RoadVitals

1999 BMW R1100 RT

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.
6
Latest Feb 15, 2012
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 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 BMW R1100 RT, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), driver assistance and steering categories. 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

  • Powertrain (other)342.9%
  • Driver assistance114.3%
  • Steering114.3%
  • Suspension114.3%
  • Transmission114.3%

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

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 15, 2012

THE PURPOSE OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA MY EXPERIENCE WITH A DEFECTIVE FINAL DRIVE ON MY BMW MOTORCYCLE. INVESTIGATION DP12001 WAS OPENED ON 01/20/12, AND I REALIZE THAT FOR NOW, ITS SCOPE IS BEING CONFINED TO 1999-2005 K1200LT MODELS OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE LINE. HOWEVER MY BIKE, A 1999 R1100RT, HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE 11TH OF OCTOBER 2011 I WAS RIDING WITH MY WIFE WHEN WE NOTICED A RUMBLING AND THE BIKE WAS SEVERELY SHAKING. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS A FLAT TIRE BUT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK AND WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED, BY USE OF THE FRONT BRAKE, THERE WAS LOTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE OF MY BIKE. ONCE IN THE SHOP I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS FOR OVER 2400 DOLLARS. THE BMW DEALER, SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO BMW, INFORMED ME THAT I HAD SUFFERED A FAILURE (SUPER-HEATING FROM THE CROWN GEAR BEARING AND SOME OIL LEAKAGE AND DAMAGE TO THE FINAL DRIVE HOUSING), DESPITE ALL APPROPRIATE FACTORY MAINTENANCE BEING ADHERED TO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10448035
Incident
Oct 11, 2011
Mileage
39,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2009

I OWN A 1999 BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE. I WAS RIDING HOME AND NOTICE THAT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK, AS I TURNED ONTO MY HOME STREET. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICE A PUDDLE OF OIL QUICKLY FORMING UNDER THE SHAFT DRIVE AND ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. THIS LEAK STARTED ON THE HIGHWAY, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY. UPON FURTHER DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION I FOUND THE OIL SEAL HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND RIPPED BY A BEARING FAILURE IN THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW MOTORCYCLES, AND CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO POOR ASSEMBLY AND QUALITY CONTROL AT THE FACTORY. THE BEARING FAILURE DESTROYS THE OIL SEAL, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE WHEEL, TIRE, AND BRAKE SYSTEM. I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, BUT I'M NOW STUCK WITH THE BILL. I HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY LOOKING FOR A DEALERSHIP OR MECHANIC TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FINAL DRIVE SYSTEM. I HAVE OPTIONS INCLUDING REPLACING WITH NEW, USED, OR REBUILT FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLIES. THE ASSEMBLY MAY OR MAY NOT NEED FULL REPLACEMENT, BUT IT IS QUITE EVIDENT THAT THE BEARING AND ITS CASING HAVE SHATTERED INTO PIECES AND HAVE CREATED A MESS INSIDE THE UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278451
Incident
Jul 13, 2009
Mileage
18,500 mi
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Sep 1, 2006

THE REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHO KNOWS HOW SERIOUS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. *NM

NHTSA ID
10167232
Incident
Aug 17, 2006
Mileage
70,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 7, 2004

1)EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NONE I'M AWARE OF. VEHICLE HAD 85,000 MILES. 2)FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: THE 1999 BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE HAS A CANTILEVERED REAR SWINGARM, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT THE REAR WHEEL IS SUPPORTED ONLY FROM ONE SIDE. THE WHEEL BEARING IS INTEGRAL TO THE DRIVETRAIN; MISALIGNMENT OF DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS DUE TO WHEEL BEARING FAILURE CAN CAUSE DRIVELINE LOCK UP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF MOTORCYCLE CONTROL AND A POTENTIALLY FATAL CRASH. I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THE NECESSARY DIMENSIONS, BUT IF THE BEARING IS DAMAGED BADLY ENOUGH, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE REAR WHEEL MAY DETACH COMPLETELY FROM THE REST OF THE MOTORCYCLE. RELATIVELY MINOR MISALIGNMENT OF PARTS DUE TO BEARING DAMAGE MAY COMPROMISE SHAFT OIL SEALS, ALLOWING UP TO 8 OUNCES OF GEAR OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE WHEEL AND TIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A LOSS OF TRACTION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. 3. FAILURE CORRECTIONS/REPAIRS IN MY CASE, THE INITIAL BEARING DAMAGE WAS NOTICED BEFORE SECONDARY/CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OCCURRED. I AM REPLACING ALL OF THE BEARINGS THAT WERE EXPOSED TO CONTAMINATED GEAR OIL. ALL OF THE ORIGINAL BEARINGS ARE STILL IN MY POSSESSION AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF DESIRED. I AM AWARE OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER CASES OF WHEEL BEARING FAILURE, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN CATASTROPHIC BEARING FAILURE, SUDDEN SEVERE MISALIGNMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL, DUMPING OF GEAR OIL ON TIRE, AND NEAR-SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE MOTORCYCLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10074938
Incident
May 27, 2004
Mileage
85,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 14, 2000

ENGINE SURGE (CYCLING FROM HIGH TO LOW RPM'S WITHOUT THROTTLE INPUT) JEOPARDIZES CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IN CORNERING SITUATIONS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO HAVE THIS SITUATION CORRECTED BY MY DEALER MECHANIC, ALONG WITH THE USE OF AFTERMARKET SPARK PLUGS. BMW'S OFFICIAL POSITION IS APPARENTLY THAT SURGING IS NOT A PROBLEM IN R1100 ENGINES, THOUGH IT IS FREQUENTLY REPORTED TO THE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID
737811
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Steering
Filed Sep 9, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
730861
Incident
Jan 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 R1100 RT by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001301—
2000501—
1999Viewing600—
1997300—
1996310—

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.