Total Complaints
24 filings
BMW R1150GS · model year
24 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002BMWR1150GS carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, 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 2002 R1150GS is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 6 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (3) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery (2). 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 2002 R1150GS. 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.
Total Complaints
24 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 2 |
| SEATS:MOTORCYCLE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL FIRE LED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES SHORTLY AFTER STARTUP. *TR
Mileage: 22,419
MY 2002 BMW 1150GS MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY JUST OVER 41K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC AS ABLE TO DRIVE FOREVER ACROSS CONTINENTS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT LOST SOME INTERNAL GEARS LAST WEEKEND AND SOMETHING LET GO IN THE GEARBOX WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. METAL FRAGMENTS CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRAINED OF FLUID. THIS IS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TRAVELING AT NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY TWO WHEELS AND WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THAT THE BIKE'S REAR WHEEL DID NOT LOCK UP. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY IF I WERE TO HAVE BEEN THROWN FROM THE BIKE AND / OR REAR ENDED BY OTHER VEHICLES UPON MY RAPID DECELERATION. THERE WAS A NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RECALL OF SIMILAR BIKES BUILT ARO
Mileage: 41,034
MY 2002 BMW 1150GS MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY JUST OVER 41K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC AS ABLE TO DRIVE FOREVER ACROSS CONTINENTS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT LOST SOME INTERNAL GEARS LAST WEEKEND AND SOMETHING LET GO IN THE GEARBOX WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. METAL FRAGMENTS CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRAINED OF FLUID. THIS IS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TRAVELING AT NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY TWO WHEELS AND WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THAT THE BIKE'S REAR WHEEL DID NOT LOCK UP. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY IF I WERE TO HAVE BEEN THROWN FROM THE BIKE AND / OR REAR ENDED BY OTHER VEHICLES UPON MY RAPID DECELERATION. THERE WAS A NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RECALL OF SIMILAR BIKES BUILT ARO
Mileage: 41,034
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW R1150RA (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES AND THEN NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM. AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
Mileage: 8,000
IN APRIL 2005, I EXPERIENCED A FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON MY 2002 BMW R1150GS. DURING A 36,000 MILE SERVICE, I REPORTED A SLIGHT OIL LEAK AROUND THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE FINAL DRIVE SHAFT. BMW REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING THAT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WAS REPLACED DURING THE SERVICE AT NO CHARGE. THE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE PROBLEM IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND I AM AWARE OF SIX LOCAL BMW MOTORCYCLES, BOTH R AND K SERIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED FINAL DRIVE FAILURES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. *NM
Mileage: 35,900
2002 BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY IN THE SHAFT DRIVE MECHANISM. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE SEAL BLEW OUT AND THE SHAFT BEARINGS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO HOP UP AND DOWN SEVERELY AT ABOUT 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE BIKE OVER SAFELY WITHOUT A CRASH. THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HAD IT FAILED LITERALLY 30 SECONDS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN LEANED WAY OVER IN A VERY TIGHT CORNER AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH. THE LEAKING GEAR OIL COATED THE REAR TIRE CAUSING IT TO BECOME VERY SLICK. IT ALSO COATED THE REAR BRAKE PADS CAUSING THEM TO BECOME INEFFECTIVE. THE BIKE IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.*AK
Mileage: 28,850
THIS MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A LINKED ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. THE REAR WHEEL AND FRONT WHEEL WORK TOGETHER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS WITHOUT BRAKES FOR AN UNDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME. *AK *NM
Mileage: 16,400
GAS LEAK
Mileage: 2,300
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
Mileage: 28,200
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
Mileage: 28,200
THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE MOTORCYCLE.*AK *JB
BMWNA HAS ISSUED A TSB. THEY HAVE MADE A CORRECTION FOR MODELS AFTER A CERTAIN VIN. THEY ARE NOT REPAIRING EARLIER MODELS AFFECTED BY THE PART. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
AS SOON AS I STARTED MY BIKE, I SMELLED RAW GASOLINE. I LOOKED DOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BIKE AND SAW A FLUID LEAKING ON THE GROUND AS IT RAN OFF MY TRANSMISSION. I SHUT DOWN THE MOTORCYLE TO INVESTIGATE. I STARTED IT THREE MORE TIMES. TWO OF THOSE STARTS PRODUCED A FUEL LEAK. THE LEAK ORIGINATED ON ONE OF THE FUEL LINES, ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT THROTTLE BODY. THE CRIMP-TYPE CLAMPS WERE LOOSE WHEN I TRIED MOVING THEM. ON THE THIRD START, THE FUEL LEAK STOPPED. I TOOK THE BIKE TO ALAMO BMW WHERE A TECHNICIAN RECRIMPED THE TWO LOWER CLAMPS. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN (8/31/02).*AK
FUEL LINE ON RIGHT SIDE OF MOTORCYCLE LEAKED APPROXIMATELY 1 TABLESPOON OF FUEL WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF ENGINE STARTUP. ENGINE WAS STOPPED BEFORE ANY DAMAGE COULD TAKE PLACE. FUEL LEAKED FROM FUEL LINE ABOVE RIGHT CYLINDER, RAN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO DRIP ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEEN AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THIS WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. I ONLY NOTICED THE LEAK BECAUSE I WAS DOING A PRE-RIDE CHECK OF THE BIKE, BUT HAD I NOT PAID ATTENTION, THE FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A FULLY HEATED CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO.
BRAKES OCCASIONALLY COMPLETELY RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING
BRAKES OCCASIONALLY COMPLETELY RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING
THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ARE LINKED ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. WHEN BRAKING HARD ON ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS, THE EXCESS FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKE BY THE LINKED SYSTEM CAN CAUSE THE ABS TO MODULATE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF ELIMINATING BRAKING AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS EFFECT MAY CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE. I AM AWARE THAT BMW REDESIGNED THE BRAKES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER MINE WAS MANUFACTURED. REFERE TO BMW MOTORCYCLES SERVICE BULLETIN NO: 34 001 02 (012). *AK
WHILE GOING OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS, THE ABS SYSTEM IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO RELEASE. THIS CAUSES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ABS COMPONENTS UNTIL THEY FAIL. BY THEN I COULD BE KILLED. PLEASE HELP FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THESE FAULTY BRAKE COMPONENTS FOR ALL AFFECTED R1150RT OWNERS.*AK
ABS ACTIVATES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING ON ROUGH SURFACE- THE MODULATOR SENSES INCORRECT INFORMATION. POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION ON A MOTORCYCLE. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN MARCH 2002 #34-001-02(012) BUT WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL.
REFERENCE BMW SERVICE BULLETIN, DATED MARCH 2002, BULLETIN NO: 34 001002 (012). MY MOTORCYCLE IS EARLY VIN WHICH HAS THE ABS BRAKE MODULATOR THAT IS TO BE REPLACED PER THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. I WANT BMW TO UPDATE MY MOTORCYCLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM PER THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN, COST TO BE COVERED BY EXISTING MFG. WARRANTEE.
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.