2003 BMW R1150gs

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Manual Transmission02V319000
Filed Nov 27, 2002515 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE 3RD AND 4TH TRANSMISSION GEAR (SHIFT) WHEELS MAY NOT BE SECURELY SEATED ON THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM 5TH TO 6TH GEAR, ENGAGEMENT OF THE TWO GEARS MAY OCCUR SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE GEAR WHEELS COULD CRACK RESULTING IN A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION CAPABILITY, OR, A LOCK OF TRANSMISSION COULD OCCUR. THE REAR WHEEL COULD LOCK WHICH, DEPENDING UPON TRAFFIC AND ROAD CONDITIONS, AND THE RIDER'S REACTION, COULD AFFECT THE STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLES AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2002. 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 #4.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Aug 11, 201244,000 milesWA

FINAL DRIVE FAILURE CAUSING OIL TO SPILL ONTO REAR TIRE WHILE RIDING. THIS IS THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. *TR

Power Train
Filed Feb 10, 201244,692 milesNM

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 30, 200913,000 milesOH

TWO PROBLEMS; 1. ABS INTERMITTENTLY WORKS, AND INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP FRONT WHEEL ON GRAVEL ROADS, CAUSING UNDESIRED WHEEL LOCKUP....VERY UNSAFE. 2. ABS BRAKE ASSIST SERVOS (POWER BRAKES) INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO OPERATE, CAUSING UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, ONCE ASSIST SERVO POWER IS LOST THE RESIDUAL BRAKING IS APPROXIMATELY 20% OF ASSISTED BRAKING, THIS CAUSES HEART STOPPAGE WHILE TRYING TO NOT CRASH AND/OR HIT OTHER TRAFFIC.....VERY UNSAFE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BMW SAYS, SORRY BIKE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY WON'T CORRECT DEFECTS. THIS BIKE HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF, IT ONLY HAS 13K MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH FAILURES. IF IT WAS AN ISOLATED FAILURE PROBLEM I WOULDN'T EVEN BOTHER WITH THIS COMPLAINT, HOWEVER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FIND THAT IN JUST MY FEW DAYS OF SEARCHING AND READING BMW RIDERS POSTINGS THAT DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OTHER SIMILAR BMW'S HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME FAILURES WITH ZERO SUPPORT FROM BMW. *TR

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2003 — this page3100Routine
200221110Routine
20013100Routine
20003100Routine

Compare every R1150gs 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: Nov 27, 2002. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.