FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW 320I

Owners have filed 247 complaints about the BMW 320I with NHTSA across model years 1978 to 2018. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2014 BMW 320I

80 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2013 BMW 320I

13 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW 320I year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2018 D 36 13 0 11,615 Electrical System
2017 C 13 4 0 Engine & Cooling
2016 D 40 10 2 55,000 Engine & Cooling
2015 C 46 0 1 57,399 Engine & Cooling
2014 F 80 7 3 60,000 Engine & Cooling
2013 B 13 2 0 Engine & Cooling
2012 5 0 0 Airbags
2004 2 0 2 Engine & Cooling
2002 1 0 0 Airbags
1982 1 0 0 Electrical System
1980 6 0 0 Engine & Cooling
1979 1 0 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
1978 3 0 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers

What breaks on a BMW 320I

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 47 19.0%

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2014

Airbags 25 10.1%

Worst in 2014

Other & Unspecified 23 9.3%

Worst in 2014

Transmission & Drivetrain 17 6.9%

Worst in 2014

Brakes 17 6.9%

Worst in 2016

Lights 14 5.7%

Worst in 2014

Body & Structure 13 5.3%

Worst in 2016

Steering 6 2.4%

Worst in 2014

Seat Belts 5 2.0%

Worst in 2014

Acceleration & Cruise Control 4 1.6%

Worst in 2018

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 4 1.6%

Worst in 1978

Wheels 4 1.6%

Worst in 2015

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW 320I, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Aug 1999 peak 8 Jul 2026

Compare the BMW 320I

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.