BMW R850 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1 owner complaint and 1 safety recall on file for the BMW R850, across 2 model years (1996–1997). The 1997 model year has the most complaints (1). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
BMW R850 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No R850 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1997 R850: 1 complaint, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW R850 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW R850 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 R850 | 1 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1996 R850 | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW R850 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1997 (1). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW R850?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 1 complaint across 1 model year.
How many recalls does the BMW R850 have?
1 safety recall across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.