1989 Bmw BMW MOTORCYCLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
1999: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 716195 · 1999-12-18 (December 18, 1999)
FAILURE OF THE "MUSTARD COLORED RELAY" CAUSES TAIL LIGHTS TO INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. FAILURE OF THE LKM INTERMITTENTLY CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF. MANY BMW E32(735,740,745,750 MODELS) OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING, WE HAVE A WEB PAGE WHERE 7 SERIES OWNERS DISCUSS PROBLEMS AND FIXES TO THEIR CARS ON A DAILY BASIS, THERE IS A SEARCH FEATURE ON THE WEB PAGE AND YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS TIMES AND COMMETNS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.BRESZLAND.COM/BMW-7ER/, IT REALLY CAN BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZZARD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AT THE G…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 716195 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 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.
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 | 1988 | 1989 | 1992 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10208084 · 26,897 miTHREE HUNDRED MILES FROM HOME A GRINDING SOUND STARTED BEING AUDIBLE FROM THE REAR OF THE BIKE. I STOPPED AFTER IT CONTINUED AND FAILED TO SEE ANYTHING WRONG. THE WHEEL AND TIRE WERE DRY AND NO APPARENT LEAKS ANYWHERE. I CONTINUED AND THE GRINDING BECAME LOUDER. I STOPPED AND LOOKED AND THIS TIME SEEN A FEW SPOTS OF OIL ON THE REAR WHEEL. CONTINUED INVESTIGATION SHOWED GEAR OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS STILL VISIBLE. I CONTINUED A SHORT WAY AND THE SOUND BECAME MUCH LOUDER AND THE REAR OF THE… | 323.1%ODI 10067913 · 30,000 miREAR DRIVE BEARING FAILURE, SECOND ONE IN 13,000 MILES. REAR DRIVE WAS NOTICABLY LOUD. HARMONIC GROWLING NOISE. I DISSASEMBLED IT AND THE LARGE BALL BEARING IS PITTED. THIS TIME I CAUGHT IT BEFORE CATASTOPHIC FAILURE. I PURCHASED A USED REAR DRIVE AND WILL REBUILD MY OLD ONE SO I CAN CARRY A SPARE. (PRETTY SAD WHEN A BMW PILOT HAS TO CARRY A SPARE REAR DRIVE).*AK | 215.4%ODI 10041049 · 30,884 miREAR DRIVE FAILURE. MC LET US SITE WHEN SOME THING BROKE. THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THE THE TEETH SWHEERED OFF OF THE PINON GEAR. | 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. | 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. | 150.0%ODI 10038701 · 70,163 miFINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON 1997 K1100 LT BMW MOTORCYCLE. HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE 295 AT 70 MPH, FINAL DRIVE LET GO WITH NO WARNING. WAS ABLE (BARELY) TO KEEP IN CONTROL, AND GET BIKE TO THE SIDE OF THE VERY BUSY INTERSTATE. | 125.0%ODI 10446641 · 25,876 miTHE FINAL DRIVE ON THE MOTORCYCLE LEAKED OIL OUT OF RING GEAR SEAL, AND BIKE SUDDENLY MADE GRINDING NOISE. AFTER TEAR DOWN AND INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LARGE RADIAL BEARING HAD FAILED CAUSING THE SEAL TO FAIL, REPLACEMENT OF BEARING AND SEAL WAS DONE. SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. *KB | 215.4%ODI 10040932 · 31,049 miREAR DRIVE OF MOTORCYCLE HAS FAILED AT 31K MILES | 17.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Driveline | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10237573 · 65,386 miFINAL DRIVE UNIT ON MY 1996 BMW MOTORCYCLE FAILED. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 215.4%ODI 10074714 · 51,865 miREAR DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW K1200 LT. MOTORCYCLE STARTED VIBRATING AND REAR END STARTED WOBBLING. *JB | 215.4%ODI 10093619 · 34,000 miRIDING ON SUMMER VACATION 2500 MILES FROM HOME. FINAL DRIVE BEARING AND OIL SEAL FAILED COATING THE REAR TIRE OF MY MOTORCYCLE WITH OIL THE BEARING FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSE REAR WHEEL LOCK UP. OIL LEAK FROM THE SEAL FAILING COVERED REAR TIRE AND REAR BRAKE PADS WITH OIL. BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED FROM EXPOSURE TO OIL. CRASH WAS AVOIDED IN THIS CASE. OZZIE'S BMW PICKED BIKE UP AND MADE REPAIRS WITH HIS IN STOCK PARTS. DEALER HAS SEEN THIS FAILURE BEFORE AND WAS READY TO MAKE THIS REPAIR AGAIN--THUS HE HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| 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. | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10208084 · 26,897 miTHREE HUNDRED MILES FROM HOME A GRINDING SOUND STARTED BEING AUDIBLE FROM THE REAR OF THE BIKE. I STOPPED AFTER IT CONTINUED AND FAILED TO SEE ANYTHING WRONG. THE WHEEL AND TIRE WERE DRY AND NO APPARENT LEAKS ANYWHERE. I CONTINUED AND THE GRINDING BECAME LOUDER. I STOPPED AND LOOKED AND THIS TIME SEEN A FEW SPOTS OF OIL ON THE REAR WHEEL. CONTINUED INVESTIGATION SHOWED GEAR OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS STILL VISIBLE. I CONTINUED A SHORT WAY AND THE SOUND BECAME MUCH LOUDER AND THE REAR OF THE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 215.4% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 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 485435DIFFERENTIAL MALFUNCTIONED, LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERABLE AFTER COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 468990) *AW | 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. | 17.7%ODI 10350626 · 30,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW F-650 (NA). WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER REP ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN AFTERMARKET BATTERY AND THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 3/7/11 *… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3% | 150.0%ODI 10141124 · 17,000 miTHIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT WHICH DUPLICATES VOQ #101404137 MY 1997 BMW F650 MORTORCYCLE SLIPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR. IT DID THIS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND TOOK IT TO FRANK'S BMW MOTORCYCLES IN ESSEX JCT VT FOR SERVICE. LESTER PELKEY (OWNER) SAID IT WAS OPERATOR ERROR WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HE SAID IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR HIM. I CAN DOWN SHIFT INTO FIRST, LET THE BIKE RUN IN 1ST UP TO A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, STOP, AND SOMETIMES IT SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL, AND SOMETIMES IT WAITS UNTIL I'VE STARTED UP AGA… | 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. |
| Wheels | 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 536137MY FRONT WHEEL WAS BENT ON A 38 MILE COMMUTE FROM MY HOME TO WORK AND BACK AGAIN. THERE IS A BWM RIDER MAIL SERVICE AND THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. IT SEEMS BMW HAS DEVELOPED A WHEEL THAT IS OF A SOFT CONSTRUCTION. IT IS RECOMENDED THAT RIDERS CHECK AIRPRESSURE CONSTANTLY, WHICH I DO. THE PRESSURE AT THE TIME OF DISCOVERY WAS 36LBS A FIGURE I DON'T CALL LOW. I NORMALLY RUN 42 FRONT 42 REAR. BMW CLAIMS THIS SOFT OF DAMAGE OCCURS ONLY WHEN CORRECT PRESSURES ARE NOTKEPT. THE STICKER ON THE MOTORCYCLE CALLS OFR 2.2BARS. IF IT I… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.7%ODI 10291986 · 18,600 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW K1200LTI. THE REAR WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-25 MPH. CONSEQUENTLY HE AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE . BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 18,600. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10039023ELECTRICAL COMPONENT (HALL IGNITIONS SENSOR ASSEMBLY) FAILURE. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
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
| 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.
2000: 3 complaints · 2001: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 | 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 | Exterior Lighting:Headlights | Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | — | 1ODI 716195FAILURE OF THE "MUSTARD COLORED RELAY" CAUSES TAIL LIGHTS TO INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. FAILURE OF THE LKM INTERMITTENTLY CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF. MANY BMW E32(735,740,745,750 MODELS) OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING, WE HAVE A WEB PAGE WHERE 7 SERIES OWNERS DISCUSS PROBLEMS AND FIXES TO THEIR CARS ON A DAILY BASIS, THERE IS A SEARCH FEATURE ON THE WEB PAGE AND YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS TIMES AND COMMETNS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.BRESZLAND.COM/BMW-7ER/, IT REALLY CAN BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZZARD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AT THE G… |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1ODI 716195FAILURE OF THE "MUSTARD COLORED RELAY" CAUSES TAIL LIGHTS TO INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. FAILURE OF THE LKM INTERMITTENTLY CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF. MANY BMW E32(735,740,745,750 MODELS) OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING, WE HAVE A WEB PAGE WHERE 7 SERIES OWNERS DISCUSS PROBLEMS AND FIXES TO THEIR CARS ON A DAILY BASIS, THERE IS A SEARCH FEATURE ON THE WEB PAGE AND YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS TIMES AND COMMETNS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.BRESZLAND.COM/BMW-7ER/, IT REALLY CAN BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZZARD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AT THE G… | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.