2003 BMW R 1100 S Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jan 23, 2004 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other R 1100 S years
Not enough data 2nd of 5 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW R 1100 S. That ranks 2nd out of 5 R 1100 S model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 700 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2003 BMW R 1100 S problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Exterior Lighting1 · ~700 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Exterior Lighting1100%700——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

2003 BMW R 1100 S recalls (1)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Power train:manual transmissionNov 27, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V319000 · 515 vehicles

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.

Both front turn signal lenses came off. My motorcycle is a 2003 bmw r1200c phoenix.*ak

Exterior Lighting · received Jun 30, 2003 · NHTSA complaint 10025209

Other BMW R 1100 S years

← 2001 R 1100 S · 2004 R 1100 S →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2004 R 1100 S10
200311
2001 R 1100 S11
2000 R 1100 S01
1999 R 1100 S44

See all BMW R 1100 S problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW R 1100 S?

Owners most often report exterior lighting problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW R 1100 S?

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 1100 S a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other R 1100 S model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.