2015 BMW R NINE T Recalls, Complaints & Safety

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 R NINE T motorcycles. The bolts that connect the right-side swingarm pivot pin to the frame may loosen.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will remove the pivot pin bolts, clean, and re-install them with the proper torque after applying a thread locking adhesive, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at [email protected].

3,368 vehicles affected

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 R nine T motorcycles manufactured November 27, 2013, through January 26, 2015. The design of the rear turn signals may partially obscure the lights from being seen by the driver of a following vehicle. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear turn signals with ones that have longer arms, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

1,792 vehicles affected

THE TAIL LIGHT ON MY MOTORCYCLE IS FAILING ON A RECURRING BASIS. AT MY 6000 MILE SERVICE I POINTED OUT THAT IT APPEARED TO HAVE DUST GETTING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE LIGHT. UPON EXAMINATION BY THE TECHNICIAN THEY DETERMINED THE REFLECTOR HAD DETACHED FROM THE HOUSING AND WAS CHAFING AGAINST THE OTHER PARTS, CREATING A PLASTIC DUST THAT WAS STICKING TO THE REFLECTOR AND INTERIOR OF THE LENS. A REPLACEMENT WAS PROVIDED AND INSTALLED. AT AROUND 9,900 MILES THE SAME ISSUE HAD REAPPEARED ON THE NEW TAIL LIGHT. BMW SUPPLIED ANOTHER TAIL LIGHT WHICH HAS NOW BEEN INSTALLED. THIS IS THE THIRD TAIL LIGHT INSTALLED. THE PLASTIC DUST DIMINISHES THE LIGHT TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE CLEAR LENS AND THE UNIT IS NOT ABLE TO BE DISASSEMBLED FOR CLEANING. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND ANY VEHICLES FOLLOWING ME. THE PICTURES PROVIDED ARE OF THE ORIGINAL (FIRST) TAIL LIGHT AND THE SECOND ONE PROVIDED AS REPLACEMENT WHEN NEW BEFORE INSTALLATION. ORIGINAL TAIL LIGHT HAS A DATE CODE OF 29.9.14 (SEPT. 29, 2014) SECOND TAIL LIGHT HAS A DATE CODE OF: 12.06.15 (JUNE 6, 2015) PART NUMBER APPEARS TO BE DIFFERENT. 717.01.000.00 (OLD), 717.02.000.00 (NEW). I DO NOT HAVE THIS DATA FOR THE NEWEST (THIRD) LIGHT ASSEMBLY BUT IT IS IDENTICAL IN APPEARANCE TO THE SECOND. AS YOU CAN SEE THE DESIGN OF THE SECOND IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT COMPARED TO THE FIRST. THERE ARE RED PLASTIC PIECES ADDED TO THE INTERIOR. THE REST APPEARS TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME.

IN THE MORNINGS THE CLUTCH FAILS TO ENGAGE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL INTO 1ST GEAR. THE CLUTCH HAS TO BE "PUMPED" SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AGAIN. AFTER LONG PERIODS OF DRIVING THE SHIFTING OF GEARS IS MORE DIFFICULT SPECIALLY FROM FIFTH TO SIXTH GEAR, SOMETIMES THE SIXTH GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL KICK BACK TO FIFTH GEAR. EITHER AIR BOUND FROM THE FACTORY OR MASTER CYLINDER OR OTHER UNION LEAKING IS CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO NEED TO BE PUMPED IN ORDER TO ENGAGE/DISENGAGE. ALSO AT TRAFFIC STOPS AFTER LONG PERIODS OF DRIVING THE IDLING CAN BECOME A LITTLE ROUGH SINCE IT SEEMS AS IF THE CLUTCH IS NOT HOLDING THE CLUTCH IN THE DISENGAGED POSITION.