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2001 BMW R1150GS

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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20003
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2003
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
3

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: 3 of 3 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 3 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

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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32,000 miles · Feb 3, 2012
Power Train

WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIP. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM THE REAR. I STOPPED TO FIND OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE ALL OVER THE REAR TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE REAR ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE GEAR OIL SAT…

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WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIP. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM THE REAR. I STOPPED TO FIND OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE ALL OVER THE REAR TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE REAR ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE GEAR OIL SATURATED THE BRAKE ROTOR AND PADS. I ALMOST CRASHED THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE OF THE OIL ON THE TIRE. THE FINAL DRIVE WAS SERVICED PER BMW SPECIFICATIONS OF GEAR OILTYPE AND WEIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRIP. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FINAL DRIVE FAILING. THE GEAR OIL ESCAPED THE HOUSING DUE TO A TORN BEARING SEAL ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE HOUSING NEXT TO THE BRAKE ROTOR. TEARDOWN OF THE FINALDRIVE ASSEMBLY FOUND A DISINTEGRATION OF THE MAIN BEARING INCLUDING BALL BEARINGS. THE METAL IN THE HOUSING TEARING THE BEARING SEAL LEAKING OIL ON TO THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE METAL IN THE HOUSING ALSO DAMAGED THE SECOND SMALLER BEARING WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE BMW PART NUMBERS FOR THE FAILED PARTS 33121242210 GROOVED BALL BEARING 33121451188 TAPERED BEARING 33127663482 SHAFT SEAL *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446389

43,000 miles · Sep 20, 2004
Power Train

BMW MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE FAILURE, COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC CRASH IF REAR WHEEL LOCKS UP. DRIVE FAILED WITH NO ADVANCE SYMPTOMS. DRIVE REBUILT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091356

31,000 miles · Aug 4, 2003
Power Train

REAR DRIVE (WHEEL) BEARING FAILURE. THIS IS THE ONLY SUPORT BEARING FOR THE WHEEL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030794

Official recalls

1

01V246000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Jul 31, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE SPEEDOMETER DRIVE CABLE COULD BE TOO SMALL. DUE TO COMPRESSION AND REBOUND OF THE FORK, THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE COULD CONTACT AND CHAFE THE BRAKE LINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF FRONT BRAKING CAPABILITY. IF THIS HAPPENED, DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE RIDER'S REACTIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT BRAKE LINE AND SPEEDOMETER CABLE. THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED IF THE DISTANCE TO THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE IS FOUND TO BE TOO SMALL OR IF IT IS DAMAGED. A NEW PROTECTIVE SLEEVE WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE NEAR THE FRONT FENDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 18, 2001. 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 #5.

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

PE03054 · Fuel Line Leakage

Opened Dec 1, 2003 · Closed Jan 23, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

BMW IS CONDUCTING A RECALL (04V-028).AN INFORMATION REQUEST(IR)RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. UPON BMW'S RECEIPT OF THE IR, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI, BMWDETERMINED THAT A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING CONTAINED WITHIN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED.FURTHER, THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN ALSO RESULT IN A SMALL FUEL LEAK.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 IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004.