Illustration2003 BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE-SIDE VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT ADJUST OUT FAR ENOUGH TO PROVIDE PROPER SIDE AND REAR VISIBILITY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE RIDER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OTHER VEHICLES AND COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO AN ACCIDENT. *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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
Visibility complaints
2 reportsTHE 2003 BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FUNCTIONING REAR VIEW MIRRORS.TWO MIRRORS ARE PROVIDED, BUT THEY ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S HAND GRIPS. THEREFORE, THESE MIRRORS ONLY SHOW THE RIDER'S HANDS AND FOREARMS. WHEN ADJUSTED TO THE CENTER POSITION, BOTH MIRRORS FOCUS ON THE RIDER'S STOMACH. WHEN …
Read full complaint
THE 2003 BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FUNCTIONING REAR VIEW MIRRORS.TWO MIRRORS ARE PROVIDED, BUT THEY ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S HAND GRIPS. THEREFORE, THESE MIRRORS ONLY SHOW THE RIDER'S HANDS AND FOREARMS. WHEN ADJUSTED TO THE CENTER POSITION, BOTH MIRRORS FOCUS ON THE RIDER'S STOMACH. WHEN TILTED AS FAR INWARD AS THEY WILL GO, THE RIGHT MIRROR SHOWS THE RIDER'S LEFT SHOULDER, AND THE LEFT MIRROR SHOWS HIS RIGHT. WHEN TILTED AS FAR OUTWARD AS THEY WILL GO, EACH MIRROR SHOWS THE RIDER'S NEAREST WRIST AND FOREARM. THUS, NOT ONLY ARE THESE MIRRORS INCAPABLE OF VIEWING THE LANE BEHIND, THEY CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO VIEW THE ADJACENT LANES. THIS DESIGN DEFECT RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHERE THE RIDER IS CHRONICALLY UNAWARE OF FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE OF ANY KIND WHICH WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A REAR VIEW MIRROR WHICH PROVIDES A VIEW TO THE REAR, AND I AM WILLING TO BET THAT A MIRROR IN WHICH THE DRIVER CAN LOOK BACK IS REQUIRED EQUIPMENT.PLEASE ADVISE BMW TO RECTIFY THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED FROM BEHIND.*AK
Official recalls
103V483000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.