RoadVitals

2003 BMW R1150GS Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
3
Latest Aug 11, 2012
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
2
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 BMW R1150GS, 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)266.7%
  • Brakes133.3%

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FINAL DRIVE FAILURE CAUSING OIL TO SPILL ONTO REAR TIRE WHILE RIDING. THIS IS THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. *TR

NHTSA ID 10470206 · filed Aug 11, 2012

CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILURE, NO OIL LEAK. PROGRESSIVE VIBRATION FELT IN FOOTPEGS AND SEAT, SEVERAL VERY BRIEF REAR WHEEL LOCK-UPS. METAL FUZZ ON MAGNETIC PLUG, PULLED THE DRIVE, SENT TO AN INDEPENDENT EXPERT (NOT A BMW DEALER) WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND REBUILT THE DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10447361 · filed Feb 10, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TWO PROBLEMS; 1. ABS INTERMITTENTLY WORKS, AND INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP FRONT WHEEL ON GRAVEL ROADS, CAUSING UNDESIRED WHEEL LOCKUP....VERY UNSAFE. 2. ABS BRAKE ASSIST SERVOS (POWER BRAKES) INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO OPERATE, CAUSING UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, ONCE ASSIST SERVO POWER IS LOST THE RESIDUAL BRAKING IS APPROXIMATELY 20% OF ASSISTED BRAKING, THIS CAUSES HEART STOPPAGE WHILE TRYING TO NOT CRASH AND/OR HIT OTHER TRAFFIC.....VERY UNSAFE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BMW SAYS, SORRY BIKE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY WON'T CORRECT DEFECTS. THIS BIKE HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF, IT ONLY HAS 13K MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH FAILURES. IF IT WAS AN ISOLATED FAILURE PROBLEM I WOULDN'T EVEN BOTHER WITH THIS COMPLAINT, HOWEVER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FIND THAT IN JUST MY FEW DAYS OF SEARCHING AND READING BMW RIDERS POSTINGS THAT DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OTHER SIMILAR BMW'S HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME FAILURES WITH ZERO SUPPORT FROM BMW. *TR

NHTSA ID 10272399 · filed May 30, 2009

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

Data on this page last refreshed .