RoadVitals

2019 BMW 850I

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
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Latest Mar 10, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2019 BMW 850I, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and engine categories. 10 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags327.3%
  • Electrical218.2%
  • Engine218.2%
  • Powertrain (other)218.2%
  • Driver assistance19.1%
  • Fuel system19.1%

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

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 BMW M850I. The contact stated that gear shifter became stuck in gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID
11647304
Incident
Mar 9, 2025
Mileage
40,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 28, 2024

The Coolant tank is known to have and cause leakage by possible high temperatures and over-expansion. When this happens the coolant leaks all over critical engine components such as fuel injectors causing a short and risk of fire. Leaking coolant can also cause many other safety problems such as slippery brakes and/or tires. Fortunately, this hasn't happened to my vehicle yet. I have spoken with several owners who have had this issue happen to them. It would be worth investigating to see if a safety recall is needed. Preventative measures should be taken. Thanks.

NHTSA ID
11574481
Incident
Feb 28, 2024
Filed Jun 10, 2023

The software update was transferred from phone to the car. But would not install on the car. The issue has been raised by multiple people on various BMW forums. The clutch appears to be from BMW servers and service locations instead of dealing with root cause are trying to charge customers 350 -450 dollar to manually load gbs software. As a purchaser of the vehicle with automated software updates it is unreasonable to charge for manual update where a over the air software should work Please contact me at [XXX] to discuss my issue and others with BMW software updates that do not install. Thank you. I may also be reached at [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
11526356
Incident
Jun 10, 2023
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 5, 2021

Behind the cupholder the shifting unit is unsealed and liquids spill are causing shifting issues to the shifting control module. Also the Airbag sensor is under the same gap which can cause airbag malfunction. There are numerous reports on forums with all model types 2019+, not limited to the 8 series. This is a design flaw on the new center console shifting seal. This is is a life threatening defect, already a open recall for the wire routing under the shifter for the 8 series, same area.

NHTSA ID
11435507
Incident
Oct 4, 2021
AirbagsEngine
Filed May 17, 2021
Crash reported

2019 M850i XDrive. Consumer writes regarding unintended acceleration of vehicle. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SURGED OVER A RETAINING WALL INTO THE SECOND FLOOR OF A BUILDING. SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11417452
Incident
Jan 14, 2021
Electrical
Filed Feb 13, 2021

BATTERY INSUFFICIENT CHARGE TO INITIATE REMOTE START. THE CAR AND BATTERY ARE NEW. ON THE DATE OF AUTO PURCHASE THEY NOTED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH THEY DID AT NO COST BUT NOW IT IS NOT RETAINING CHARGE IN COLD WEATHER IN MINNESOTA.

NHTSA ID
11396045
Incident
Jan 4, 2021
Mileage
13,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceFuel system
Filed Feb 5, 2021

ON OR ABOUT DEC. 3, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH JAMESTOWN, NC , NO VEHICLES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND WITH MY WIFE'S FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. ONLY TIME IT HAPPENED. ON JAN. 14, 2021, WHILE PARKING THE AUTO AND WITH MY WIFE'S FOOT COVERING THE BRAKE PEDDLE, THE CAR SUDDENDLY ACCERATED INTO A BUILDING. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND WITH HER FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR NEVER SHUT OFF. IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING INTO BUILDING. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. BMW SENT A CORPORATE TECH TO EVALUATE. WITH NO LETTERS OR E-MAIL, WE RECEIVED A CALL STATING IT WAS MY WIFE'S FAULT. THREE SAFETY PROBLEMS IS NOT MY WIFE'S FAULT.

NHTSA ID
11394846
Incident
Jan 14, 2021
Mileage
8,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B011724

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The Fuel Injector Condition-Specific Repair Coverage Program applies to qualifying repairs for the required replacement of one or more the fuel injectors which were determined to have failed due to a buildup of external corrosion in the engine’s center fuel injector bore area that resulted after this location was periodically contaminated by engine coolant residue over time. This special program’s coverage is 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the vehicle's original in-service /first delivery date. It is subject to the same vehicle requirements and limitations criteria that applies to the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. The repair / replacement of cooling system components and / or the fuel injectors for other issues are excluded under this special coverage.

B011624

ENGINE

the NVLD modules limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the vehicles original in-service / first delivery date.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

B360121

STEERING

At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the video. See attached video V36 01 21.

B610524

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3). FaultB7F8F9 – “HU-H: Reset” will be stored in the HU-H3.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 850I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023000
2019Viewing700
1995010
1994010
1993010
1992020
1991920

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.