RoadVitals

1995 BMW R1100RSL

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.
4
Latest Feb 18, 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.
1
Latest Oct 8, 1997
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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 BMW R1100RSL, most frequently naming the other / unspecified, powertrain (other) and transmission 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

  • Other / unspecified250.0%
  • Powertrain (other)125.0%
  • Transmission125.0%

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
97V173000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

Oct 8, 1997
1,275 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL WARNS THE RIDER NOT TO LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING UNNECESSARILY WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS STATIONARY AND TO RIDE OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING.
The risk: IF THIS WARNING IS IGNORED AND THE ENGINE IS LEFT RUNNING AT AN INCREASED SPEED ABOVE IDLE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS AT A STANDSTILL WITH THE AIR STREAM REQUIRED FOR COOLING MISSING, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM TEMPERATURE WILL RISE CONSIDERABLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A WARNING LABEL FOR THEIR MOTORCYCLE AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 18, 2012

FAILURE OF THE LARGE BEARING IN THE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY. THE SEAL DID NOT LEAK PRIOR TO FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10448393
Incident
Nov 5, 2007
Mileage
102,143 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 6, 2000

MANUAL TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS UNSAFE SHIFTING CHARACTERISTICS: DIFICULT TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT GETTING HUNG-UP IN NEUTRAL, SOMETIMES DROPS FROM HIGHER TO LOWER GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
726842
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 26, 2000

THE TIRES WERE ALWAYS INFLATED AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURERS. THE FRONT WHEEL WOULD BEND BECAUSE OF ITS THREE SPOKE DESIGN AND THE SOFT ALLOW USED. REPLACEMENT WAS ORIGINALLY $600 PLUS LABOR AND LATER, THE PRICE WAS DROPPED TO $400 PLUST LABOR. THE COMPANY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE THREE OTHER MOTORCYCLES, USING THEM TO TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTE AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BENT FRONT WHEELS WITH ANY OF THEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
726064
Incident
Oct 24, 1996
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 26, 2000

A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER BMW RIDERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM OVER THE INTERNET SITE([email protected])HAS PROMPED THIS COMPLAINT.THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
726057
Incident
Jun 1, 2000

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 R1100RSL by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996710—
1995Viewing410—
1994210—

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.