2003 BMW R 1150 GS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other R 1150 GS years
- Not enough data 2nd of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW R 1150 GS. That ranks 2nd out of 4 R 1150 GS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 44,346 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 3owner 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 GS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 | 67% | 44,346 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 33% | 13,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 BMW R 1150 GS 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.
Final drive failure causing oil to spill onto rear tire while riding. This is the same failure as described in odi no. 10439549, and currently being investigated under campaign dp12001. *tr
Crown gear bearing failure, no oil leak. Progressive vibration felt in footpegs and seat, several very brief rear wheel lock-ups. Metal fuzz on magnetic plug, pulled the drive, sent to an independent expert (not a bmw dealer) who confirmed the failure and rebuilt the drive. *tr
Two problems; 1. Abs intermittently works, and intermittently locks up front wheel on gravel roads, causing undesired wheel lockup....very unsafe. 2. Abs brake assist servos (power brakes) intermittently fail to operate, causing unexpected loss of braking power, once assist servo power is lost the…
Other BMW R 1150 GS years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 R 1150 GS | 21 | 1 |
| 2001 R 1150 GS | 3 | 1 |
| 2000 R 1150 GS | 3 | 1 |
See all BMW R 1150 GS 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 1150 GS?
Owners most often report power train, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW R 1150 GS?
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 GS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other R 1150 GS model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.