U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Bmw 320: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	1	50.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Structure

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Structure: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1999

1999: 2

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 716213 · 1999-12-18 (December 18, 1999)

MY SON AND I WERE TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE 405 FREEWAY IN THE CARPOOL LANE IN MODERATE/HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE RIGHT FRONT PLASTIC GRILL FLEW UP OVER THE HOOD AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING. IT WASN'T UNTIL I RETURNED HOME THAT I DISCOVERED THE GRILL PIECE MISSING AND REALIZED WHAT HAD ACTUALLY HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM REPLACE BOTH THE GRILL AND THE WINDSHIELD(THE IMPACT HAD SCRATCHED THE WINDSHIELD). WHEN I DETAILED THE INCIDENT I WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 716213 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 844372 · 1999-08-04 (August 4, 1999)

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 844372 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 2 records

50.0%Valid incident date1 / 2 records

100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records

50.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 2 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1989	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	330.0% ODI 746659 THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDEGED PROBLEM FROM BMW. THE MANUFACTURER HAS CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF US ARE BEING LEFT STRANDED WHEN THE PROBLEM SURFACES. EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS ACKNOWLEDGED BMW DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE BMW NEEDS TO BE CONTACTED AND FORCED TO OFFICIALLY ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 3.0 LITER ENGINES. *AK Look up ODI 746659 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	330.0% ODI 746628 VEHICLE COOLING FAN FAILED, MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FAN, MADE BY SIEMENS IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY ALL VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THIS DEFECT. WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO BE STRANDED DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING. Look up ODI 746628 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 523807 VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY VIBRATES AND LUNGES FORWARD. PRIOR TO THESE EVENTS, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER, TACHOMETER ENTERS THE RED ZONE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WHINES. DIAGNOSED AS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. Look up ODI 523807 at NHTSA ↗	116.7% ODI 747004 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 … Look up ODI 747004 at NHTSA ↗	150.0% ODI 844372 TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK Look up ODI 844372 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 976947 STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING WHICH WORSENS AS TIME PROGRESSES. TT Look up ODI 976947 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Visibility:Windshield	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 978075 POOR ILLUMINATION OF HEAD LIGHTS. APARENTLY CASTS OFF DARK SHADOWS. TT Look up ODI 978075 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	110.0% ODI 737207 IMAGE DISTORTION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *AK Look up ODI 737207 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	110.0% ODI 746692 VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS Look up ODI 746692 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 606676 FUSE BLEW CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS / TAIL LIGHTS / REAR SIDE LIGHT BULB TO FAIL. *YC Look up ODI 606676 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	110.0% ODI 10471685 · 113,000 mi WHILE DOING 55 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY MY VEHICLE ENGAGED THE BRAKES ON IT'S OWN BRINGING US TO A SCREACHING, SKIDDING STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY SCARY SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE YAW RATE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE MERCEDES IS NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLES TO BE FIXED WITH SUCH A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING THIS CAR. *TR Look up ODI 10471685 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2001: 8 complaints · 2002: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2001	8	8	8
2002	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2001	8	1	1
2002	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Structure
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	—	0
Structure	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.