Can I apply for a B-1/B-2 visa when my previous F-1 visa has expired but my SEVIS record has not been released?

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Yes it would be a problem to be issued a B1/B2. You need to fix this situation ASAP to preserve a good immigration history with the USA.

https://www.ice.gov/exec/sevp/Module6.htm

For transfers, if the transfer student does not report to the school, manually terminate the record for reason of Transfer Student - No Show, within 30 days of the program start date. If the record is not terminated within 60 days of the program start date, SEVIS will initiate an automatic system termination.

The chances are high that your SEVIS has already been terminated without your knowledge. A SEVIS record showing termination for unauthorized withdrawal may delay or prevent future entry into the United States. That is the situation you are very likely in now.

https://www.nafsa.org/uploadedFiles/Chez_NAFSA/Find_Resources/Supporting_International_Students_And_Scholars/ISS_Issues/PG.1306-07-Temporary-Absence.pdf

If the consular checks and finds out that your SEVIS status has not been terminated, he will either defer issuing you the visa until you get it resolved, or some unreasonable consular may deny you the visa just based on that technicality.

If you SEVIS is not terminated it essentially implies you are still in F1 status and enrolled as a student. You can have multiple visa stamps in your passport however, you can only have one status at a time while in the US. Allowing you entry on B1/B2 would imply USCIS systems are conflicting with one another thus any immigration official would want your SEVIS terminated before entering the USA. Even if you were issued the visa, you would very likely have problems at POE.

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