Total Complaints
3 filings
BMW R1100S · model year
1999 BMW R1100S
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999BMWR1100S carries 3 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 1999 R1100S is structure:frame and members with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor (1) and power train:manual transmission (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.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 1999 R1100S. 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.
3
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 |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020826POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SEAL FAILED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. PELICAN PARTS R1100S BULLETIN BOARD SUGGESTS THIS FAILURE IS COMMON, AND RECOMMENDED SUBMITTING THIS FORM.*AK
20011012STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I HAVE NEVER CRASHED MY 1999 BMW R1100SA MOTORCYCLE AND MAINTAINED IT STRICTLY BY BMW SUGGESTED SCHEDULE. 64K MILES ON THE ODO NOW. THOUGH BIKE HAS NOT LEFT ME STRANDED, IT HAS HAD ENDLESS PROBLEMS - BIG PROBLEMS AND BEEN OUT-OF-SERVICE FOR REPAIR IN EXCESS OF 85 DAYS IN 2 YEARS. IT HAD A BREAK IN THE FRAME (I COULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THE FRAME!); THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND THE NEW ONE DOES NOT FIT CORRECTLY AND IS BREAKING THROUGH A FRAME BRACE, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF ANOTHER FRAME PROBLEM (PRESENTING SAFETY ISSUE); THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE ~ OVER HEATING, IMPROPERLY CUT VALVES AND PITTING CYLINDERS, EXCESSIVE COMPRESSION BLOW-BY; 3 SETS OF REPLACED HEADER PIPES DUE TO PITTING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT; 4 SETS OF FAILED THROTTLE/CHOKE CABLES - CABLES SHREDDED AT JUNCTURE BOX; TWICE REPLACED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS; REPLACED CLUTCH AND TRANS. DUE TO FLOODING W/OIL BECAUSE OF FAILED REAR ENGINE SEAL THE BMW APPROVED DEALER IGNORED; EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION STILL; BOTH THROTTLE BODY C
20011012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I HAVE NEVER CRASHED MY 1999 BMW R1100SA MOTORCYCLE AND MAINTAINED IT STRICTLY BY BMW SUGGESTED SCHEDULE. 64K MILES ON THE ODO NOW. THOUGH BIKE HAS NOT LEFT ME STRANDED, IT HAS HAD ENDLESS PROBLEMS - BIG PROBLEMS AND BEEN OUT-OF-SERVICE FOR REPAIR IN EXCESS OF 85 DAYS IN 2 YEARS. IT HAD A BREAK IN THE FRAME (I COULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THE FRAME!); THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND THE NEW ONE DOES NOT FIT CORRECTLY AND IS BREAKING THROUGH A FRAME BRACE, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF ANOTHER FRAME PROBLEM (PRESENTING SAFETY ISSUE); THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE ~ OVER HEATING, IMPROPERLY CUT VALVES AND PITTING CYLINDERS, EXCESSIVE COMPRESSION BLOW-BY; 3 SETS OF REPLACED HEADER PIPES DUE TO PITTING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT; 4 SETS OF FAILED THROTTLE/CHOKE CABLES - CABLES SHREDDED AT JUNCTURE BOX; TWICE REPLACED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS; REPLACED CLUTCH AND TRANS. DUE TO FLOODING W/OIL BECAUSE OF FAILED REAR ENGINE SEAL THE BMW APPROVED DEALER IGNORED; EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION STILL; BOTH THROTTLE BODY C
Compare 1999BMWR1100S to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 BMW R1100S have?▼
The 1999 BMW R1100S has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 BMW R1100S?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 BMW R1100S is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR and POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1999 BMW R1100S 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.