NHTSA Data Explorer

BMW 850i

Data refreshed October 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the BMW 850i.

Complaints

13

Active records

Recalls

2

Active records

TSBs

7

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Top reported issues — BMW 850i

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

6

Lighting behavior

6

Thermal issue

3

Fluid issue

2

Reporting mechanism

2

Braking behavior

1

Engine behavior

1

Operating state

1

Safety restraint behavior

1

Safety restraint issue

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

1991 BMW 850I

Filed Oct 29, 2017


1 injured

STARTED MY BMW 850I, DRIVE HALF A BLOCK DOWN THE STREET, THE AIRBAG BLOW , BURN MY HANDS. I CAN TAKE PICTURE OF THE BROKEN AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL IF NEEDED.

1991 BMW 850I

Filed May 26, 2004


THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ADJUSTER WAS BROKEN. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO SHINE ON THE ROAD TO ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE LIGHTS WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 15-20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

1991 BMW 850I

Filed Sep 4, 2002


BOTH HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT MECHAISMS HAVE REPEATEDLY FAILED. THIS IS AN ONGOING COMPLAINT WITH BMW 8 SERIES OWNERS. WHEN THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FAILS THE HEADLIGHT BUCKETS POINT DOWNWARDS SO THAT THE AMOUNT OF ROAD VISIBLE TO THE DRIVER IS 25 FEET OR LESS. BMW HAS A FIX FOR THIS WHICH CONSISTS OF PEENING A PLASTIC ADJUSTMENT WHEEL TO THE ADJUSTMENT SHAFT. THIS USUALLY FAILS WITHIN SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES. BMW THEN SAYS TO BUY A NEW HEADLIGHT BUCKET... $4-500 TO FIX A $2.00 PART. …

1991 BMW 850I

Filed Jul 22, 2002


AFTER FAILURE, BMW TELLS YOU TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHT BUCKETS FOR $650 WITH NEW ADJUSTERS IN THEM, WHICH WILL FAIL AGAIN AFTER TWO TO FOUR YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE MILEAGE. AFTER FAILURE THE LIGHTS SHINE EXTREMLY LOW WITHOUT COVERING THE STREET IN FRONT OF YOU, RESULTING IN A REAL SAFETY HAZARD.

1991 BMW 850

Filed May 15, 2002


HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO HAVE PROPER ILLUMINATION WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS DO NOT FIT PROPERLY INTO SOCKETS.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE DEALERS SOULTION IS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT AT $500.00 EACH WITH THE SAME PARTS THAT WILL FAIL AGAIN, THE ADJUSTERS FALL OFF ON THEIR OWN.*JB

1992 BMW E31

Filed Apr 25, 2002


HEADLIGHT BUCKETS ARE POINTING AT A 45 DEGREE DOWNWARDS, CAUSING A PROBLEM TO DRIVER TO SEE THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE BUCKETS AT FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH. *AK

1991 BMW 850I

Filed Apr 24, 2002


HEADLIGHT HOUSING BROKEN. POINTS DOWNWARD.*AK

1991 BMW 850I

Filed Apr 18, 2002


CONSUMER STATES THE CONVERTIBLE HEADLIGHTS KNOB ARE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY MECHANIC AND MANUFACTURE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED HOWEVER TO RESOLVE PROBLEM MANUFACTURE HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE LIGHTS FOR $400.00 PER LIGHTS. NLM

1991 BMW BMW

Filed May 31, 2000


WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY 3 LANE HIGHWAY ENGINE TEMP GUAGE WENT TO READ LINE STEAM STARTED POURING FROM WNDER HOOD HAD TO PULL OFF HIGHWAY QUICKLY. *AK

1992 BMW BMW

Filed Mar 28, 2000


VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIRS. (98V-178) *MJS

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated October 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.