Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
20 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
48,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2001 model years. Data updated: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1996: 1; 1997: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
Reported: 1995-10-19 (October 19, 1995) · Model years: 1996
THE REAR BRAKE HOSE CAN CONTACT THE REAR TIRE AS THE REAR SUSPENSION MOVES THROUGH ITS RANGE OF TRAVEL.
Consequence: THE HOSE CAN ABRADE TO THE POINT WHERE THE HOSE WILL LEAK BRAKE FLUID, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKE. ALSO, BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE REAR TIRE CAN IMPAIR THE MOTORCYCLE'S DYNAMIC STABILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE HOSE GUIDE AND RE-ROUTE THE REAR BRAKE HOSE TO INSURE THAT IT CANNOT CONTACT THE REAR TIRE THROUGHOUT THE RANGE OF SUSPENSION TRAVEL.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
20 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1996 | 1997 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3100.0%ODI 10001384WHEN SHIFTING DOWN INTO SECOND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING, CAUSING THE BIKE TO LURCH AND DISTRACT THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. TS SCC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10167232 · 70,500 miTHE REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHO KNOWS HOW SERIOUS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. *NM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10448035 · 39,000 miTHE PURPOSE OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA MY EXPERIENCE WITH A DEFECTIVE FINAL DRIVE ON MY BMW MOTORCYCLE. INVESTIGATION DP12001 WAS OPENED ON 01/20/12, AND I REALIZE THAT FOR NOW, ITS SCOPE IS BEING CONFINED TO 1999-2005 K1200LT MODELS OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE LINE. HOWEVER MY BIKE, A 1999 R1100RT, HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE 11TH OF OCTOBER 2011 I WAS RIDING WITH MY WIFE WHEN WE NOTICED A RUMBLING AND THE BIKE WAS SEVERELY SHAKING. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS A FLAT TIRE BUT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK AND WHEN I FINA… | 120.0%ODI 10449589 · 57,420 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW R1100 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,420 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Driveline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10201908 · 36,000 miI HAVE HAD 2 FAILURES OF THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING ON MY 1997 BMW R100RT. FIRST WAS AT 36K MILES,BEARING FAILED AND POURED OIL ALL OVER REAR WHEEL WHEN SEAL DESTRUCTED BECAUSE PIECES OF THE BEARING ATE IT UP. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL,AS WHEEL WAS COVERED WITH 80W90 GEAR OIL,ALSO WHEEL WAS WOBBLY. I HAD A SECOND FAILURE AT 60K MILES. O WAS RIDING THE BIKE AND FELT A VIBRATION. I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A FLAT TIRE,SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT. I COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG SO I KEPT RIDING. THE VIBRAATION KEPT GETTING WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD… | 116.7%ODI 10278451 · 18,500 miI OWN A 1999 BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE. I WAS RIDING HOME AND NOTICE THAT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK, AS I TURNED ONTO MY HOME STREET. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICE A PUDDLE OF OIL QUICKLY FORMING UNDER THE SHAFT DRIVE AND ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. THIS LEAK STARTED ON THE HIGHWAY, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY. UPON FURTHER DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION I FOUND THE OIL SEAL HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND RIPPED BY A BEARING FAILURE IN THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW MOTORCYCLES, AND CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 737811ENGINE SURGE (CYCLING FROM HIGH TO LOW RPM'S WITHOUT THROTTLE INPUT) JEOPARDIZES CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IN CORNERING SITUATIONS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO HAVE THIS SITUATION CORRECTED BY MY DEALER MECHANIC, ALONG WITH THE USE OF AFTERMARKET SPARK PLUGS. BMW'S OFFICIAL POSITION IS APPARENTLY THAT SURGING IS NOT A PROBLEM IN R1100 ENGINES, THOUGH IT IS FREQUENTLY REPORTED TO THE COMPANY. *AK | 120.0%ODI 740398THE ENGINE SURGES BETWEEN ABOUT 2,500 AND 4,000 RPM. IT FEEL LIKE THE KILL SWITCH IS PULSING ON AND OFF RAPIDLY. THIS CONDITION MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSTABLE AND DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN CORNERING. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL GET BETTER WITH MORE MILEAGE. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 759371THERE IS PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WHICH CONTROLS THE FUEL, AIR, IGNITION MIXTURE AND TIMING ON THE BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE. THIS ISSUE CAUSESTHE ENGINE TO SURGE IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WHEN THE ENGINE IS REVING BETWEEN 2500 AND 4000 RPM'S. THE ECU ALSO CAUSES INTERMITTENT ENGINE CYLINDER FIRING MISSES AND THE ENGINE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS CONSTITUTES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN CORNERING AS A LOSS OF POWER DURING CORNERING CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO BECOME UNSTABLE. