Total Complaints
3 filings
BMW 320I · model year
1978 BMW 320I
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1978BMW320I carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1978 320I is visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core with 2 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 1978 320I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031202VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
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
Mileage: 60,000
20031202SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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
Mileage: 60,000
19990823VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED CAUSING SERVERE INJURY TO DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. *YC
Compare 1978BMW320I to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1978 BMW 320I have?▼
The 1978 BMW 320I has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1978 BMW 320I?▼
The most-complained component for the 1978 BMW 320I is VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1978 BMW 320I safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.