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1997 BMW 850

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19951
19967
1997
Compare all 850 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
3Air Bags
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

7 reports
118,000 miles · May 4, 2004
Air BagsCrash

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 ODI #10072034

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE DASH RESULTED IN FIRE.YH

NHTSA ODI #552599

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

EGR SENSOR FAILED TWICE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #609385

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Unknown Or Other

ASH TRAY MALFUNCTIONED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607895

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

BATTERY FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606982

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606813

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1997
Air Bags

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 ODI #814738

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.