RoadVitals

2003 BMW R Model

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.
3
Latest Jul 9, 2004
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.
1
Latest Nov 25, 2003
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 BMW R Model, most frequently naming the visibility and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Visibility266.7%
  • Driver assistance133.3%

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

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.gov
03V483000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Nov 25, 2003
7,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND THE IGNITION LEAD FOR THE RIGHT-HAND SECONDARY SPARK PLUG HAVE A PARALLEL ROUTING OVER PART OF THEIR INSTALLATION PATH. THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THESE CABLES MAY ALLOW THE SIGNAL FROM THE IGNITION LEAD TO INTERFERE WITH THE SIGNAL FROM THE OXYGEN SENSOR WIRING.
The risk: AS A RESULT, ENGINE HESITATION OR MISFIRING COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE OXYGEN SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #4.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistance
Filed Jul 9, 2004

RIDING MOTOROCYCLE DOWN ROAD, LET OFF THROTTLE. DIGITAL THROTTLE STUCK AT 2100 RPM ALMOST CAUSING ME TO RUN A STOP SIGN AND MOVE INTO THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OCCUERENCE OF THIS I EVEN HAVE VIDEO OF THIS MACHINE WITH THE THROTTLE STUCK SITTING IN A DRIVE WAY. OTHER BIKES ARE SEEING THE SAME THING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN HUMIDITY GETS HIGH. DEALER CAN'T FIXIT IF THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE. MANAUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECORDING DEVICE TO RECORD WHAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER IS SEEING. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10080691
Incident
Jul 2, 2004
Mileage
8,362 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 24, 2004

2003 BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE-SIDE VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT ADJUST OUT FAR ENOUGH TO PROVIDE PROPER SIDE AND REAR VISIBILITY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE RIDER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OTHER VEHICLES AND COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10063810
Incident
Mar 24, 2004
Visibility
Filed Jan 28, 2004

THE 2003 BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FUNCTIONING REAR VIEW MIRRORS.TWO MIRRORS ARE PROVIDED, BUT THEY ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S HAND GRIPS. THEREFORE, THESE MIRRORS ONLY SHOW THE RIDER'S HANDS AND FOREARMS. WHEN ADJUSTED TO THE CENTER POSITION, BOTH MIRRORS FOCUS ON THE RIDER'S STOMACH. WHEN TILTED AS FAR INWARD AS THEY WILL GO, THE RIGHT MIRROR SHOWS THE RIDER'S LEFT SHOULDER, AND THE LEFT MIRROR SHOWS HIS RIGHT. WHEN TILTED AS FAR OUTWARD AS THEY WILL GO, EACH MIRROR SHOWS THE RIDER'S NEAREST WRIST AND FOREARM. THUS, NOT ONLY ARE THESE MIRRORS INCAPABLE OF VIEWING THE LANE BEHIND, THEY CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO VIEW THE ADJACENT LANES. THIS DESIGN DEFECT RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHERE THE RIDER IS CHRONICALLY UNAWARE OF FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE OF ANY KIND WHICH WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A REAR VIEW MIRROR WHICH PROVIDES A VIEW TO THE REAR, AND I AM WILLING TO BET THAT A MIRROR IN WHICH THE DRIVER CAN LOOK BACK IS REQUIRED EQUIPMENT.PLEASE ADVISE BMW TO RECTIFY THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED FROM BEHIND.*AK

NHTSA ID
10055108
Incident
Jan 28, 2004

Manufacturer communications

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

SIB-63-02-01

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM

SIB-16-02-09

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

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.