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BMW 850IModel year report

1991 BMW 850I Problems

Complaints
9filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
78,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
13 mpgcombined, 5.0L 12-cyl RWD · 11 city / 17 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1991 BMW 850I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 1991 BMW 850I. The part named most often is exterior lighting, with 5 complaints (56% of the total), followed by air bags (1) and brakes (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 78,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Exterior lighting: “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. 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.”

NHTSA complaint #10074320, filed 2004-06

Air bags: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11040836, filed 2017-10, 78,000 miles

Engine cooling: “This car loses coolant, overheats, and blows a head gasket, and now possibly needs new cylinder heads. Bmw mechanic states that the temperatute gauge is not supposed to tell you the engine is overheating if the coolant has already completely leaked out of the system. That the gauge does not register the empty air in a now empty coolant system. In my opinion the temp guage should tell me the possibility of my car overheating so that I can shut down the engine and have it repaired. This has occurred twice($5,000 first time) and now an estimated $9,000-15,000 depending on extent of damage. …”

NHTSA complaint #718518, filed 2000-02

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 78,000 and 78,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–75100%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 78,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

1996199820002002420042017
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1991 BMW 850I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
850i RWD5.0L 12-cyl4-speed automatic111713$5,150
850i RWD5.0L 12-cyl6-speed manual111713$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1991 BMW 850I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.

Other model years of the BMW 850I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2019813,0000———Not enough data
1991978,0002—13—Not enough data

All BMW 850I model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1991 BMW 850I have?

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 1991 BMW 850I as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1991 BMW 850I is reported most often?

Exterior lighting is named most often, in 5 complaints (56% of the total), followed by air bags with 1.

Has the 1991 BMW 850I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1991 BMW 850I get?

The EPA rates the 1991 BMW 850I (850i, 5.0L 12-cyl) at 13 mpg combined, 11 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1991 BMW 850I reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,000 miles and the middle half falls between 78,000 and 78,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.