1999 BMW R1100 S

Routine

Owners filed 4 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the wheels › rim. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Wheels › Rim1
000
Wheels1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings01V272000
Filed Aug 24, 20011,090 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE LEADING FROM THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR CAN CHAFE AGAINST THE RIGID LINES OF THE FUEL FEED AND THE RETURN LINES. CONTINUED CHAFING OF THE FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE CAN LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE.

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE ON AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE FLEXIBLE HOSE WITH ONE WITH A BRAIDED COVER TO PREVENT CHAFING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 16, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #5.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar00V318000
Filed Oct 11, 2000718 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH-MOUNTED HANDLEBARS. THE HIGH-MOUNTED HANDLEBARS ARE POSITION ON TOP OF THE UPPER FORK CLAMP AND ARE CLAMPED TO THE TOP OF EACH UPPER FORK TUBE. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A HANDLEBAR TO ROTATE FORWARD.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE RIDING, THE RIDER'S BALANCE COULD BE UPSET AND A CRASH AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL DEGREASE THE CLAMPING CONNECTION PARTS, REWORK THE POSITIONING TAB (IF NECESSARY) TO FIT PROPERLY IN THE CORRESPONDING GAP IN THE UPPER FORK CLAMP, AND RESET THE TORQUE OF THE CLAMPING CONNECTIONS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages00V144000
Filed May 18, 2000474 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO USE OF AN INCORRECT THREAD-LOCKING MATERIAL IN PRODUCTION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE REAR BRAKE LINKAGE BALL END, WHICH IS SCREWED INTO THE REAR BRAKE LEVER, TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY DETACH FROM THE LEVER.

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE REAR BRAKE COULD NO LONGER BE APPLIED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE BRAKE LINKAGE BALL END FROM THE BRAKE LEVER AND REINSTALL IT WITH A DIFFERENT THREAD-LOCKING COMPOUND, TO PREVENT THE BALL END FROM LOOSENING.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings98V294000
Filed Nov 10, 1998700 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. IF THE ENGINE BACKFIRES DURING THE STARTING PROCESS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR EITHER THROTTLE BODY TO LOOSEN IN ITS MOUNT, OR TO DISCONNECT FROM ITS MOUNT. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE FUEL LINE COULD BE DAMAGED OR THE LINE AND INJECTOR COULD SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE.

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION UNIT. IN ADDITION, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE AIR INLET TUBE WILL BE SECURED WITH TWO SCREWS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE HOSE OR INJECTOR SHOULD A BACKFIRE OCCUR.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 23, 2002MI

TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SEAL FAILED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. PELICAN PARTS R1100S BULLETIN BOARD SUGGESTS THIS FAILURE IS COMMON, AND RECOMMENDED SUBMITTING THIS FORM.*AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Sep 30, 2001NJ

I HAVE NEVER CRASHED MY 1999 BMW R1100SA MOTORCYCLE AND MAINTAINED IT STRICTLY BY BMW SUGGESTED SCHEDULE. 64K MILES ON THE ODO NOW. THOUGH BIKE HAS NOT LEFT ME STRANDED, IT HAS HAD ENDLESS PROBLEMS - BIG PROBLEMS AND BEEN OUT-OF-SERVICE FOR REPAIR IN EXCESS OF 85 DAYS IN 2 YEARS. IT HAD A BREAK IN THE FRAME (I COULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THE FRAME!); THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND THE NEW ONE DOES NOT FIT CORRECTLY AND IS BREAKING THROUGH A FRAME BRACE, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF ANOTHER FRAME PROBLEM (PRESENTING SAFETY ISSUE); THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE ~ OVER HEATING, IMPROPERLY CUT VALVES AND PITTING CYLINDERS, EXCESSIVE COMPRESSION BLOW-BY; 3 SETS OF REPLACED HEADER PIPES DUE TO PITTING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT; 4 SETS OF FAILED THROTTLE/CHOKE CABLES - CABLES SHREDDED AT JUNCTURE BOX; TWICE REPLACED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS; REPLACED CLUTCH AND TRANS. DUE TO FLOODING W/OIL BECAUSE OF FAILED REAR ENGINE SEAL THE BMW APPROVED DEALER IGNORED; EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION STILL; BOTH THROTTLE BODY COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED; THE ENGINE TEMP SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. BMW'S WARRANTEE FIXED MOST FAILURES HOWEVER THE LIST IS ENDLESS AND NOT IN LINE WITH A HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE. BMW DECLINES TO ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS THAT COULD BE A RESULT OF FRAME/STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS AND INSTEAD IMPLIES THAT FAILURES ARE FROM HIGH MILEAGE OR USER.

Wheels
Filed Jul 31, 2000CA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Wheels › Rim
Filed Oct 28, 1999CA

FRONT WHEEL RIM IS MADE OF ALUMINUM WHICH IS TOO SOFT AND NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR ROAD STRESS AND WAS BENT BY MILD IMPACT WITH ROAD DEBRIS CAUSING TIRE TO DEFLATE AND VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. NLM

4 of 4 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20041000Routine
20031100Routine
20011100Routine
20000100Routine
1999 — this page4400Routine

Compare every R1100 S year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 24, 2001. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.