RoadVitals

1988 BMW R100RT

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 Sep 15, 1999
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 Jun 18, 1991
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.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1988 BMW R100RT, most frequently naming the body & structure and steering categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Body & structure150.0%
  • Steering150.0%

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

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
91V107000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Jun 18, 1991
1,122 units potentially affected
The defect: FRONT BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINE MAY CONTACT AND RUB AGAINST FUEL TANK OR SPEEDOMETER CABLE RESULTING IN SCUFFING AND SUBSEQUENT WEARING ON BRAKE LINES OUTER SURFACE WHICH COULD CAUSE A HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK DUE TO THE DAMAGED LINES IMPAIRS BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
The remedy: A SPIRAL HOSE TO PROTECT THE BRAKE LINE FROM CONTACT WILL BE INSTALLED, AS WELL AS A HOSE CLAMP AND SUPPORT, SO BRAKE LINE WILL NOT CHANGE.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structureSteering
Filed Sep 15, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported

AFTER COMING OUT OF A CURVE IN THE ROAD, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE MOTORCYCLE SHIFTED THEIR WEIGHT BY SITTING UP STRAIGHT, THEN THE DRIVER LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND RAN INTO A FENCE. THE SHIFT IN WEIGHT CAUSED THE FRONT WHEEL TO LIFT UP, AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
845698
Incident
Aug 15, 1999

Manufacturer communications

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

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 R100RT by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996100—
1988Viewing110—

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.