RoadVitals

1997 BMW 850 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest May 4, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 850, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags233.3%
  • Electrical233.3%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Interior & seats116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT IT HEAD ON. DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID 10072034 · filed May 4, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID 814738 · filed Jul 21, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BATTERY FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID 606982 · filed Feb 1, 1999

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID 606813 · filed Feb 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

EGR SENSOR FAILED TWICE. *YC

NHTSA ID 609385 · filed Feb 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE DASH RESULTED IN FIRE.YH

NHTSA ID 552599 · filed Jun 12, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .