Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
25,310 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data updated: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 21 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
12
57.1%
Transmission and shifting
2
9.5%
Electrical and battery issues
1
4.8%
Fuel system concerns
1
4.8%
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2
Electrical System
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
Power Train
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2
Electrical System
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
Power Train
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 2; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Electrical System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Power Train: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (4). 13 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
MY 2002 BMW 1150GS MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY JUST OVER 41K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC AS ABLE TO DRIVE FOREVER ACROSS CONTINENTS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT LOST SOME INTERNAL GEARS LAST WEEKEND AND SOMETHING LET GO IN THE GEARBOX WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. METAL FRAGMENTS CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRAINED OF FLUID. THIS IS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WI…
AS SOON AS I STARTED MY BIKE, I SMELLED RAW GASOLINE. I LOOKED DOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BIKE AND SAW A FLUID LEAKING ON THE GROUND AS IT RAN OFF MY TRANSMISSION. I SHUT DOWN THE MOTORCYLE TO INVESTIGATE. I STARTED IT THREE MORE TIMES. TWO OF THOSE STARTS PRODUCED A FUEL LEAK. THE LEAK ORIGINATED ON ONE OF THE FUEL LINES, ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT THROTTLE BODY. THE CRIMP-TYPE CLAMPS WERE LOOSE WHEN I TRIED MOVING THEM. ON THE THIRD START, THE FUEL LEAK STOPPED. I TOOK THE BIKE TO ALAMO BMW WHERE A TECHNICIAN RECRIMPED THE TWO LOWER CLAM…
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
21 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
38.1%Usable mileage8 / 21 records
76.2%Valid incident date16 / 21 records
100.0%Valid filing date21 / 21 records
76.2%Ordered incident and filing dates16 / 21 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
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 complaint heatmap
Component
2000
2001
2002
2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
628.6%ODI 10025621 · 28,200 mi
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIP. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM THE REAR. I STOPPED TO FIND OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE ALL OVER THE REAR TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE REAR ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE GEAR OIL SATURATED THE BRAKE ROTOR AND PADS. I ALMOST CRASHED THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE OF THE OIL ON THE TIRE. THE FINAL DRIVE WAS SERVICED PER BMW SPECIFICATIONS OF GEAR OILTYPE AND WEIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRIP. THERE WERE NO INDICA…
MY 2002 BMW 1150GS MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY JUST OVER 41K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC AS ABLE TO DRIVE FOREVER ACROSS CONTINENTS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT LOST SOME INTERNAL GEARS LAST WEEKEND AND SOMETHING LET GO IN THE GEARBOX WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. METAL FRAGMENTS CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRAINED OF FLUID. THIS IS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WI…
CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILURE, NO OIL LEAK. PROGRESSIVE VIBRATION FELT IN FOOTPEGS AND SEAT, SEVERAL VERY BRIEF REAR WHEEL LOCK-UPS. METAL FUZZ ON MAGNETIC PLUG, PULLED THE DRIVE, SENT TO AN INDEPENDENT EXPERT (NOT A BMW DEALER) WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND REBUILT THE DRIVE. *TR
I HAD A FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURE IN MY BMW 2000 R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 35,000 MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, NEXT TIME IT WILL NOT BE. THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING FAR TO FREQUENTLY ON LOW MILEAGE BIKES OF SEVERAL MODELS. *LA
IN APRIL 2005, I EXPERIENCED A FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON MY 2002 BMW R1150GS. DURING A 36,000 MILE SERVICE, I REPORTED A SLIGHT OIL LEAK AROUND THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE FINAL DRIVE SHAFT. BMW REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING THAT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WAS REPLACED DURING THE SERVICE AT NO CHARGE. THE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE PROBLEM IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND I AM AWARE OF SIX LOCAL BMW MOTORCYCLES, BOTH R AND K SERIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED FINAL DRIVE FAILURES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. *NM
FUEL LINE ON RIGHT SIDE OF MOTORCYCLE LEAKED APPROXIMATELY 1 TABLESPOON OF FUEL WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF ENGINE STARTUP. ENGINE WAS STOPPED BEFORE ANY DAMAGE COULD TAKE PLACE. FUEL LEAKED FROM FUEL LINE ABOVE RIGHT CYLINDER, RAN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO DRIP ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEEN AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THIS WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. I ONLY NOTICED THE LEAK BECAUSE I WAS DOING A PRE-RIDE CHECK OF THE BIKE, BUT HAD I NOT PAID ATTENTION, THE FUEL WOULD HAVE BEE…
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Too few reports for a range
22,300 mi
2 (sparse)
ODI 10025621 · 28,200 mi
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
THIS MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A LINKED ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. THE REAR WHEEL AND FRONT WHEEL WORK TOGETHER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS WITHOUT BRAKES FOR AN UNDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME. *AK *NM
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
2002 BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY IN THE SHAFT DRIVE MECHANISM. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE SEAL BLEW OUT AND THE SHAFT BEARINGS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO HOP UP AND DOWN SEVERELY AT ABOUT 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE BIKE OVER SAFELY WITHOUT A CRASH. THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HAD IT FAILED LITERALLY 30 SECONDS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN LEANED WAY OVER IN A VERY TIGHT CORNER AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN …
Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Too few reports for a range
8,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10204247 · 8,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RA (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES AND THEN NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM. AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
MY 2002 BMW 1150GS MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY JUST OVER 41K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC AS ABLE TO DRIVE FOREVER ACROSS CONTINENTS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT LOST SOME INTERNAL GEARS LAST WEEKEND AND SOMETHING LET GO IN THE GEARBOX WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. METAL FRAGMENTS CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRAINED OF FLUID. THIS IS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WI…
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.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
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.
Emerging complaint spikes
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.
Equal-age model-year comparison
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.
2002: 16 complaints · 2003: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2002
11
14
16
2003
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2002
15
5
1
2003
2
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.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Electrical System
Fuel System, Gasoline
Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Power Train
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
—
0
1ODI 10025621 · 28,200 mi
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RA (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES AND THEN NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM. AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
FUEL LINE ON RIGHT SIDE OF MOTORCYCLE LEAKED APPROXIMATELY 1 TABLESPOON OF FUEL WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF ENGINE STARTUP. ENGINE WAS STOPPED BEFORE ANY DAMAGE COULD TAKE PLACE. FUEL LEAKED FROM FUEL LINE ABOVE RIGHT CYLINDER, RAN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO DRIP ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEEN AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THIS WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. I ONLY NOTICED THE LEAK BECAUSE I WAS DOING A PRE-RIDE CHECK OF THE BIKE, BUT HAD I NOT PAID ATTENTION, THE FUEL WOULD HAVE BEE…