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1978 BMW 320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Visibility complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1999
VisibilityInjury

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 PRESSUR…

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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 ODI #708088

Official recalls

1

78V056000 · Tires

Mar 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE METAL TIRE VALVE STEMS AND RUBBER SEALS WITH NEW ONES, AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.