2002 BMW R1150GS Recalls, Complaints & Safety

SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL FIRE LED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES SHORTLY AFTER STARTUP. *TR

Fire 1 injured

MY 2002 BMW 1150GS MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY JUST OVER 41K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC AS ABLE TO DRIVE FOREVER ACROSS CONTINENTS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT LOST SOME INTERNAL GEARS LAST WEEKEND AND SOMETHING LET GO IN THE GEARBOX WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. METAL FRAGMENTS CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRAINED OF FLUID. THIS IS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TRAVELING AT NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY TWO WHEELS AND WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THAT THE BIKE'S REAR WHEEL DID NOT LOCK UP. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY IF I WERE TO HAVE BEEN THROWN FROM THE BIKE AND / OR REAR ENDED BY OTHER VEHICLES UPON MY RAPID DECELERATION. THERE WAS A NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RECALL OF SIMILAR BIKES BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME (SEE NUMBER: 02V319000). ALTHOUGH MY MOTORCYCLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND ASSEMBLED AT OR NEAR THE SAME TIME, MY LOCAL BMW DEALER OR BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THAT MY BMW MOTORCYCLE HAS SEVERE DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, AND OR MATERIAL DEFECTS THAT SHOULD BE EXAMINED IN MORE DETAIL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE INTERNET REVEALS SIMILAR PROBLEMS OF RELATED MOTORCYCLES BUILT BY BMW. I URGE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE NOTICE TO OTHER CONSUMERS THAT MAY BE UNAWARE OF THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RA (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES AND THEN NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM. AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.

IN APRIL 2005, I EXPERIENCED A FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON MY 2002 BMW R1150GS. DURING A 36,000 MILE SERVICE, I REPORTED A SLIGHT OIL LEAK AROUND THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE FINAL DRIVE SHAFT. BMW REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING THAT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WAS REPLACED DURING THE SERVICE AT NO CHARGE. THE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE PROBLEM IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND I AM AWARE OF SIX LOCAL BMW MOTORCYCLES, BOTH R AND K SERIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED FINAL DRIVE FAILURES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. *NM

2002 BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY IN THE SHAFT DRIVE MECHANISM. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE SEAL BLEW OUT AND THE SHAFT BEARINGS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO HOP UP AND DOWN SEVERELY AT ABOUT 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE BIKE OVER SAFELY WITHOUT A CRASH. THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HAD IT FAILED LITERALLY 30 SECONDS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN LEANED WAY OVER IN A VERY TIGHT CORNER AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH. THE LEAKING GEAR OIL COATED THE REAR TIRE CAUSING IT TO BECOME VERY SLICK. IT ALSO COATED THE REAR BRAKE PADS CAUSING THEM TO BECOME INEFFECTIVE. THE BIKE IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.*AK

THIS MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A LINKED ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. THE REAR WHEEL AND FRONT WHEEL WORK TOGETHER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS WITHOUT BRAKES FOR AN UNDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME. *AK *NM

GAS LEAK

FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK

THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE MOTORCYCLE.*AK *JB

BMWNA HAS ISSUED A TSB. THEY HAVE MADE A CORRECTION FOR MODELS AFTER A CERTAIN VIN. THEY ARE NOT REPAIRING EARLIER MODELS AFFECTED BY THE PART. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

AS SOON AS I STARTED MY BIKE, I SMELLED RAW GASOLINE. I LOOKED DOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BIKE AND SAW A FLUID LEAKING ON THE GROUND AS IT RAN OFF MY TRANSMISSION. I SHUT DOWN THE MOTORCYLE TO INVESTIGATE. I STARTED IT THREE MORE TIMES. TWO OF THOSE STARTS PRODUCED A FUEL LEAK. THE LEAK ORIGINATED ON ONE OF THE FUEL LINES, ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT THROTTLE BODY. THE CRIMP-TYPE CLAMPS WERE LOOSE WHEN I TRIED MOVING THEM. ON THE THIRD START, THE FUEL LEAK STOPPED. I TOOK THE BIKE TO ALAMO BMW WHERE A TECHNICIAN RECRIMPED THE TWO LOWER CLAMPS. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN (8/31/02).*AK

FUEL LINE ON RIGHT SIDE OF MOTORCYCLE LEAKED APPROXIMATELY 1 TABLESPOON OF FUEL WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF ENGINE STARTUP. ENGINE WAS STOPPED BEFORE ANY DAMAGE COULD TAKE PLACE. FUEL LEAKED FROM FUEL LINE ABOVE RIGHT CYLINDER, RAN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO DRIP ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEEN AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THIS WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. I ONLY NOTICED THE LEAK BECAUSE I WAS DOING A PRE-RIDE CHECK OF THE BIKE, BUT HAD I NOT PAID ATTENTION, THE FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A FULLY HEATED CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO.

