BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURES. IN 2001 I PURCHASED A NEW BMW R1100RT. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR INTO OWNERSHIP 25K MILES THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED WHILE I WAS RIDING. I THOUGHT THE REAR WHEEL WAS FALLING OFF. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITU…
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BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURES. IN 2001 I PURCHASED A NEW BMW R1100RT. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR INTO OWNERSHIP 25K MILES THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED WHILE I WAS RIDING. I THOUGHT THE REAR WHEEL WAS FALLING OFF. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT ONLY WAS THE REAR WHEEL LEANING TO ONE SIDE THE WHOLE REAR HALF OF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS COVERED WITH OIL, RESULTING IN NON WORKING REAR BRAKE AND A OIL COVERED TIRE AND WHEEL. BIKE WAS REPAIRED . BUY THE TIME I MADE IT HOME FROM MY TRIP THE REAR DRIVE WAS FALLING APART AGAIN. FINALLY IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. AFTER THAT I LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THAT BIKE, THINKING HOW UNSAFE THE SITUATION WAS. IN 04 I TRADED THE BIKE IN ON A NEW BMW GS1150 ADVENTURE. WAS ON A EXTENSIVE TRIP THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. JUST LAST WEEK 7/21/10. HEADING HOME. WHILE NEAR STURGIS SD. I FELT A STRANGE VIBRATION WHICH WAS GETTING WORSE BY THE SECOND. I EXITED THE FREEWAY AT THE NEAREST EXIT, PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT I GOT OFF THE BIKE TO FIND THE WHOLE REAR HALF OF THE MOTORCYCLE COVERED IN OIL AND OIL RUNNING OUT OF THE FAILED FINAL DRIVE. ONCE AGAIN THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A MOTORCYCLE. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT WAS REPAIRED AND I MADE IT HOME OK. BMW KNOWS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR FINAL DRIVE DESIGN RENDERING THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO A FINAL DRIVE FAILURE. BUT THEY WILL NEVER ADMIT IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE RIDER, AS THERE IS USUALLY OIL ALL OVER THE BIKE, THE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE AND THE REAR BRAKES WHICH RENDER THEM USELESS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET BMW TO ADMIT THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. *TR
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING IN FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED AND LEAD TO A FUEL LEAK. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS. ALSO, ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED. IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED. IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
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
2
PE07031 · Motorcycle Fires
Opened Jun 21, 2007 · Closed Oct 23, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
UNLIKE MOST MOTORCYCLES, WHERE A SIGHT GLASS IS USED TO DETERMINE ENGINE OIL LEVEL, THE SUBJECT, AIR-COOLED, MOTORCYCLES ARE BUILT BY BMW WITH A POLYMER (PLASTIC) SIGHT GLASS THAT, IN SOME INSTANCES, MELTS DUE TO HIGH ENGINE/OIL TEMPERATURE.THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATED CONTRARY TO BMW'S OWNER MANUAL ADMONITION: WARNING:DO NOT KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS AT A STANDSTILL -- RISK OF OVERHEATING AND FIRE.EACH OF THE ALLEGED FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING.ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY STRUCTURE FIRES WHERE A MELTED SIGHT GLASS IS THE ROOT CAUSE.OF THE EIGHT KNOWN FIRES, ONE OCCURRED IN 2000, THREE IN 2004 AND AGAIN IN 2005, AND ONE IN FEBRUARY, 2007.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE AN ELEVATED FIRE-RELATED INSURANCE CLAIMS HISTORY. BASED ON THE LOW INCIDENCE RATE, IT APPEARS BMW'S WARNING IS EFFECTIVE AND NO DEFECT TREND IS IDENTIFIED.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES APPEARS UNWARRANTED.THIS INVESTIGATION'S CLOSING DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A NHTSA FINDING THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS AND WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
PE03054 · Fuel Line Leakage
Opened Dec 1, 2003 · Closed Jan 23, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
BMW IS CONDUCTING A RECALL (04V-028).AN INFORMATION REQUEST(IR)RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. UPON BMW'S RECEIPT OF THE IR, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI, BMWDETERMINED THAT A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING CONTAINED WITHIN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED.FURTHER, THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN ALSO RESULT IN A SMALL FUEL LEAK.DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS.ALSO ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED.IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED.IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED.OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004.
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