1999 BMW R1100 RT Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 BMW R1100 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
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHO KNOWS HOW SERIOUS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHO KNOWS HOW SERIOUS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. *NM
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .