RoadVitals

2026 BMW R 1300 R

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 Aug 17, 2026
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.
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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.
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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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Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2026 BMW R 1300 R, most frequently naming the engine category. 4 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

  • Engine1100.0%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Aug 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 BMW R 1300 GS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the fuel tank area and above the frame of the motorcycle. The contact became aware that there was oil leaking onto the ground and oil spraying onto the motorcycle. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact's boot was covered in oil. The motorcycle was towed to the dealer. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the motorcycle was related to Manufacturer Recall: 0011600000 and was completed on August 14, 2026. The contact stated that the failure had occurred immediately after the recall repair was completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 900.

NHTSA ID
11757384
Incident
Aug 14, 2026
Mileage
900 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

MC110125

ENGINE

After a quality inspection it was found that due to improper machining, the right-side chain tensioner screw plug doesn’t meet the specifications over the service life of the motorcycle. As a result, over increased mileage accrued noise and engine damage may occur.

MC110125

ENGINE

After a quality inspection it was found that due to improper machining, the right-side chain tensioner screwplug doesn’t meet the specifications over the service life of the motorcycle. As a result, over increased mileage accrued noise and engine damage may occur.

MCAS7825

POWER TRAIN

Propeller Shaft Return

MC330524

POWER TRAIN

In some R 1300 model motorcycles, it has been detected that the rear wheel swingarm has play in theaxial direction. The mounting of the swingarm to the frame is comparable to the F and S model motorcycles. During the mounting of the swingarm axle, this creates different tensions from motorcycle to motorcycle pulling theframe together. Resulting in little to no axial play allowing axial movement on the swingarm axle.

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.