1978 BMW 320i recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-20. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
4 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Vehicle Speed Control
What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. 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.
What could happen:
The fix: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE RETURN DAMPER SLEEVES WITH NEW SLEEVES OF HIGH TEMPERATURE-RESISTANT PLASTIC MATERIAL.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 320I.
- Book a repair at any authorized BMW dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 80V076000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS
Summary: 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.
Consequence:
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE RETURN DAMPER SLEEVES WITH NEW SLEEVES OF HIGH TEMPERATURE-RESISTANT PLASTIC MATERIAL.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: THROTTLE CONTROL; ACCELERATOR; CONTROL RETURN SPRING.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNUSUALLY EXCESSIVE (HIGH) IDLESPEED WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: IF VEHICLE MUST BE DRIVEN PRIOR TO REPAIR, MODERATE SPEED AND INCREASETHE FOLLOWING DISTANCES.
2. Electrical system
What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. THE HEX HEAD BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO TERMINAL #30 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE.
What could happen:
The fix: 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.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 320I.
- Book a repair at any authorized BMW dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 78V074000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Summary: THE HEX HEAD BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO TERMINAL #30 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE.
Consequence:
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.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL; WIRING HARNESS BOLT.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: DUE TO ENGINE VIBRATION AND HIGH ENGINE REVOLUTIONS,THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME CAUSING TEMPORARY CURRENTINTERRUPTION AND BREAKDOWN OF THE VEHICLE"S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ENGINE MISFIRINGAND TEMPORARY BLACKOUT OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM MAY OCCUR DURING THE NIGHT TIME.FAILURE OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
3. Fuel system
What's wrong, in plain English: Fuel lines, tank or pump. Fuel problems usually mean a leak, and leaks mean fire risk. 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.
What could happen:
The fix: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL PUMP IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 320I.
- Book a repair at any authorized BMW dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 78V061000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Summary: 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.
Consequence:
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL PUMP IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: FUEL; FUEL INJECTOR.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULTN MAY RESULT IN ROUGH ENGINERUNNING OR STALLING. A VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC WOULD CREATE A SAFETY HAZARDWHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
4. Wheels / tires
What's wrong, in plain English: A wheel or tire can fail while driving. 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.
What could happen:
The fix: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE METAL TIRE VALVE STEMS AND RUBBER SEALS WITH NEW ONES, AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 320I.
- Book a repair at any authorized BMW dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 78V056000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: TIRES
Summary: 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.
Consequence:
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE METAL TIRE VALVE STEMS AND RUBBER SEALS WITH NEW ONES, AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: TIRES; VALVE STEM.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS CONDITION WOULD ALLOW THE TIRE TO BE OPERATED INAN UNDERINFLATED CONDITION, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND RESULT INA BLOW-OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Portable jump starter
- Digital tire pressure gauge
- 1978 BMW 320i owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Visibility (wipers / glass) (2), Seat belts (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (2)
12/02/2003 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
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
07/07/1999 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED CAUSING SERVERE INJURY TO DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. *YC