1996 Bmw R1100 RS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
59,288 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data updated: . 1 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
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 33.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1998: 1; 2000: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10446655 · 2012-02-04 (February 4, 2012)
MY MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. THE REAR WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WOBBLY. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AT AN EARLY STAGE, BEFORE GEAR OIL LEAKED OUT ONTO THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 59,288 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 528698 · 1998-01-22 (January 22, 1998)
RECALL ON MOTORCYCLE #97V-173, RISK OF FIRE AT IDLE SPEED. THE REMEDY IS A STICKER PLACED ON MOTORCYCLE AS A REMINDER NOT TO LEAVE AT IDLE SPEED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 528698 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728768 · 2000-08-23 (August 23, 2000)
THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUALLY DOWNSHIFTED FROM FOURTH GEAR INTO THIRD WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER LEAVING THE FREEWAY AND DOWNSHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR, THE BACK WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728768 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
3 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 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10446655 · 59,288 miMY MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. THE REAR WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WOBBLY. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AT AN EARLY STAGE, BEFORE GEAR OIL LEAKED OUT ONTO THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. *KB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 726068THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE TACHOMETER ON THIS VEHICLE IS REGISTERING 10% LESS THAN INDICATED. CALIBRATION WAS DONE BY ACCURATE GPS, MEASURED DISTANCE AND THE ADDITION OF A PRECISELY CALIBRATED INSTRUMENT. ON 7/21/2000 I BROUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE IN TO THE BMW DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO ME AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, SEBASTIAN TOLD ME THAT I WAS CORRECT. THE OWNER, JOEL SACHER, TOLD ME THAT "THEY ALL DO THAT" AND THAT BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THE MAIN ISSUE IS THAT THE 36000 MILE WARRANTEE IS BEING REDUCED BY 10%. *AK | 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. | 133.3%ODI 728768THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUALLY DOWNSHIFTED FROM FOURTH GEAR INTO THIRD WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER LEAVING THE FREEWAY AND DOWNSHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR, THE BACK WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. | 150.0%ODI 728821TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES WONT ALLOW SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR, VERY UNSAFE WHEN PASSING ON TWO LANE ROAD. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES FALLS OUT OF 3RD GEAR, VERY UNSAFE WHEN PASSING ON TWO LANE ROAD. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 1100.0%ODI 10490267 · 69,000 miTHE MOTORCYCLE LEAKS GASOLINE FROM UNDER THE FUEL TANK, WHERE THE METAL IN-TANK FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY ACCESS PLATE BOLTS INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. *TR WHILE THE MACHINE'S ENGINE IS RUNNING, THIS LEAKS ALARMING AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE ONTO THE ENGINE'S RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD AND ONTO THE RIDER'S RIGHT FOOT, FORMING A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS STOPPED. IF AN ATTEMPT TO RIDE IS MADE, DRIPPING GASOLINE ON THE HOT CYLINDER HEAD AND HOT EXHAUST PIPE BELOW IT CONTINUES. THE YEAR 1994 WAS THE FIRST … | 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. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 8007248WHILE DRIVING, CASE THAT HOLDS OIL IN VEHICLE BUSTED AND OIL STARTED TO SPILL ALL OVER THE PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS TAKING A LOOK AT IT.*AK *YH | 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. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 528698RECALL ON MOTORCYCLE #97V-173, RISK OF FIRE AT IDLE SPEED. THE REMEDY IS A STICKER PLACED ON MOTORCYCLE AS A REMINDER NOT TO LEAVE AT IDLE SPEED. | 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:Fuel Injection 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 734969A SURGE CONDITION AT ENGINE SPEEDS BETWEEN 2,500 TOOVER 4,000 RPM. THE SURGE CONDITION CAUSES A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER, THEN POWERS UP AGAIN. IF RIDING IN A TURN, AND THE SURGE CONDITION OCCURS, THE BALANCE OF THE MOTORCYCLE IS UPSET. THE SURGE RESULTS IN AN IMBALANCE THAT HAS CAUSED ME GRAVE CONCERN FOR MY SERSONAL SAFETY. THE CONDITION WAS FIRST EXPERIENCED SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE BIKE.*AK |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1100.0%ODI 10490267 · 69,000 miTHE MOTORCYCLE LEAKS GASOLINE FROM UNDER THE FUEL TANK, WHERE THE METAL IN-TANK FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY ACCESS PLATE BOLTS INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. *TR WHILE THE MACHINE'S ENGINE IS RUNNING, THIS LEAKS ALARMING AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE ONTO THE ENGINE'S RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD AND ONTO THE RIDER'S RIGHT FOOT, FORMING A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS STOPPED. IF AN ATTEMPT TO RIDE IS MADE, DRIPPING GASOLINE ON THE HOT CYLINDER HEAD AND HOT EXHAUST PIPE BELOW IT CONTINUES. THE YEAR 1994 WAS THE FIRST … | 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. |
| Seats:Motorcycle | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 800874MOTORCYCLE SEAT IS LOOSE, WHEN BRAKING OR MAKING QUICK STOP THE DRIVER SEAT MOVES. *AK | 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. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | Too few reports for a range | 59,288 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10446655 · 59,288 miMY MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. THE REAR WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WOBBLY. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AT AN EARLY STAGE, BEFORE GEAR OIL LEAKED OUT ONTO THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. *KB |
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.
1999: 1 complaints · 2000: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 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 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | Power Train | Power Train:Manual Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | — | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 0 | — | 0 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 0 | 0 | — |
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.