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1998 BMW BMW Motorcycle

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19953
19962
19974
199813
199913
20001
2001
Compare all BMW Motorcycle years →

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

What owners reported most

Power Train
2Electrical System
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Suspension
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: 3 of 4 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 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

Steering complaints

1 reports
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83,000 miles · Sep 7, 2013
SteeringSuspension

STRUCK A LARGE POT HOLE ON A CITY STREET. AS EXPECTED THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPRESSED BUT THE FRONT FENDER (TRAILING SECTION) CAUGHT IN THE ENGINE COWLING AS THE SUSPENSION DECOMPRESSED. THIS MAKES THE STEERING RESTRICTED TO MOVEMENTS OF ABOUT +/- 10 DEGREES WITH SIGNIFICANT FRICTION IN THE STEERING OVER THIS RANGE. THIS MAKE…

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STRUCK A LARGE POT HOLE ON A CITY STREET. AS EXPECTED THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPRESSED BUT THE FRONT FENDER (TRAILING SECTION) CAUGHT IN THE ENGINE COWLING AS THE SUSPENSION DECOMPRESSED. THIS MAKES THE STEERING RESTRICTED TO MOVEMENTS OF ABOUT +/- 10 DEGREES WITH SIGNIFICANT FRICTION IN THE STEERING OVER THIS RANGE. THIS MAKES THE BIKE VERY UNSTABLE ON TURNS! THE REPAIR IS TO STOP AND REMOVE THE FRONT TRAILING FENDER FROM THE COWLING BY REMOVING THE BOLTS HOLDING IT TO THE FRONT FORK AND THEN REATTACHING FENDER IN THE CORRECT POSITION. TYPICALLY THE TOP SCREW HOLE IN THE FENDER IS BADLY DEFORMED FROM PRESSURE ON THE FENDER. THE LONG TERM SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THE FENDER AND SAW OFF APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES OF MATERIAL FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE. BMW 1998 K1200RS

NHTSA ODI #10542418

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.