Total Complaints
4 filings
BMW R SERIES · model year
2004 BMW R SERIES
4 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004BMWR SERIES carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 R SERIES is exterior lighting:turn signal with 1 filings, followed by power train:driveline (1) and fuel system, gasoline (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2004 R SERIES. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
Recalls (1)
04V02800015/01/2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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.
Recent Complaints
20121102FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED FUEL BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE O-RING IN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V028000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 12/21/12*LJ UPDATED 1/7/2013 *JS
Mileage: 20,000
20110726FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (IN A WORK ZONE), FUEL BEGAN SPRAYING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER PULLING TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, GASOLINE CONTINUED TO LEAK ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPES AND VAPORIZED INTO A CLOUD OF SMOKE. FORTUNATELY, THE LEAKING FUEL DID NOT IGNITE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED BMW REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE "MALE" SIDE OF THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING HAD CRACKED. THE ORIGINAL PART IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO METAL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V028000 ADDRESSES A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME COMPONENT, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES WITH THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING. THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES WITH THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING.
Mileage: 6,964
20100729POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURES. IN 2001 I PURCHASED A NEW BMW R1100RT. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR INTO OWNERSHIP 25K MILES THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED WHILE I WAS RIDING. I THOUGHT THE REAR WHEEL WAS FALLING OFF. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT ONLY WAS THE REAR WHEEL LEANING TO ONE SIDE THE WHOLE REAR HALF OF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS COVERED WITH OIL, RESULTING IN NON WORKING REAR BRAKE AND A OIL COVERED TIRE AND WHEEL. BIKE WAS REPAIRED . BUY THE TIME I MADE IT HOME FROM MY TRIP THE REAR DRIVE WAS FALLING APART AGAIN. FINALLY IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. AFTER THAT I LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THAT BIKE, THINKING HOW UNSAFE THE SITUATION WAS. IN 04 I TRADED THE BIKE IN ON A NEW BMW GS1150 ADVENTURE. WAS ON A EXTENSIVE TRIP THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. JUST LAST WEEK 7/21/10. HEADING HOME. WHILE NEAR STURGIS SD. I FELT A STRANGE VIBRATION WHICH WAS GETTING WORSE BY THE SECOND. I EXITED THE FREEWAY
Mileage: 74,000
20040308EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL STEM JUST FEEL OFF NEAR THE SIGNAL LIGHT. PLASTIC JUST BROKE AFTER A 175 MILE RIDE TO RIDGEWAY COLORADO. LESS THAN A 32ND OFF AN INCH KEEPING IT IN PLACE. HAD TO FINISH THE LAST 60 MILES WITH OUT IT.*AK
Mileage: 1,075
Compare 2004BMWR SERIES to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 BMW R SERIES have?▼
The 2004 BMW R SERIES has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 BMW R SERIES?▼
Yes, the 2004 BMW R SERIES has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW R SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 BMW R SERIES is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 2004 BMW R SERIES safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.