Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 BMW R 1150 R, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 5 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 1 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 3 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 5 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 6 |
| May 2012 | 1 | 7 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 8 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 9 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign 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.govSUSPENSION
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R1150R. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH HE BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE NEAR THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MOTORCYCLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500. UPDATED 07/03/14 MA UPDATED 07/08/2014 *JS
I PURCHASED THIS BIKE LAST OCTOBER, AND UPON GETTING IT HOME SMELLED GAS, I DID GET A REPORT FROM THE DEALER WHO ORIGINALLY SOLD THE BIKE WHAT HAD BEEN DONE UNDER WARRANTY, ETC. IT WAS INDICATED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. I TRIED 3 NEW O RINGS, A USED FUEL PUMP BASE PLATE ASSEMBLY AND WAS STILL EXPERIENCING A LIGHT WEEPING, THERE WAS ALSO INDICATIONS OF LONG TERM WEEPING THAT HAD DISCOLORED THE PAINT. I FINALLY TOOK THE TANK OFF AGAIN AND EXAMINED THE INSIDE WITH A MIRROR AND DISCOVERED 3 SMALL CRACKS ON THE BACK OF WHERE THE THREADED CERTS ARE FORMED INTO THE TANK DURING MANUFACTURER. I HAVE SINCE SCOTCH BRIGHTENED THEM AND APPLIED 3 COATS OF SEAL-ALL WHICH SEEMS TO BE HOLDING SO FAR, IT'S BEEN 5 DAYS. I WAS NOT TOLD WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ORIGINAL TANK BUT PRESUME IT WAS THE SAME DEFECT AND THE DEALER NOT KNOWING INSTALLED ANOTHER DEFECTIVE TANK. THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID SMELL SOME GAS PERIODICALLY BUT DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE TANK SHOWING THE CRACKS AND STAINING. I AM NOT SEEKING ANY DAMAGES BUT FEEL THERE COULD BE OTHERS WITH SIMILAR CONDITIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R1150 R. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES QUICK DISCONNECT. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE IN THE EMERGENCY LANE AND INSTALLED A BRASS CLAMP IN THE FUEL LINE TO STOP THE LEAK. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V028000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW R1150(N/A). THE CONTACT TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE ABS UNIT WAS INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/11/2011 *LN *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R1150 GS ADVENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR AND WHEN THE SPEED INCREASE TO 40 MPH THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TRIED TO SHIFT AND BACK UP, BUT THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE SPLINE INPUT SHAFT HAD SEVERE WEAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CLUTCH PLATE WAS STRIPPED AS WELL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 33,000.
AFTER COMING HOME FROM WORK 10 MILES AWAY, I PARKED MY CYCLE IN THE GARAGE AND IMMEDIATELY MY WIFE COULD SMELL GAS ON ME AND FUMES IN THE GARAGE. I CHECKED THE BIKE AND COULD SEE YELLOW FUEL STAINS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I COULD ONLY FIND THE LEAK WHEN THE KEY WAS ON AND THE FUEL PUMP FORCING FUEL THROUGH LINES BEHIND THE SHIELD. I REMOVED THE SHIELD AND FOUND ONE QUICK DISCONNECT SEPARATED. I ATTEMPTED TO CONNECT IT BUT SOON REALIZED IT WAS BROKEN. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY HAD A METAL REPLACEMENT TO THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC ONE THAT ALWAYS BREAKS. I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND HE STATED NO. SO I BOUGHT BOTH FITTINGS AND CLAMPS. $66. I HAVE YET TO PUT THEM ON. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT OFFICIALLY THERE IN FACT WAS SOME SORT OF RECALL FOR THIS. I WILL CONTACT THE BMW DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY AND VOICE A COMPLAINT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE OFFERED TO DO THE REPAIR. ONLY 8800 MILES ON THIS BIKE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R1150R MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR. THE CONTACT HAD RECENTLY REFUELED THE MOTORCYCLE. WHEN HE CAME TO A STOP, THE CONTACT NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE AND THE QUICK DISCONNECT. HE THEN NOTICED A SLEEVE WAS FRACTURED. THE GASOLINE SPEWED ALL OVER THE CONTACT'S AND THE PASSENGER'S CLOTHING. HE THEN NOTICED A FUEL STAIN ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,020. UPDATED 9/22/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BIKE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 09/24/10
I WAS STARTING AND BOARDING MY MOTORCYCLE AS NORMALLY USED. THE DAY WAS BRIGHT AND SUNNY AND ABOUT 70 DEGREES F. FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK FROM THE RIGHT SIDE JUST ABOVE THE RIGHT CYLINDER. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THE QUICK DISCONNECT FUEL LINE FITTING HAD BEGUN TO LEAK GASOLINE. THE FUEL WAS COLLECTING ON THE CYLINDER HEAD AND POURING ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPING. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND STEPPED BACK FROM THE BIKE. LUCKILY NO FIRE ENSUED BUT THE BIKE AND I WERE COVERED IN RAW GAS. I HAD A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK TRANSPORT THE BIKE TO A LOCAL BMW DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. REPAIRS WERE MADE AND I WAS CHARGED $102 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE QUICK DISCONNECT. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THIS IS A "COMMON" ISSUE WITH THIS BIKE. THIS COULD HAVE ENDED MUCH WORSE IN MANY WAYS. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY SUCH CONDITION. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle âÂÂdischarged batteryâ complaints.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004Viewing | 9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — |
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.