airbags · 5,761 vehicles
  • 20V-018 Jan 15, 2020
    These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and…
    Airbags · 293k vehicles
  • 15V-520 Aug 17, 2015
    Affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with…
    Lighting · 7,727 vehicles
  • 15V-189 Mar 31, 2015
    Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing
    Fuel system · 18k vehicles
  • 14V-627 Oct 7, 2014
    Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail
    Brakes · 8,988 vehicles
  • 13V-454 Sep 26, 2013
    Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail
    Brakes · 76k vehicles
  • 80V-076 Jun 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…
    Speed control · 67k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.