2003 BMW R 1150 R Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other R 1150 R years
- Not enough data 2nd of 2 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW R 1150 R. That ranks 2nd out of 2 R 1150 R model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (2 complaints, 40%), typically at around 4,600 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 5owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 BMW R 1150 R problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 40% | 4,600 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 40% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 20% | 9,100 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 20% | 7,700 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 BMW R 1150 R recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: On certain motorcycles, it is possible that the 3rd and 4th transmission gear (shift) wheels may not be securely seated on the intermediate shaft. Consequently, when attempting to shift from 5th to 6th gear, engagement of the two gears may occur simultaneously.
Risk: If this happens, the gear wheels could crack resulting in a loss of transmission capability, or, a lock of transmission could occur. The rear wheel could lock which, depending upon traffic and road conditions, and the rider's reaction, could affect the stability of the motorcycle.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the motorcycles and replace the transmission gear box if necessary. Owner notification is expected to begin during december 2002. 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 #4.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel line leakage (PE03054) — opened Dec 1, 2003, closed Jan 23, 2004, led to recall 04V028000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 bmw r1150 with current failure of mileage of 9,100 miles. The motorcycle was having the same problem as mentioned in recall campaign # 03v483000 concerning engine hesitation or misfiring. While driving in good weather and road conditions, the motorcycle back fired more…
I own a 2004 bmw r1150r motorcycle. This morning on my way to work i smelled a gasoline odor. I couldn't see anything obvious since it was dark out. When i arrived at work it appeared that about a pint of raw gasoline had leaked out of my fuel lines onto the right side of the transmission, then…
When starting the motorcycle consumer noticed fuel leaking from the fuel hose. *ak
Bmw r1150r motorcycle.*mr this letter is to request assistance in resolving a warranty problem which the manufacturer refuses to address further. The consumer has taken the vehicle to the dealership on several occassions for transmission, driveline and fuel injection problems. *cb
Engine surges at all speeds below 4000 rpm. This is a well documented problem experienced by thousands of owners of this motorcycle. Engine stalls when slowing and down shifting. *jb
Other BMW R 1150 R years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 R 1150 R | 9 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 |
See all BMW R 1150 R problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW R 1150 R?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, fuel system, other, electrical system problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW R 1150 R?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 BMW R 1150 R a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other R 1150 R model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.