BMW 320I Problems by Year
BMW 320I years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 320I year: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2014 320I: 53 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2015 320I: 34 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2016 320I: 25 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 320I problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 41 | 7 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 25 | 6 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 24 | 6 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 22 | 8 | 9 |
| Power Train | 18 | 5 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 14 | 6 | 5 |
| Structure | 13 | 4 | 4 |
| Steering | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Seats | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Wheels | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 320I model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 320I | 21 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2017 320I | 9 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2016 320I | 25 | 0 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 320I | 34 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 320I | 53 | 7 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 320I | 9 | 3 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2012 320I | 3 | 3 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2005 320I | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2004 320I | 1 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2003 320I | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2002 320I | 1 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2001 320I | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2000 320I | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 320I years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2014 (53), 2015 (34), 2016 (25), 2018 (21) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 320I year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 320I?
Engine, with 41 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 320I have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.