RoadVitals

1985 BMW K100

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Oct 4, 1995
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jun 20, 1986
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1985 BMW K100, most frequently naming the transmission category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Transmission1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
86V080000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jun 20, 1986
9,712 units potentially affected
The defect: THROTTLE CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION RESULTING IN A BEND OR A KINK OR CHAFING AND FRAYING OF THE BRAIDED WIRE CABLE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THROTTLE OPERATION COULD BE IMPAIRED REQUIRING INCREASED EFFORT TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE THROTTLE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE CABLES, AS REQUIRED, MODIFYING TO ASSURE CABLES CANNOT BEND.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
85V011000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Feb 5, 1985
2,800 units potentially affected
The defect: A GROUND FAULT MAY OCCUR IN THE STOPLIGHT SWITCH WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT HANDLEBAR IN THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP HOUSING. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THE CABLE'S INNER PLASTIC TUBE WOULD OVERHEAT AND SOFTEN OR MELT, IMPAIRING THROTTLE OPERATION. AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATED AFTER OBSERVING THAT MORE EFFORT IS REQUIRED IN THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP.
The remedy: INSTALL A GROUND CABLE BETWEEN THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP HOUSING AND THE COMMON GROUND ON THE FRAME TO PREVENT OVERHEATING.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Oct 4, 1995

THERE IS DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH IN THE HOUSING . TT

NHTSA ID
972948

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

MC510694

STRUCTURE

This document is applies to the following categories: Body Equipment

MC610297

POWER TRAIN

Isolated cases of power loss when reaching a certain speed level

SB-00-021-07

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

BMW MOTORCYCLE: ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING ETHANOL. BMW MOTORRAD HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE USE OF SI ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 10% ETHANOL AND IMPOSES NO WARRANTY RESTRICTIONS. ETHANOL MIXTURES IN PROPORTIONS HIGHER THAN 10% CAN HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE AND CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS THAT COME INTO CONTRACT WITH FUEL. NO WARRANTY CLAIMS WHATSOEVER FOR DAMAGE CAUSED IN THIS WAY WILL BE ACCEPTED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW K100 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1992010—
1991110—
1990110—
1988200—
1987010—
1986020—
1985Viewing120—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.