NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 BMW R Series Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 BMW R Series has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 8 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 BMW R Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2002 BMW R Series owner complaints

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW R Series, describing incidents dated November 22, 2004 to June 26, 2011.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Power Train 3 complaints
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10447569 · Filed February 5, 2012
OPERATING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION AT SPEED BELOW 40 MPH. VEHICLE LOSS ALL POWER FROM ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION. ENGINE STILL OPERATES AND REVS NORMALLY, BUT NO ENGINE POWER IS TRANSFERRED TO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION STILL SHIFT PROPER INTO EACH GEAR IN THE GEARBOX. VEHICLE TOWED TO MAIN LINE…
ODI #10411089 · Filed June 30, 2011
EARLIER IN THE WEEK THE ABS FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING EFFECTIVELY. THERE IS A BACKUP "RESIDUAL BRAKING" OF ABOUT 15%. I SURVIVED BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AND DID NOT NEED A SERIOUS STOP. I HAD IT "FIXED" AT THE DEALER ON SATURDAY. THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THE…
ODI #10362823 · Filed October 28, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RT.. WHILE STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE KICKSTAND BENT AND IT FELL OVER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN HOME WHERE THE CONTACT REPAIRED IT HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 12/20/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT…

Read all 8 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 BMW R Series 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 PE07-031: MOTORCYCLE FIRES
Closed October 23, 2007

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

BMW/MOTORCYCLES/FUEL HOSE CLAMPS

NHTSA #04V028000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice

Reported January 15, 2004 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 39,000 vehicles

Owners notified April 30, 2004 · Vehicles built May 1, 2000 – December 31, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING IN FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED AND LEAD TO A FUEL LEAK. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.

Safety consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

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 BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN 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 2002 BMW R Series. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

8 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 BMW R Series.

Power Train

ODI #10447569

Incident: November 22, 2004 · Filed: February 5, 2012

OPERATING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION AT SPEED BELOW 40 MPH. VEHICLE LOSS ALL POWER FROM ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION. ENGINE STILL OPERATES AND REVS NORMALLY, BUT NO ENGINE POWER IS TRANSFERRED TO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION STILL SHIFT PROPER INTO EACH GEAR IN THE GEARBOX. VEHICLE TOWED TO MAIN LINE BMW MOTORCYCLE, DIAGNOSED WITH FAILURE OF CLUTCH AND DRIVE SHAFT SPLINE INTERFACE. CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT REPLACED, TRANSMISSION REBUILT UNDER VEHICLE FACTORY WARRANTY (2 YEAR/30,000 MI.).

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10411089

Incident: June 26, 2011 · Filed: June 30, 2011

EARLIER IN THE WEEK THE ABS FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING EFFECTIVELY. THERE IS A BACKUP "RESIDUAL BRAKING" OF ABOUT 15%. I SURVIVED BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AND DID NOT NEED A SERIOUS STOP. I HAD IT "FIXED" AT THE DEALER ON SATURDAY. THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THE BRAKES WORKED FOR ABOUT 4 ON OFF CYCLES. THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE. I THEN RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT IS RAMPANT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED. MOTORCYCLES HAVE CRASHED OVER AND OVER. BMW IGNORES IT AND WANTS OVER $2,400 FOR THE PART REPLACEMENT ALONE. BUT THE DESIGN IS UNSAFE! WHEN THE ABS FAILS IT SHOULD GIVE FULL NORMAL BRAKING POWER. IT DOES NOT. MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED BY THESE SYSTEMS. BMW CLAIMS TO HAVE TESTED THE RESIDUAL BRAKING AND FOUND IT SAFE. THEY ARE LYING! NO ONE COULD SURVIVE AN EMERGENCY STOP EXPECTING NORMAL FUNCTION AND GETTING ONLY 15% WITH A TEN TIMES HARDER BRAKING EFFORT. FURTHER SOMETIMES THE FAILURES CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK AND THE MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST OFFER FREE REMOVAL OF THIS SYSTEM. IT CAN BE DONE AND MAKE THE MACHINES SAFE.

Structure

ODI #10362823

Incident: January 1, 2010 · Filed: October 28, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RT.. WHILE STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE KICKSTAND BENT AND IT FELL OVER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN HOME WHERE THE CONTACT REPAIRED IT HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 12/20/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PAPER WORK TO FILL OUT. UPDATED 12/27/10 UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ UPDATED 01/27/11

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10346910

Incident: December 1, 2007 · Filed: August 2, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE CONNECTING SLEEVE TO THE FLUID LINE. IN ADDITION, FUEL BEGAN LEAKING ONTO THE HOT CYLINDER. THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,300. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10

Power Train

ODI #10296924

Incident: December 1, 2007 · Filed: December 24, 2009

CLUTCH TO TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SPLINES FAILED ON MY 2002 BMW R1150RT MOTORCYCLE. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SPLINES WHICH CONNECT THE CLUTCH PLATE TO THE TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET WHICH WASN'T BUSY AND NEAR HOME. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED DUE TO LOCATION WHERE FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10208674

Incident: October 15, 2007 · Filed: November 12, 2007

FINAL DRIVE CROWN BEARING FAILED. EXCESS AXLE MOVEMENT DAMAGED SEAL, FINAL DRIVE OIL LEAKED OUT OVER TIRE, OIL ON MOTORCYCLE TIRE IS DANGEROUS. I WAS LUCKY. THERE IS LOTS ON INTERNET ACTIVITY ON THIS, THERE HAVE BEEN CRASHES AND FIRES REPORTED BUT I DO NOT HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF ANY. VEHICLE IS 2002 BMW R1150RS SAME FINAL DRIVE DESIGN USED ON ALL R AND K MODELS FOR MANY YEARS. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10163423

Incident: July 21, 2006 · Filed: July 25, 2006

QUICK DISCONNECT FUEL LINE FITTING FAILURE (FRACTURED FOR NO SPECIAL REASON WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE) WAS NOT DAMAGED OR MISUSED IN ANY WAY. GASOLINE WAS SPILLING ONTO HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT NO FIRE. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10135594

Incident: August 5, 2005 · Filed: August 26, 2005

2002 BMW R1150R FUEL LEAK PROBLEM/ FUEL LINE RECALL.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK DURING OPERATION THAT RESULTED IN GASOLINE BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AS WELL AS THE CONSUMER LEG. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE MALE END OF ONE OF THE QUICK DISCONNECTS ON THE FUEL HAD CRACKED. THE CONSUMER HAD RECALL 04V028000 PERFORM ON THE MOTORCYCLE IN 2004. THE REPAIR WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF THE TOWING CHARGES HE INCURRED. *JB

Other BMW R Series model years

Check your 2002 BMW R Series VIN

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

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