NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 BMW R 1150 GS Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 BMW R 1150 GS has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 owner complaints on file as of October 24, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

Includes campaigns NHTSA files under the spelling "R1150GS".

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 BMW R 1150 GS. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2001 BMW R 1150 GS owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW R 1150 GS, describing incidents dated July 27, 2001 to July 28, 2009.

Most-cited components

Power Train 3 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #10446389 · Filed February 3, 2012
WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIP. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM THE REAR. I STOPPED TO FIND OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE ALL OVER THE REAR TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE REAR ABS SYSTEM…
ODI #10091356 · Filed September 20, 2004
BMW MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE FAILURE, COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC CRASH IF REAR WHEEL LOCKS UP. DRIVE FAILED WITH NO ADVANCE SYMPTOMS. DRIVE REBUILT.*AK
ODI #10030794 · Filed August 4, 2003
REAR DRIVE (WHEEL) BEARING FAILURE. THIS IS THE ONLY SUPORT BEARING FOR THE WHEEL.*AK

Read all 3 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001 BMW R 1150 GS in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE03-054: FUEL LINE LEAKAGE
Closed January 23, 2004 · Filed for the R1150GS
- Recall 04V-028

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

BMW/FRONT BRAKE LINE

NHTSA #01V246000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported July 31, 2001 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 2,997 vehicles

Owners notified December 18, 2001 · Vehicles built May 1, 1999 – June 30, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE SPEEDOMETER DRIVE CABLE COULD BE TOO SMALL. DUE TO COMPRESSION AND REBOUND OF THE FORK, THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE COULD CONTACT AND CHAFE THE BRAKE LINE.

Safety consequence

BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF FRONT BRAKING CAPABILITY. IF THIS HAPPENED, DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE RIDER'S REACTIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT BRAKE LINE AND SPEEDOMETER CABLE. THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED IF THE DISTANCE TO THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE IS FOUND TO BE TOO SMALL OR IF IT IS DAMAGED. A NEW PROTECTIVE SLEEVE WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE NEAR THE FRONT FENDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #5.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2001 BMW R 1150 GS. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 BMW R 1150 GS.

Power Train

ODI #10446389

Incident: July 28, 2009 · Filed: February 3, 2012

WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIP. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM THE REAR. I STOPPED TO FIND OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE ALL OVER THE REAR TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE REAR ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE GEAR OIL SATURATED THE BRAKE ROTOR AND PADS. I ALMOST CRASHED THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE OF THE OIL ON THE TIRE. THE FINAL DRIVE WAS SERVICED PER BMW SPECIFICATIONS OF GEAR OILTYPE AND WEIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRIP. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FINAL DRIVE FAILING. THE GEAR OIL ESCAPED THE HOUSING DUE TO A TORN BEARING SEAL ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE HOUSING NEXT TO THE BRAKE ROTOR. TEARDOWN OF THE FINALDRIVE ASSEMBLY FOUND A DISINTEGRATION OF THE MAIN BEARING INCLUDING BALL BEARINGS. THE METAL IN THE HOUSING TEARING THE BEARING SEAL LEAKING OIL ON TO THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE METAL IN THE HOUSING ALSO DAMAGED THE SECOND SMALLER BEARING WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE BMW PART NUMBERS FOR THE FAILED PARTS 33121242210 GROOVED BALL BEARING 33121451188 TAPERED BEARING 33127663482 SHAFT SEAL *KB

Power Train

ODI #10091356

Incident: July 27, 2001 · Filed: September 20, 2004

BMW MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE FAILURE, COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC CRASH IF REAR WHEEL LOCKS UP. DRIVE FAILED WITH NO ADVANCE SYMPTOMS. DRIVE REBUILT.*AK

Power Train

ODI #10030794

Incident: May 20, 2003 · Filed: August 4, 2003

REAR DRIVE (WHEEL) BEARING FAILURE. THIS IS THE ONLY SUPORT BEARING FOR THE WHEEL.*AK

Other BMW R 1150 GS model years

Check your 2001 BMW R 1150 GS VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW R 1150 GS at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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