RoadVitals

2003 BMW R 1150 RT Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
5
Latest Oct 9, 2006
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 BMW R 1150 RT, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical240.0%
  • Fuel system120.0%
  • Exterior lighting120.0%
  • Suspension120.0%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ACTUAL MODEL IS RT1150P NOT LISTED ON MODEL LIST. ALTENATOR BELT BROKE, CAUSING ALTENATOR FAILURE AND LOW VOLTAGE WHICH NEGATED POWER BRAKES LEAVING ME WITH RESIDUAL BRAKING ABOUT 40% OF NORMAL BREAKING AT BEST. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND ROLLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRUCK WHO WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME BY SLOWING AND GOING AROUND. DEALER REPLACED BELT AND ALTENATOR. THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN HOWEVER. THE OWNERS MANUAL EVEN EXPLAINS POWER LOSS TO BRAKES CALLING IT RESIDUAL BRAKING. THE MANUAL SAYS APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE LEVER, SET THEM SO YOU HAVE MORE LEVERAGE ON THEM, AND RIDE IN A DEFENSIVE POSITION. A LITTLE TOUGH TO DO WHEN YOU ARE EXITING THE FREEWAY, STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT OR PULLING UP TO A DRIVEWAY TO ENTER TRAFFIC. LOSING YOUR BREAKING EFFECIENCY BECAUSE OF ELECTRONIC FAILURE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CIVILIAN USE.*AK

NHTSA ID 10089009 · filed Sep 2, 2004

STALLING WHILE RIDING IN THE RAIN. WOULD RESTART AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. THEN, WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC DURING DRY WEATHER STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO DEALER. IGNITION COIL REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID 10067768 · filed Apr 25, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

RECALL REMEDY FAILURE. 04V-028. DEALER RE-CRIMPED THE CRIMP CLAMPS PER BMW'S INSTRUCTIONS. STILL LEAKED SUBSTANTIALLY AT 4.2 BAR WHEN SYSTEM PRESSURE-CHECKED. SOME CONCERN THAT PLASTIC COMPONENTS DEFORM PREVENTING FULL CRIMP CLAMP LOAD. REPLACED OE CRIMP CLAMPS WITH EALIER VERSION, OE, SCREW CLAMPS.*AK

NHTSA ID 10067769 · filed Apr 25, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY, LEAVING ONLY THE FOG LIGHTS TO GET ME HOME. DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID 10170314 · filed Oct 9, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2003 BMW R 1150 RT MOTORCYCLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU DO NOT KEEP PRESSURE TO THE LEFT ON THE HANDLE BARS IT WILL LEAN ITSELF TO THE RIGHT AND RUN OFF THE ROAD. ALSO IT HAS EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. I SPOKE WITH BMW AND THEY SAID THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THESE BIKES.*AK

NHTSA ID 10056427 · filed Feb 3, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .