1991 BMW 850I — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
11
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1991 BMW 850I
The 1991 BMW 850I has received a total of 11 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. The most commonly reported problems involve the Exterior Lightingheadlights (4 complaints), Air Bags (1 complaint), and Engine And Engine Cooling (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1991 BMW 850I
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1991 BMW 850I, potentially affecting up to 415,000 vehicles.
Recall 98V178000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
| 340,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD...
Consequence: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
View full details →Recall 96V110000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 75,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CONTACT RING WIRING COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR LAMP (SRS OR AIRBAG) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT VEHICLE COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING TAB WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1991 BMW 850I
11 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1991 BMW 850I. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lightingheadlights | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingheadlightsswitch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionrear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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.
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
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. SOMETIME, OR MAYBE IT HA ALREADY HAPPEND THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR A PEDESTRIAN FATALITY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE LIGHTS ARE NOT PROJECTING FAR ENOUGH FOR A DRIVER TO SEE A REASONABLE DISTANCE DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND HAVE YET TO RECIVE THE COURTESY OF A RETURN CALL. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS COMPLAINT WITH WHAT ACTION THAT YOU MIGHT BE TAKING REGARDING THIS MATTER.*AK
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.
HEADLIGHT HOUSING BROKEN. POINTS DOWNWARD.*AK
Safety Rating for the 1991 BMW 850I
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1991 BMW 850I in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1991 BMW 850I
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1991 BMW 850I
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 850I
- 1991 BMW 850I (current)
- 1992 BMW 850I — 0 complaints
- 1993 BMW 850I — 0 complaints
- 1994 BMW 850I — 0 complaints
- 1995 BMW 850I — 0 complaints