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2003 BMW R Model

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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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
2003
Compare all R Model years →

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

What owners reported most

Visibility
2Vehicle Speed Control
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: 1 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. 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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

1 reports
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8,362 miles · Jul 9, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

RIDING MOTOROCYCLE DOWN ROAD, LET OFF THROTTLE. DIGITAL THROTTLE STUCK AT 2100 RPM ALMOST CAUSING ME TO RUN A STOP SIGN AND MOVE INTO THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OCCUERENCE OF THIS I EVEN HAVE VIDEO OF THIS MACHINE WITH THE THROTTLE STUCK SITTING IN A DRIVE WAY. OTHER BIKES ARE SEEING THE SAME THING. SEE…

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RIDING MOTOROCYCLE DOWN ROAD, LET OFF THROTTLE. DIGITAL THROTTLE STUCK AT 2100 RPM ALMOST CAUSING ME TO RUN A STOP SIGN AND MOVE INTO THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OCCUERENCE OF THIS I EVEN HAVE VIDEO OF THIS MACHINE WITH THE THROTTLE STUCK SITTING IN A DRIVE WAY. OTHER BIKES ARE SEEING THE SAME THING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN HUMIDITY GETS HIGH. DEALER CAN'T FIXIT IF THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE. MANAUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECORDING DEVICE TO RECORD WHAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER IS SEEING. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10080691

Official recalls

1

03V483000 · Electrical System:wiring

Nov 25, 2003

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND THE IGNITION LEAD FOR THE RIGHT-HAND SECONDARY SPARK PLUG HAVE A PARALLEL ROUTING OVER PART OF THEIR INSTALLATION PATH. THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THESE CABLES MAY ALLOW THE SIGNAL FROM THE IGNITION LEAD TO INTERFERE WITH THE SIGNAL FROM THE OXYGEN SENSOR WIRING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AS A RESULT, ENGINE HESITATION OR MISFIRING COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE OXYGEN SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #4.

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.