BMW R Series Problems by Year
NHTSA has 23 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file for the BMW R Series, across 10 model years (1995–2007). The 2002 model year has the most complaints (8). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
BMW R Series years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No R Series model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2002 R Series: 8 complaints, 1 recall
- 2007 R Series: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 R Series: 4 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1996 R Series: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 1995 R Series: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2005 R Series: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW R Series problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW R Series model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 R Series | 4 | 0 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2006 R Series | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2005 R Series | 3 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2004 R Series | 4 | 1 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2003 R Series | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2002 R Series | 8 | 1 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2001 R Series | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2000 R Series | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1996 R Series | 1 | 0 | — | Wheels | |
| 1995 R Series | 3 | 0 | — | Wheels |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW R Series years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2002 (8), 2007 (4), 2004 (4). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW R Series?
Power Train, with 6 complaints across 4 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW R Series have?
1 safety recall across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.