RoadVitals

2000 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.
5
Latest Feb 28, 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.
0
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.
1
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

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 BMW R1100 RT, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and driver assistance categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; 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

  • Electrical240.0%
  • Brakes120.0%
  • Driver assistance120.0%
  • Powertrain (other)120.0%

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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE03054ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL LINE LEAKAGE

Opened Dec 1, 2003
Closed Jan 23, 2004

BMW IS CONDUCTING A RECALL (04V-028).AN INFORMATION REQUEST(IR)RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. UPON BMW'S RECEIPT OF THE IR, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI, BMWDETERMINED THAT A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING CONTAINED WITHIN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED.FURTHER, THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN ALSO RESULT IN A SMALL FUEL LEAK.DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS.ALSO ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED.IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED.IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED.OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSLed to recall 04V028000

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 28, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW R1100 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,420 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID
10449589
Incident
Jul 17, 2008
Mileage
57,420 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2005

I PURCHASED A USED 2000 BMW R 1100 RT MOTORCYCLE WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS-2 BRAKES AND SOON THEREAFTER RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A FAULT WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. I FOLLOWED THE RESET PROCEDURE AND THE FAULT KEPT COMING BACK. TO MY AMAZEMENT I SOON FOUND OUT THROUGH TALKING TO OTHER BMW RIDERS AND INTERNET CLUBS AND GROUPS THAT ABS FAILURES ON BMW BIKES WAS COMMON PLACE. AS I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM FURTHER I FOUND OUT THAT A NEW ABS CONTROL UNIT FROM BMW WAS IN THE RANGE OF $1500.00, ADD TO THAT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE A BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPLACE THE FAULTY UNIT YOU ARE TALKING ALMOST $2000.00 WHICH IS WELL OVER 10% OF WHAT THE MOTORCYCLE COST NEW! TO MY THINKING THIS IS AN INHERENT AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IN MY OPINION THESE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAULTS HAVE MORE TO DO WITH POOR ENGINEERING AND A LACK OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF BMW THAN THE RIDING APPLICATIONS OF THE BIKE OWNERS. I WROTE TO BMW TO TRY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE BUT I GOT NOTHING BUT AN INDIGNANT RESPONSE WHICH DID LITTLE TO QUELL MY CONCERN AND IN FACT FURTHER INDICATED THEIR LACK OF CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10130449
Incident
Jun 15, 2005
Mileage
20,120 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2002

THERE IS PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WHICH CONTROLS THE FUEL, AIR, IGNITION MIXTURE AND TIMING ON THE BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE. THIS ISSUE CAUSESTHE ENGINE TO SURGE IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WHEN THE ENGINE IS REVING BETWEEN 2500 AND 4000 RPM'S. THE ECU ALSO CAUSES INTERMITTENT ENGINE CYLINDER FIRING MISSES AND THE ENGINE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS CONSTITUTES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN CORNERING AS A LOSS OF POWER DURING CORNERING CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO BECOME UNSTABLE. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO CRASHING ON TWO OR THREE OCCASSIONS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THE BVW DEALERS INDICATE THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN ALL OF THE BMW R1100RT YEAR/MODELS.

NHTSA ID
759371
Electrical
Filed Feb 21, 2001
Fire reported

I HAD STARTED UP MOTORCYCLE TO TAKE OUT FOR A RIDE, IT WAS COLD, I HAD WALKED TO MY OFFICE AND PICKED UP HELMUT, LEATHERS AND CAME BACK THE MOTORCYLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE MANUFACURER STATES DO NOT RUN MOTORCYCLE IDLING, WITH THE SIDE STAND THERE IS AN ENGINE CUT OFF, WITH THE CENTER STAND IT WILL RUN. I DO NOT SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN IDLING/ MOTORCYCLE STANDING STILL AND IDLING INCHING FORWARD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE I CAN SEE IS THAT THERE WAS NOT A SERIOUS INJURY BECAUSE I WAS NOT SITTING ON THE BIKE, AND THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED BECAUSE I HAD A FIRE EXTQUISHER NEAR BY AND MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THE FULL FUEL TANK EXPLODED. THIS TO ME IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I HAD A RIDER ON THE BACK OF THE MOTORCYCLE WITH ME, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF THE CYCLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
741264
Incident
Feb 3, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 3, 2001

THE ENGINE SURGES BETWEEN ABOUT 2,500 AND 4,000 RPM. IT FEEL LIKE THE KILL SWITCH IS PULSING ON AND OFF RAPIDLY. THIS CONDITION MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSTABLE AND DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN CORNERING. THE DEALER SAYS IT WILL GET BETTER WITH MORE MILEAGE. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.

NHTSA ID
740398
Incident
Jan 16, 2001

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW R1100 RT by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001301
2000Viewing501
1999600
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.