NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2019–2023

BMW F 850 GS recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 4 owner complaints for the BMW F 850 GS, covering model years 2019 to 2023. The 2023 model year drew the most complaints (2), and Power Train is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW F 850 GS VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
4 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
4 model years with data (2019–2023)

most complaints: 2023 (2 for that model year)
top component: Power Train (2 complaints)
latest recall 20V146000 (reported Mar 12, 2020)

0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW F 850 GS complaints by model year

3 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2023 model year has the most complaints: 2 of 4, or 50.0%. Next come 2019 (1) and 2021 (1).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

BMW F 850 GS complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW F 850 GS complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
2019	1	0	0	0	0
2021	1	0	0	0	0
2023	2	0	0	0	0
All model years	4	0	0	0	0

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW F 850 GS components

top 4 · NHTSA categories

Power Train is the component named most often, in 2 complaints (50.0% of all 4), followed by Engine (1) and Service Brakes (1).

Components named most often in BMW F 850 GS complaints (top 4)

Components named most often in BMW F 850 GS complaints (top 4)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Power Train	2	50.0%
Engine	1	25.0%
Service Brakes	1	25.0%
Unknown or Other	1	25.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW F 850 GS recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name F 850 GS, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model years 2019 to 2020. The 2019 and 2020 model years appear in the most campaigns (1 each).

2 recall campaigns

BMW F 850 GS recall campaigns covering each model year
2019: 1 campaign	2020: 1 campaign

NHTSA campaign 20V146000
Reported Mar 12, 2020
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Model year 2020
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 F900R, F900XR, S1000RR, F750GS, F850GS, F850GS Adventure, R1250GS, R1250GS Adventure, R1250RS, R1250R, RnineT, RnineT Pure and RnineT Scrambler and 2019-2020 S1000R motorcycles. The brake light may flash instead of remain steady during emergency braking. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence:
A flashing brake light can cause confusion to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owner, and dealers will reprogram the emergency stop signal function, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 18V830000
Reported Nov 26, 2018
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Model year 2019
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one 2019 F850GS motorcycle. The engine connecting rods may not have been installed properly, possibly causing them to become loose and disconnect over time.
Consequence:
Loose engine connecting rods can damage the engine, causing a loss of engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
The motorcycle has not yet been sold, and the dealer will replace the engine, free of charge, prior to sale. The recall began December 7, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW F 850 GS questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW F 850 GS have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the BMW F 850 GS, covering model years 2019 to 2023. The most recent, 20V146000, was reported on March 12, 2020 and is filed under “Exterior lighting”. The 2019 and 2020 model years are covered by the most campaigns (1 each).

Which BMW F 850 GS model year has the most complaints?

The 2023 model year, with 2 of the 4 complaints in NHTSA’s file (50.0%). The next are 2019 (1) and 2021 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common BMW F 850 GS complaint?

Power Train is the component named most often: 2 complaints, or 50.0% of all 4. Engine (1) and Service Brakes (1) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW F 850 GS?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW F 850 GS complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 4 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.