NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 BMW R1100RSL Recalls & Complaints

The 1996 BMW R1100RSL has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 7 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 1996 BMW R1100RSL. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1996 BMW R1100RSL owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 BMW R1100RSL, describing incidents dated September 10, 1998 to June 14, 2010.

Most-cited components

Power Train 4 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Of the 7 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 7 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10446977 · Filed February 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN FAILURE: THE FINAL DRIVE BEARINGS FAILED AT ABOUT 29000 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED BY ME DURING THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND FLUID CHANGES. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE METAL FLAKES IN THE FINAL DRIVE FLUID, INDICATIVE OF THE INITIAL STAGE OF BEARING FAILURE. THE BEARINGS WERE INDEED FAILING…
ODI #10044513 · Filed October 20, 2003
COMPLAINT REGARDING IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS RECALL.*MR THE PRIMARY OWNER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE SERVICED FOR WIRING HARNESS PER SERVICE BULLETINE #23815. THE RECALL WAS DESIGNED TO CORRECT PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS WHERE THE IGNITION WIRES COULD BECOME DAMAGED AND/OR DISCONNECTED AND WAS…
ODI #871239 · Filed September 22, 2000
WHILE RIDING AT 10 MPH HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP AND BRAKES LOCKED UP.*AK THE ABS WAS NOT RESET. THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO STOP BUT BOTH FRONT AND REAR WHEELS LOCKED RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *YH

Read all 7 complaints

BMW MOTORCYCLE/FIRE

NHTSA #97V173000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported October 8, 1997 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 1,275 vehicles

Owners notified December 18, 1997 · Vehicles built June 1, 1993 – May 30, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE SENT A WARNING LABEL FOR THEIR MOTORCYCLE AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY THE END OF OCTOBER 1997. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE WARNING LABEL AND OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #5.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1996 BMW R1100RSL. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 BMW R1100RSL.

Power Train

ODI #10446977

Incident: June 14, 2010 · Filed: February 7, 2012

POWER TRAIN FAILURE: THE FINAL DRIVE BEARINGS FAILED AT ABOUT 29000 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED BY ME DURING THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND FLUID CHANGES. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE METAL FLAKES IN THE FINAL DRIVE FLUID, INDICATIVE OF THE INITIAL STAGE OF BEARING FAILURE. THE BEARINGS WERE INDEED FAILING AND I HAD THE FINAL DRIVE REPAIRED AT A BMW REPAIR FACILITY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PARALEVER DRIVE BMW MOTORCYCLES. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10044513

Filed: October 20, 2003

COMPLAINT REGARDING IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS RECALL.*MR THE PRIMARY OWNER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE SERVICED FOR WIRING HARNESS PER SERVICE BULLETINE #23815. THE RECALL WAS DESIGNED TO CORRECT PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS WHERE THE IGNITION WIRES COULD BECOME DAMAGED AND/OR DISCONNECTED AND WAS CONSIDERED SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT RIDING THE VEHICLE TO A BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL REPAIRS WAS TO BE AVOIDED IF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, A SHEET METAL PLATE MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE FRAME BELOW THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAN CAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE STRETCHED TOO TIGHT, WHERE IT PASSES OVER THE PLATE, AS THE HANDLEBARS ARE TURNED FULLY TO ONE SIDE, SUCH AS WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE AND LOCKING THE STEERING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RECALL PERFORMED. THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED DOWN AND CONSUMER FEELS BMW SHOULD COVER ALL EXPENSES FOR THE RECALL WORK SINCE IT DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *PH

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #871239

Crash 1 injury

Incident: September 18, 2000 · Filed: September 22, 2000

WHILE RIDING AT 10 MPH HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP AND BRAKES LOCKED UP.*AK THE ABS WAS NOT RESET. THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO STOP BUT BOTH FRONT AND REAR WHEELS LOCKED RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *YH

Electrical System

ODI #744283

Incident: October 10, 2000 · Filed: April 19, 2001

WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT CAUSING A FAILURE TO CONTINUE OPERATING. OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL BMW MOTORCYCLE (R1100GS AND R1150GS, 1995-2001) HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES, INCLUDING A RECENT NEAR FATALITY WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ALL LIGHTS FAILED AT NIGHT. THE OWNER WAS ALMOST KILLED BY A TRUCK. THE PROBLEM RESULTS FROM CRACKED INSULATION IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING SHORT CIRCUITING AND VARYING DEGREES OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE. PROPERTY DAMAGE UP TO $2000 HAS BEEN REPORTED; IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING TO LEARN THAT A MAJOR INJURY ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE FAILURES. SINCE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS ARE OFTEN FATAL, THE OPERATOR WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAVE REPORTED THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE.

Power Train

ODI #726786

Incident: August 1, 2000 · Filed: August 6, 2000

WHILE ACCELERATING IN 3RD GEAR, TRANSMISSION POPS MOMENTARILY OUT OF GEAR. SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION MAY BE DANGERIOUS.*AK

Power Train

ODI #723816

Incident: September 1, 1999 · Filed: June 9, 2000

THE PROBLEM IS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER TRANMISSION IN 3RD GEAR UNDER ACCELERATION, NOT A SAFE CONDITION IN TRAFFIC. *AK

Power Train

ODI #723791

Incident: September 10, 1998 · Filed: June 9, 2000

TRANSMISSION KEPT POPPING OUT OF GEAR, SOMETIMES AT VERY INOPPORTUNE MOMENTS. TOLD IT MAY CONTINUE TO DO THIS EVEN AFTER DEALER 'FIXED' PROBLEM. *AK

Other BMW R1100RSL model years

Check your 1996 BMW R1100RSL VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW R1100RSL at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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