US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained

BMW 850i recalls and complaints by year

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the BMW 850i, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 7
Total Complaints 24
Years Covered 1991–2019

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the BMW 850i, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Airbags

1 campaign · Years: 1991–1992

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):

Engine and cooling

1 campaign · Years: 1991–1995

These campaigns relate to engine or cooling components where failures can lead to stalling or overheating risk.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 98V178000 · Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the BMW 850i in NHTSA complaint data are Exterior lighting:headlights, Air bags, Electrical system.

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Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2019 0 13 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Electrical system, Engine.
1995 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1994 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1993 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1992 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1991 2 11 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting:headlights, Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:cooling system.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Engine and engine cooling and Air bags

Show recall evidence by year

1995

  • Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V178000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by t

1994

  • Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V178000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by t

1993

  • Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V178000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by t

1992

  • Air bags: Frontal: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V110000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning.
  • Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V178000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by t

1991

  • Air bags: Frontal: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V110000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning.
  • Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V178000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by t

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

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