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1998 BMW 320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19951
19961
19976
19982
19990
200010
2001
Compare all 320 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
1Seat Belts
1Structure
1
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

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 6 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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 reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

6 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2001
Power Train

THIS IS 2ND FAILED TRANSMISSION IN 58577 MILES. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROX 21000 AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY BMW. CREVIER BMW WAS INFORMED OF PROBLEMS WITH 2ND TRANSMISSION MAY 2000 AND STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THOUGH MADE NOTE OF ISSUE. ON JUNE 17, 2001 TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAR TOWED…

Read full complaint

THIS IS 2ND FAILED TRANSMISSION IN 58577 MILES. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROX 21000 AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY BMW. CREVIER BMW WAS INFORMED OF PROBLEMS WITH 2ND TRANSMISSION MAY 2000 AND STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THOUGH MADE NOTE OF ISSUE. ON JUNE 17, 2001 TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAR TOWED TO SAVAGE BMW, ONTARIO CA, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED FAILED TRANSMISSION. STATED CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THOUGH WOULD CONTACT BMW CORPORATE. I FIND IT INCONCEIVABLE THAT A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 30,000 MILES. SERVICE DEALER AT SAVAGE BMW STATED THIS IS ONLY THE 3RD MANUAL TRANSMISSION HE'S HAD TO REPLACE SINCE 1968. BMW HAS A SERIOUS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747004

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1999
Unknown Or Other

CAR DEALER/MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SUPPLY A SHOP MANUAL. THE ONE AFTERMARKET MANUAL AVAILABLE IS LIMITED AND HAS INCORRECT INFORMATION. I NEED A SHOP MANUAL TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR MY CAR MYSELF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708059

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Seat BeltsStructure

SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607686

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

THE RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRROR MALFUNCTIONING, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607627

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Exterior Lighting

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607468

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

FUSE BLEW CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS / TAIL LIGHTS / REAR SIDE LIGHT BULB TO FAIL. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606676

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.