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2002 BMW R Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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20000
20018
20020
20034
20043
2005
Compare all R Series years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
3Power Train
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 7 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 reports
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20,600 miles · Aug 2, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE CONNECTING SLEEVE TO THE FLUID LINE. IN ADDITION, FUEL BEGAN LEAKING ONTO THE HOT CYLINDER. THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TES…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE CONNECTING SLEEVE TO THE FLUID LINE. IN ADDITION, FUEL BEGAN LEAKING ONTO THE HOT CYLINDER. THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,300. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10

NHTSA ODI #10346910

6,100 miles · Jul 25, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

QUICK DISCONNECT FUEL LINE FITTING FAILURE (FRACTURED FOR NO SPECIAL REASON WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE) WAS NOT DAMAGED OR MISUSED IN ANY WAY. GASOLINE WAS SPILLING ONTO HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT NO FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10163423

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

2002 BMW R1150R FUEL LEAK PROBLEM/ FUEL LINE RECALL.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK DURING OPERATION THAT RESULTED IN GASOLINE BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AS WELL AS THE CONSUMER LEG. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE MALE END OF …

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2002 BMW R1150R FUEL LEAK PROBLEM/ FUEL LINE RECALL.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK DURING OPERATION THAT RESULTED IN GASOLINE BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AS WELL AS THE CONSUMER LEG. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE MALE END OF ONE OF THE QUICK DISCONNECTS ON THE FUEL HAD CRACKED. THE CONSUMER HAD RECALL 04V028000 PERFORM ON THE MOTORCYCLE IN 2004. THE REPAIR WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF THE TOWING CHARGES HE INCURRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10135594

Official recalls

1

04V028000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jan 15, 2004

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING IN FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED AND LEAD TO A FUEL LEAK. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS. ALSO, ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED. IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED. IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE07031 · Motorcycle Fires

Opened Jun 21, 2007 · Closed Oct 23, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

UNLIKE MOST MOTORCYCLES, WHERE A SIGHT GLASS IS USED TO DETERMINE ENGINE OIL LEVEL, THE SUBJECT, AIR-COOLED, MOTORCYCLES ARE BUILT BY BMW WITH A POLYMER (PLASTIC) SIGHT GLASS THAT, IN SOME INSTANCES, MELTS DUE TO HIGH ENGINE/OIL TEMPERATURE.THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATED CONTRARY TO BMW'S OWNER MANUAL ADMONITION: WARNING:DO NOT KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS AT A STANDSTILL -- RISK OF OVERHEATING AND FIRE.EACH OF THE ALLEGED FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING.ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY STRUCTURE FIRES WHERE A MELTED SIGHT GLASS IS THE ROOT CAUSE.OF THE EIGHT KNOWN FIRES, ONE OCCURRED IN 2000, THREE IN 2004 AND AGAIN IN 2005, AND ONE IN FEBRUARY, 2007.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE AN ELEVATED FIRE-RELATED INSURANCE CLAIMS HISTORY. BASED ON THE LOW INCIDENCE RATE, IT APPEARS BMW'S WARNING IS EFFECTIVE AND NO DEFECT TREND IS IDENTIFIED.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES APPEARS UNWARRANTED.THIS INVESTIGATION'S CLOSING DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A NHTSA FINDING THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS AND WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.