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO CRASHING ON TWO OR THREE OCCASSIONS BECAUSE OF… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 741264I HAD STARTED UP MOTORCYCLE TO TAKE OUT FOR A RIDE, IT WAS COLD, I HAD WALKED TO MY OFFICE AND PICKED UP HELMUT, LEATHERS AND CAME BACK THE MOTORCYLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE MANUFACURER STATES DO NOT RUN MOTORCYCLE IDLING, WITH THE SIDE STAND THERE IS AN ENGINE CUT OFF, WITH THE CENTER STAND IT WILL RUN. I DO NOT SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN IDLING/ MOTORCYCLE STANDING STILL AND IDLING INCHING FORWARD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE I CAN SEE IS THAT THERE WAS NOT A SERIOUS INJURY BECAUSE I WAS NOT SITTING ON THE BIKE, AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED BE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10376685 · 56,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW R1100 RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE AND HE NOTICED A LEAK OF UNKNOWN FLUIDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE VUE PORT HAD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR A REDESIGNED VUE PORT OF THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 7685674/4/2002 - A SIMILAR VEHICLE DRIVER WAS KILLED IN A FIRE ON I-880 NORTH BETWEEN MONTEGUE & GREAT MALL. I SUSPECT THIS WAS CAUSE OF DEATH. DT |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | Too few reports for a range | 56,000 mi | 3 (sparse) | ODI 10127387 · 48,000 miTRANSMISSION FAILURE -- 2ND GEAR WILL NO LONGER STAY ENGAGED UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION. BIKE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. UNTIL REBUILD, AVOIDING 2ND GEAR USE ODI 10167232 · 70,500 miTHE REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHO KNOWS HOW SERIOUS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. *NM |
| Power Train | Too few reports for a range | 48,210 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10448035 · 39,000 miTHE PURPOSE OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA MY EXPERIENCE WITH A DEFECTIVE FINAL DRIVE ON MY BMW MOTORCYCLE. INVESTIGATION DP12001 WAS OPENED ON 01/20/12, AND I REALIZE THAT FOR NOW, ITS SCOPE IS BEING CONFINED TO 1999-2005 K1200LT MODELS OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE LINE. HOWEVER MY BIKE, A 1999 R1100RT, HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE 11TH OF OCTOBER 2011 I WAS RIDING WITH MY WIFE WHEN WE NOTICED A RUMBLING AND THE BIKE WAS SEVERELY SHAKING. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS A FLAT TIRE BUT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK AND WHEN I FINA… ODI 10449589 · 57,420 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW R1100 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,420 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. |
| Power Train:Driveline | Too few reports for a range | 27,250 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10201908 · 36,000 miI HAVE HAD 2 FAILURES OF THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING ON MY 1997 BMW R100RT. FIRST WAS AT 36K MILES,BEARING FAILED AND POURED OIL ALL OVER REAR WHEEL WHEN SEAL DESTRUCTED BECAUSE PIECES OF THE BEARING ATE IT UP. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL,AS WHEEL WAS COVERED WITH 80W90 GEAR OIL,ALSO WHEEL WAS WOBBLY. I HAD A SECOND FAILURE AT 60K MILES. O WAS RIDING THE BIKE AND FELT A VIBRATION. I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A FLAT TIRE,SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT. I COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG SO I KEPT RIDING. THE VIBRAATION KEPT GETTING WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD… ODI 10278451 · 18,500 miI OWN A 1999 BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE. I WAS RIDING HOME AND NOTICE THAT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK, AS I TURNED ONTO MY HOME STREET. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICE A PUDDLE OF OIL QUICKLY FORMING UNDER THE SHAFT DRIVE AND ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. THIS LEAK STARTED ON THE HIGHWAY, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY. UPON FURTHER DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION I FOUND THE OIL SEAL HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND RIPPED BY A BEARING FAILURE IN THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW MOTORCYCLES, AND CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO… |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | Too few reports for a range | 56,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10376685 · 56,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW R1100 RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE AND HE NOTICED A LEAK OF UNKNOWN FLUIDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE VUE PORT HAD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR A REDESIGNED VUE PORT OF THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. |
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2000: 3 complaints · 2001: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Power Train:Manual Transmission | Power Train | Power Train:Driveline | Vehicle Speed Control | Electrical System:Ignition:Module | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Engine And Engine Cooling | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
2 patterns with matching reports.
1 mentions · 5.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
WHEN SHIFTING DOWN INTO SECOND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING, CAUSING THE BIKE TO LURCH AND DISTRACT THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. TS SCC
\b(hard shift\w*|rough shift\w*|delay\w* shift\w*|shift\w* hard|jerk\w*|lurch\w*)\b1 mentions · 5.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
THERE IS PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WHICH CONTROLS THE FUEL, AIR, IGNITION MIXTURE AND TIMING ON THE BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE. THIS ISSUE CAUSESTHE ENGINE TO SURGE IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WHEN THE ENGINE IS REVING BETWEEN 2500 AND 4000 RPM'S. THE ECU ALSO CAUSES INTERMITTENT ENGINE CYLINDER FIRING MISSES AND THE ENGINE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS CONSTITUTES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN CORNERING AS A LOSS OF POWER DURING CORNERING CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO BECOME UNSTABLE. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO CRASHING ON TWO OR THREE OCCASSIONS BECAUSE OF…
\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b