1997 BMW 850CI

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

1Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System

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: 0 of 1 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 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

1 reports

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Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1998

Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WA S SITTING IN GARAGE, 3 HOURS AFTER DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND A SMALL FIRE STARTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND BMW WAS CONTACTED AND TOWED TO STEERLING BMW 3000 W. COAST HWY NEWPORT BEACH, CA. 92663, (949-645-5900). DELEAR REFERRED CONSUMER TO BMW MFR. DUE TO FACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. BMW WILL NOT HEL…

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VEHICLE WA S SITTING IN GARAGE, 3 HOURS AFTER DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND A SMALL FIRE STARTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND BMW WAS CONTACTED AND TOWED TO STEERLING BMW 3000 W. COAST HWY NEWPORT BEACH, CA. 92663, (949-645-5900). DELEAR REFERRED CONSUMER TO BMW MFR. DUE TO FACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. BMW WILL NOT HELP CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831590

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.