BRAKES OCCASIONALLY COMPLETELY RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING

THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ARE LINKED ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. WHEN BRAKING HARD ON ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS, THE EXCESS FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKE BY THE LINKED SYSTEM CAN CAUSE THE ABS TO MODULATE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF ELIMINATING BRAKING AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS EFFECT MAY CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE. I AM AWARE THAT BMW REDESIGNED THE BRAKES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER MINE WAS MANUFACTURED. REFERE TO BMW MOTORCYCLES SERVICE BULLETIN NO: 34 001 02 (012). *AK

REAR DISC BRAKE IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MODULATE. GOES FROM OFF TO FULL APPLICATION WITHIN A 3/8" OF PEDAL MOVEMENT

BMW-NA KNOW OF UNSAFE OPERATION PROBLEMS IN THE ABS ON MODELS WITH VIN <ZE87455. THEY HAVE MODIFIED THE SYSTEM ON MORE RECENT VINS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS, BUT REFUSE TO CORRECT THE SYSTEM UNDER WARRANTY WITHOUT MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN OF UNIT.*AK

REFERENCE BMW SERVICE BULLETIN, DATED MARCH 2002, BULLETIN NO: 34 001002 (012). MY MOTORCYCLE IS EARLY VIN WHICH HAS THE ABS BRAKE MODULATOR THAT IS TO BE REPLACED PER THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. I WANT BMW TO UPDATE MY MOTORCYCLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM PER THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN, COST TO BE COVERED BY EXISTING MFG. WARRANTEE.

ABS ACTIVATES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING ON ROUGH SURFACE- THE MODULATOR SENSES INCORRECT INFORMATION. POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION ON A MOTORCYCLE. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN MARCH 2002 #34-001-02(012) BUT WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL.

WHILE GOING OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS, THE ABS SYSTEM IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO RELEASE. THIS CAUSES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ABS COMPONENTS UNTIL THEY FAIL. BY THEN I COULD BE KILLED. PLEASE HELP FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THESE FAULTY BRAKE COMPONENTS FOR ALL AFFECTED R1150RT OWNERS.*AK

TWO PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE INTEGRAL ABS SYSTEM: 1) THE REAR PEDAL IS TOO SENSITIVE AND GRABS THE FRONT BRAKES HARD, CAUSING UNEXPECTED STOPS AND CAUSED ME TO DROP MY BIKE ONCE ON THE LEFT SIDE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REFRAIN FROM USING THE REAR PEDAL COMPLETELY. 2) WHEN BRAKING HARD, ESPECIALLY ON DOWNHILL BUMPY ROADS, THE WEIGHT IS TRANSFERRED OFF THE REAR WHEEL, CAUSING THE REAR ABS TO CYCLE. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN BRAKING VERY HARD, WHEN THE REAR ABS CYCLES, THE FRONT ABS ALSO CYCLES CAUSING A COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED OUT-OF-CONTROL CONDITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT TEN TIMES TO ME. I HAVE NOT YET CRASHED THE BIKE BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT I FEEL IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. I HAVE RUN WIDE OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND ONCE RAN WIDE OVER THE CENTERLINE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND WAS WITHIN A FOOT OF COLLIDING HEAD-ON INTO AN SUV. BMW HAS PUBLISHED A TSB (34-001-02 (012)) THAT IMPLEMENTS A REVISED REAR ABS MODULATOR AND CALIPER AND ALL NEW PRODUCTION BIKES GET THIS FIX. HOWEVER BMW HAS REFUSED TO UPGRADE ANY OLDER BIKES FOR SOME REASON. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, AS IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT BMWNA TREATS THIS TSB AS A SECRET AND HAS THREATENED TO SUE SOMEONE FOR POSTING A COPY ON HIS WEBSITE. I AM CURRENTLY AWARE OF AT LEAST ELEVEN OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED TO THEIR DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD "SORRY, BUT WE WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE PART FAILS". I HAVE A COPY OF THE TSB IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT.*AK

CONSUMER'S MOTORCYCLE HAS SAME PROBLEM WITH SEAT BACKREST AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V 289 000, BUT RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR AN EARLIER YEAR MODEL, AND THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. *AK