Car Record Book

1996 BMW R850 recalls & problems

The 1996 BMW R850 has 1 safety recall and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints0filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical system › Wiring

NHTSA recall 97V237000 · Dec 31, 1997 · 2,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

NHTSA defect investigations