Bmw R SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
20,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Wheels:Rim is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 25 complaints (16.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 16.0% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 16.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels:Rim | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
Wheels:Rim: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 3; Wheels: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Driveline: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
1996: 5; 2000: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 4
Pattern summary
Wheels:Rim leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10296924 · 2009-12-24 (December 24, 2009)
CLUTCH TO TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SPLINES FAILED ON MY 2002 BMW R1150RT MOTORCYCLE. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SPLINES WHICH CONNECT THE CLUTCH PLATE TO THE TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET WHICH WASN'T BUSY AND NEAR HOME. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED DUE TO LOCATION WHERE FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447569 · 2012-02-05 (February 5, 2012)
OPERATING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION AT SPEED BELOW 40 MPH. VEHICLE LOSS ALL POWER FROM ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION. ENGINE STILL OPERATES AND REVS NORMALLY, BUT NO ENGINE POWER IS TRANSFERRED TO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION STILL SHIFT PROPER INTO EACH GEAR IN THE GEARBOX. VEHICLE TOWED TO MAIN LINE BMW MOTORCYCLE, DIAGNOSED WITH FAILURE OF CLUTCH AND DRIVE SHAFT SPLINE INTERFACE. CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT REPLACED, TRANSMISSION REBUILT UNDER VEHICLE FACTORY WARRANTY (2 YEAR/30,000 MI.).
Owner-reported narrative. 28,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10411089 · 2011-06-30 (June 30, 2011)
EARLIER IN THE WEEK THE ABS FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING EFFECTIVELY. THERE IS A BACKUP "RESIDUAL BRAKING" OF ABOUT 15%. I SURVIVED BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AND DID NOT NEED A SERIOUS STOP. I HAD IT "FIXED" AT THE DEALER ON SATURDAY. THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THE BRAKES WORKED FOR ABOUT 4 ON OFF CYCLES. THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE. I THEN RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT IS RAMPANT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED. MOTORCYCLES HAVE CRAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10411089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346214 · 2010-07-29 (July 29, 2010)
BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURES. IN 2001 I PURCHASED A NEW BMW R1100RT. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR INTO OWNERSHIP 25K MILES THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED WHILE I WAS RIDING. I THOUGHT THE REAR WHEEL WAS FALLING OFF. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT ONLY WAS THE REAR WHEEL LEANING TO ONE SIDE THE WHOLE REAR HALF OF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS COVERED WITH OIL, RESULTING IN NON WORKING REAR BRAKE AND A OIL COVERED TIRE AND WHEEL. BIKE WAS REPAIRED . BUY THE TIME I …
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135594 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
2002 BMW R1150R FUEL LEAK PROBLEM/ FUEL LINE RECALL.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK DURING OPERATION THAT RESULTED IN GASOLINE BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AS WELL AS THE CONSUMER LEG. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE MALE END OF ONE OF THE QUICK DISCONNECTS ON THE FUEL HAD CRACKED. THE CONSUMER HAD RECALL 04V028000 PERFORM ON THE MOTORCYCLE IN 2004. THE REPAIR WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10485434 · 2012-11-21 (November 21, 2012)
CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP CONTROLLER HOUSING RESULTING IN MINOR FUEL LEAK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485434 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 0; 2007: 0