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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 BMW R850 Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 BMW R850 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 BMW R850. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1997 BMW R850 owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW R850, describing incidents dated September 5, 2002.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

  • ODI #8018453 · Filed

    WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN MOTORCYCLE CUTS COMPLETELY OFF.*AK

Read the full complaint

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997 BMW R850 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

BMW/IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS

NHTSA #97V237000 · Electrical System — Wiring · NHTSA notice

Reported December 31, 1997 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 2,000 vehicles

Owners notified February 27, 1998 · Vehicles built October 1, 1994 – August 30, 1996 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. A SHEET METAL PLATE MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE FRAME BELOW THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAN CAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE STRETCHED TOO TIGHT AS THE HANDLEBARS ARE TURNED FULLY TO ONE SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING HARNESS IS ATTACHED TO ANOTHER HARNESS WITH A CABLE TIE THAT IS PLACED TOO FAR FORWARD LIMITING THE HANDLEBAR MOVEMENT.

Safety consequence

THE HARNESS WIRES CAN BE DAMAGED OR COULD BREAK OR PULL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF THE HARNESS WIRES WERE DAMAGED BUT NOT BROKEN OR DISCONNECTED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COULD BE AFFECTED WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING DRIVEN. HESITATION, MISFIRING, OR "CUTTING OUT" COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE WIRE TIE CONNECTING THE TWO WIRING HARNESSES TO A POINT FURTHER BACK FROM THE ORIGINAL LOCATION SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS HAS SUFFICIENT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. ALSO IF THE WIRING HARNESS IS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED, THE IGNITION SWITCH (WITH HARNESS) WILL BE REPLACED.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY LATE FEBRUARY 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR MOTORCYCLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #5.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Other BMW R850 model years

Check your 1997 BMW R850 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW R850 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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